Armchair Bike Touring - Riding Safe And Sound In Cold Weather - That Takes Some Stones
Written by freeauthor on Sunday, January 24th, 2010 in Full Face Helmet.
Record-breaking cold temperatures, short days and long nights currently have many people pining for those halcyon days of summer, once we rode our favorite 2-wheeled mounts on idyllic sun-splashed backroads. No matter the temperature, though, it’s still possible to vicariously experience nice motorcycle tours. Reclining comfortably next to a crackling hearth, with our favorite beverage nearby is the perfect location to enjoy the adventures captured in our recently published book, Riding America’s Backroads, 20 Top Bike Tours. If you didn’t receive a copy as a present throughout the Holidays, why not start the New Year off right by ordering 1 for yourself? After all, it will be terribly therapeutic reading for us snowbound riders. Order your copy today from our website www.roadrunner.com or call our workplace at (336) 765-7780.
Last month we reviewed the risks of riding (especially long distances) in cold weather. The following are my top 10 recommendations for mitigating those risks with an effective cold weather riding system:
Check Your Gear Beforehand: Before venturing far from home on your bike in winter’s icy grip, take a check ride or 2 to spot any weak points (cold spots) in your cold weather riding gear. It may not be pretty, but duct tape can be used to seal leaks if all else fails. When creating any needed changes, check it again.
Check Battery and Antifreeze: Cold weather can degrade battery performance, therefore make sure your battery is in sensible shape and totally charged. For liquid cooled bikes, ensure that the antifreeze reading is sufficient for the temperatures expected.
Windproof: As mentioned before, the wind chill result on motorcyclists, riding at highway speeds, can be quite dramatic. The place to start out windproofing is on your bike: attach a windshield and as much other wind-blocking equipment as the bike will accommodate, significantly within the vicinity of the hands and feet. For the reason that so much body heat will be lost from a rider’s head, a full-face helmet is very recommended. Next, make certain the outer layer of your riding gear is constructed of a material that’s effective at cutting the wind, like leather or a water-proof/waterproof textile riding suit. Insulated winter gloves are a must.
Yesterday, Janurary twenty, 2009 my own motorcycle club took off from Pontiac Michigan to Mackinaw City and then across the Mackinaw bridge to St. Ignace Michigan about half dozen miles away. Then back home to Metro Detroit in 1 day. In the south here in metro Detroit it never got above thirty-two degrees thus I figure 300 miles north it was colder. These guys are well experienced at this tour. I never dared to take a look at it myself. We are always looking for folks in our motorcycle club Michigan and in particular our motorcycle club Macomb. Click on one of those links and find more info. I go out a lot in the winter myself but simply short journeys maybe ten or fifteen miles with my snowmobile suit on, hahaha. Have fun - Bob The Builder
























