Armchair Motorbike On Tour – Riding In Safety In Wintry Weather – That Takes Some Stones

Posted on Jan 27 in Travelling and Snowboardingby NickyPrint

Record-breaking cold temperatures, short days and long nights currently have several people pining for those halcyon days of summer, when we rode our favourite two-wheeled mounts on idyllic sun-splashed backroads. No matter the temperature, though, it’s still possible to vicariously experience great bike tours. Reclining comfortably next to a crackling fireplace, with our favourite beverage nearby is the perfect location to get pleasure from the adventures captured in our recently revealed book, Riding America’s Backroads, 20 Top Motorbike Tours. If you didn’t receive a copy as a present during the Holidays, why not begin 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 (particularly long distances) in cold weather. The following are my top ten recommendations for mitigating those risks with a good cold weather riding system:
Take a look at Your Gear Beforehand: Before venturing way from home on your bike in winter’s icy grip, take a test ride or 2 to identify any weak points (cold spots) in your cold weather riding gear. It could 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 will degrade battery performance, so make sure your battery is in sensible form and absolutely charged. For liquid cooled bikes, ensure that the antifreeze reading is sufficient for the temperatures expected.
Windproof: As mentioned before, the wind chill impact on motorcyclists, riding at highway speeds, can be quite dramatic. The place to start windproofing is on your bike: attach a windshield and as much alternative wind-blocking equipment as the bike can accommodate, particularly within the vicinity of the hands and feet. For the reason that so much body heat can be lost from a rider’s head, a full-face helmet is highly recommended. Next, make positive the outer layer of your riding gear is constructed of a fabric that’s effective at cutting the wind, like leather or a water-proof/water-resistant textile riding suit. Insulated winter gloves are a must.

Yesterday, Janurary 20, 2009 my very own motorcycle club took off from Pontiac Michigan to Mackinaw City and then across the Mackinaw bridge to St. Ignace Michigan about six miles away. Then back home to Metro Detroit in one day. In the south here in metro Detroit it never got higher than 32 degrees therefore I figure three hundred miles north it had been colder. These guys are well experienced at this tour. I never dared to take a look at it myself. We are always looking for individuals in our motorcycle club Michigan and in particular our motorcycle club Macomb. Click on 1 of these links and obtain more info. I go out a lot in the winter myself but simply short trips perhaps 10 or 15 miles with my snowmobile suit on, hahaha. Have fun – Bob The Builder

blog comments powered by Disqus