winter riding

[dano]

ok, i'm gonna try to ride as long as there is no ice/snow on the roads around here (unfortunately, it's shaping up to be a cold, long winter). Besides heated gear (i bought gerbing); any tips from those of you experienced in winter riding RE: safety; how to predict where ice/salt will be (besides when it's cold out ), etc. any tricks besides just common sense? i need to keep riding somehow.....i've been the only bike around and am beginning to get a complex: am i nuts, or just love my R?

[socalrob]

I sometimes have to wear a long sleave shirt under my unlined leather jacket.

[MIXR]

Dano - I also ride all year round, but our winter is not as severe as yours. Still plenty of ice and snow about on some of our best roads though.

There is no predictability to the conditions. Danger lies around every bend, so just learn to take it easy. You won't spot black ice until you're sliding down the road thinking "where the hell did that come from".

However, look for the shaded areas as places that may carry morning ice well into the lunchbreak and even into early afternoon. Not just the shade from trees, but also the road cuttings and embankements.

Also consider that roads will carry more ice if there has been recent rain, or heavy fog. That's what hits us here. Freezing dew on the road. Extended periods of sub zero weather also means that the ground can't 'dry out' so extra caution is needed.

As for gear, my best investments are thin glove liners and a very thin bike-oriented balaclava to wear under the skid-lid. The balaclava also helps keep breath off the visor if you don't use an anti-fog screen.

The biggest problem is your comment about 'predicting' the road conditions. Can't be done, at least not with any certainty. Stay slow and cautious, stay as 'upright' as you can, and look as far ahead as you can for both the road and the bits beside the road that may give you a clue.

Your winter riding style may also change. This will often mean 'hanging off' the bike in corners rather than leaning right over. Keeps the contact patch upright and solid. We are assuming your tyres are good. Easy on the brakes and throttle (stay smoooooth).

Edit: Forgot to mention that for our snow conditions, it's often better to ride in the slushy snow trail on the road rather than the clear wheeltracks. The slush is rarely icy (if that makes sense) while the tracks are often frozen water or black ice, particularly early in the morning before heavy traffic starts up. If there is a lot of traffic, the 'tracks' are the place to be as it's usually just wet. Also, we don't use salt as far as I'm aware.

Edit #2: The comment about bridges is very valid. Why? - because a bridge will not hold any warmth from the day's sun like a road or the ground and often has water underneath it - Funny that! What it means is that the bridge can be very icy thanks to it being colder than the road each side, or from condensation that 'sits' over the top of it from the water below. We have lots of bridges in this part of the world. Many are still old wooden ones that are deadly with ice in winter. Is it time to stay home yet?

Above all - winter is a great time to be out.

[Biff's R]

Dry is the key for me. I also only look aat 30 and rising for pleasure rides. It has been too cold/wet here to try to get out.

my big concern with the salt, is when it is wet, because that is when it is able to get into the nooks and crannies of your bike possibly causing corrosion.

Mick had many great little tidbits in his post.

[JToole]

These folks know a lot about it:

Code: Select all

http://www.yearroundriders.com/

A site dedicated to year around riding! And get this - their host is based in Michigan!

[R4R&R]

Watch out on bridges, and stay away from the edges of the road.

I layer up heavily when it's under 20F - t-shirt, long sleeved shirt, sweater, Gerbings jacket, fleece liner, outer jacket, and neck warmer.

Watch out for the black ice!! If you find yourself on ice don't panic. Be easy on the throttle and slow to make any changes.

If there's any doubt, leave the bike home. It's not worth it!

[scottybooj]

i would love gerbings. i don't have the ca$h right now for more gear.

I'm in NY and I layer, layer, layer. I just bought a balaclava. i'm psyched to wear it tomorrow.

[Boxer]

Hey Scott! Put that balaclavavlavacala thing on and run down and show the guys at the convenience store your new gear.

[riceburner]

Ride smooth.

[dano]

Thanks, all for the great advice. I rode in at 5:30a to work--about 23 degrees. I'm using the roads i know (wouldn't take a ride in the country right now!). Great comments. I'll keep you informed. Stay warm/and safe. Oh, and the gerbings jacket is the best. only thing cold is my a$$. (don't have the pants).
dan

[wncbmw]

I am not as quick as I used to be riding in cold weather. A few high-pucker-factor moments with water leaks that turned to ice when it hadn't rained for days give me pause.

That said, I still ride year round. After Christmas, I will report on my new winter gloves!

Meanwhile, I just layer wind block fleece and wicking undies under the Aerostich.

[DJ Downunder]

I don't mean to rub it in but this is the last week here in Melbourne...15c min is about 60F..and 25c max is about 80F...with the peaks of 35c being about 95F.

Today and tomorrow looks like more 35c..(95F)..and summer have just started down under..

DJ

[rdsmith3]

I don't mean to rub it in but this is the last week here in Melbourne...15c min is about 60F..and 25c max is about 80F...with the peaks of 35c being about 95F.

Today and tomorrow looks like more 35c..(95F)..and summer have just started down under..

DJ

Oh, thanks, DJ. It's great that you're still around, um, yeah, just great.

It has not been much above freezing here for weeks. The big snow we had on Dec. 9th is still around, and we get the melt/re-freeze patches on the roads. I have not been on the bike since Dec. 1st.

Average temp this month = 25.9 °F / -3.4 °C

http://www.wunderground.com/weatherstat ... span=month

[wncbmw]

I second Bob post. Just rub it in DJ!

Like I said, you have to keep us guys in the throes of winter going with ride reports and such.

[Guest]

A few high-pucker-factor moments with water leaks that turned to ice when it hadn't rained for days give me pause.

More than a few of our city streets have chronic, low volume water leaks from water mains, valves, etc. After a cold snap, you can encounter some pretty treacherous spots on otherwise clear, dry roads. You generally get to know where they are on well-traveled routes, but new territory can be scary sometimes.

[Deano]

A few high-pucker-factor moments with water leaks that turned to ice when it hadn't rained for days give me pause.

More than a few of our city streets have chronic, low volume water leaks from water mains, valves, etc. After a cold snap, you can encounter some pretty treacherous spots on otherwise clear, dry roads. You generally get to know where they are on well-traveled routes, but new territory can be scary sometimes.

I seem to have serious log-in issues....

[rdsmith3]

I was planning to ride to work today. The temp is supposed to get into the high 40's F. That is a heat wave compared to recent temps.

I woke up and heard helicopters hovering nearby. I live near an interstate highway -- the one I take to work. Helicopters are generally a bad sign. Then the phone rang, announcing that the schools had a delayed opening.

What the heck was going on?

It seemed there was an unexpected dose of freezing rain last night. It must have made the roads incredibly slippery. There were four jacknifed tractor trailers in a short stretch of I-80. They actually closed the entire road for a 20 mile stretch from the Delaware River east.

No ride today.

[dano]

well, maybe it will warm up later for ya. looks like i may have a 2 day window (actually above 32!).
merry christmas/happy holidays to all.

[rdsmith3]

I rode to work today. First time on the bike since December 1st.

It was a warm 33 deg F when I left this morning. We had several days of rain to wash the salt off the roads, followed by high winds over night to dry off the roads.

It was great to be back on the bike.

I had one pucker factor moment. There were still some gusts of wind this morning. I was leaned over at 80 mph around a long curve on a major highway when there was a fierce gust of wind. Nothing happened -- it just startled me for a moment.