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 two-wheeled mounts on idyllic sun-splashed backroads. Irrespective of the temperature, though, it’s still possible to vicariously experience nice motorbike tours. Reclining comfortably next to a crackling hearth, with our favorite beverage nearby is the proper location to enjoy the adventures captured in our recently published book, Riding America’s Backroads, 20 Top Motorbike Tours. If you didn’t receive a copy as a gift throughout the Holidays, why not start the New Year off right by ordering one for yourself? After all, it will be terribly therapeutic reading for us snowbound riders. Order your copy nowadays from our website www.roadrunner.com or call our office at (336) 765-7780.
Last month we reviewed the risks of riding (especially long distances) in cold weather. The subsequent are my top ten recommendations for mitigating those risks with a good cold weather riding system:
Check Your Gear Beforehand: Before venturing so much from home on your bike in winter’s icy grip, take a take a look at ride or 2 to spot any weak points (cold spots) in your cold weather riding gear. It might not be pretty, but duct tape can be used to seal leaks if all else fails. When creating any needed changes, test it again.
Check Battery and Antifreeze: Cold weather will degrade battery performance, therefore make certain your battery is in good form and absolutely charged. For liquid cooled bikes, make sure that the antifreeze reading is sufficient for the temperatures expected.
Windproof: As discussed before, the wind chill impact 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 can accommodate, significantly within the vicinity of the hands and feet. As so much body heat will be lost from a rider’s head, a full-face helmet is highly recommended. Next, make certain the outer layer of your riding gear is made of a fabric that’s effective at cutting the wind, like leather or a water-resistant/waterproof 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 6 miles away. Then back home to Metro Detroit in one day. In the south here in metro Detroit it never got above 32 degrees so I figure 300 miles north it absolutely was colder. These guys are well experienced at this tour. I never dared to try it myself. We are always looking for folks in our motorcycle club Michigan and in particular our motorcycle club Macomb. Click on 1 of those links and get more and more info. I go out a lot in the winter myself but solely short journeys perhaps 10 or 15 miles with my snowmobile suit on, hahaha. Have fun – Bob The Builder