Keeping Warm

How to do Winter Riding Right
by Bill Andrews

AMA's Road Riding Director, Eddie James, participates in the annual Minnesota I-Cycle Derby. A Minnesota native, James says, "When it's 50 degrees out, we're outside in T-shirts cooking brats on the grill."

Old man winter lets loose a final blast to knock that last orange leaf to the ground. For some, it's time to roll your favorite two-wheeled companion into a corner of the garage, throw the battery on a trickle charge, and hope for an early spring. For others, there is no end to the riding season, just a change in riding gear.

No, we're not talking about those who live in perpetual sunshine and warmth, but rather, folks who don't let winter deprive them of their favorite form of transportation. Call them the arctic wanderers or just plain crazy, but they prolong their riding seasons with a little knowledge and a few cold weather tricks. Here's what you can learn from these motorcycling polar bears.

Terry Cook after a ride on a typical Ohio December day.

Terry Cook, an AMA government relations specialist and MSF instructor, is a die-hard motorcyclist from Missouri. Cook rides 40 miles each way to the AMA offices in Pickerington, Ohio, year round.

The AMA's Road Riding Director, Eddie James, is a Minnesota native who says, "When it's 50 degrees out, we're outside in T-shirts cooking brats on the grill."

James most recent trip into frigid temperatures was a trip to the Arctic. It was early September, and the temperature was already around freezing.

Both men agree that cold-weather riding can be quite enjoyable. But they stress that the weather poses its own serious dangers that must be dealt with.
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• Black Ice
  
• "You'll know you're on it ," says James. "When you look at the front wheel, and it's going sideways."
• Hypothermia and Frostbite
  That cold shiver up your spine isn't just uncomfortable, it could also be the beginning of a very deadly condition called hypothermia. Exposed skin is at risk of frostbite in temperatures as warm as 55 degrees.
• Insulation and wind resistance
  
• How do you mitigate these dangers? Simple, cover up. Here's how.
• Block the wind
  
• As speeds increase, cold air has a way of sneaking in, and robbing heat. Your front line in the defense against cold is to try and block the winds.
• Electrical Heat
  
• Now, if you really want to be good and toasty, James recommends getting wired.
• Chemical Heat
  Another option is a lightweight, disposable heat pack, which offers a different kind of protection.
• One last tip: Drink liquids to stay warm
  Our experts offer a final thought about cold weather riding -- drink lots of liquids.

Related story: Store your bike right this winter