Cold weather riding...

[Adamm0621]

I've never lived someplace where it was necessary for me to ride when the temperature was below freezing.  I don't intend to ride if there is any chance of precipitation in the forecast, so besides keeping the bike in the garage when I'm not riding and wearing warm gear when I do, is there anything in particular I should be aware of?

[somegirl]

Watch out for black ice.

Make sure you give your tires much more time to warm up.

[mstevens]

As pointed out above, you'll have lots less traction on cold roads.

There are some other issues, though.

Depending on where you live and how much time it spends below freezing, the roads may be sanded or salted. That is really terrible for staying upright in corners. Since I'm a coward, here in NH I don't start riding in the spring until there's been enough rain to wash that stuff out of the line.

Frost heaves can change the nature of a road you'd thought you were familiar with.

Cagers are even more stupid and homicidal in the winter.

Many don't properly clean snow and ice off their cars. On sunny days (when you're more likely to go riding) sheets of ice can come flying off of vehicles ahead of you. We had a young woman killed locally a few years back when a sheet of ice from a moving van roof crashed through her windshield. My car has been hit quite hard by crap from vehicle roofs ahead of me - I'd hate to take those hits on a bike.

Car windshields and windows can be covered with road grunge or fogged up inside, making you more invisible than usual. The same applies to your faceshield, making you more blind than usual.

If you're not used to living where it freezes, you probably don't know how to drive safely in snow and ice, let alone ride in those conditions.

Brake very gently and very early. Slow more than you're used to for turns. Accelerate gently and slowly. All of this applies to your car as well as to your bike.

I know there are people who ride year-round around here, in Minnesota, in Colorado, etc. All I can say is that those people may have hope for effective treatment someday. I have enough challenge in my Z4 with Hakkapeliitta R's during the winter around here so I haven't really been tempted to ride under those conditions at all.

[hoyden]

If you are in a place where they salt the roads, your bike will get salt mixed with wet (slush, snow, yuck) all over it when you ride.
This will lead to all sorts of fun rusty issues.

I rode year-round in Chicago and didn't do near enough cleaning care of my bikes in winter.
Now I have pitting on my headers and rusty bits.
(The one bike I took care of didn't have the rusty issues)

I highly recommend giving your bike a quick clean when you get back home after each outing.
(a good idea regardless of the locale/weather. and this is coming from a confirmed rat-bike rider)
Hopefully you have a garage. Either way, it's gonna be cold and miserable. 

[Popeye the Sailor]

Yet another thing is if you go for a long stretch on the highway, you can easily get colder than you realize. Like, cold to the point where "Oh make the beast with two backs-my hand is refusing to operate the front brake". I typically would stop every 40 minutes to an hour, and that was properly geared, layered, and with the heated gear going full tilt.


Rest often.

[Adamm0621]

I originally decided to post this question after someone else mentioned a crash due to cold tires because of the weather.  I figured tires would heat up normally after riding a bit, regardless of weather.  This made me wonder how riding in the cold varies from warm weather riding. 

It doesn't seem to snow too much here, and I've been looking for salt, sand, or ice on the road and haven't seen much.

My biggest concerns are mechanical.  The bike will be in a garage when it's not being ridden, but I was wondering besides cold tires and reduced traction what I should be aware of?

[Popeye the Sailor]

Suspension is also cold-that's not helpful-takes longer for the bike to get up to temp, too (especially air cooled bikes).


In all honesty, the biggest issue will be for you, not the bike.



I don't recommend riding in the cold.

[ducpainter]

Suspension is also cold-that's not helpful-takes longer for the bike to get up to temp, too (especially air cooled bikes).


In all honesty, the biggest issue will be for you, not the bike.



I don't recommend riding in the cold.

You never bought that Beemer did you?

[Jetbrett]

Ride like you do when it is raining and you are on an unfamiliar road and you should be fine.  Like everyone said, tires and the bike in general will take longer to warm up.  There will be more debris on the road...leaves, salt, sand, gravel, etc. and you can't take anything for granted. 

[ScottRNelson]

Make sure you give your tires much more time to warm up.

If it's cold enough, assume that the tires never do warm up.

I finally gave in and bought a First Gear Kilimanjaro jacket and some textile riding pants that kind of go with the jacket.  It happens to keep me warm enough for any temperature above about 35 degrees.  I was concerned that my fingers would still get cold, but my Held gloves work well enough and keep my fingers from getting cold.

If it's too cold for that jacket, it's really too cold to be out riding.

Whenever it's below about 60 degrees I don't trust the traction I'll get out on the interesting roads.  Besides the tires not warming up well, there is a big chance of moisture on the road where you might not see it.  This is a time to be a more conservative rider.

[Adamm0621]

I've ridden in the rain plenty and it never really bothered me.  I just rode very cautiously.  I'm not planning on going for any spirited rides until spring, but I definitely want to ride, even if it means commuting the fifteen minutes to work in single digit weather.

[mstevens]

I definitely want to ride, even if it means commuting the fifteen minutes to work in single digit weather.

Single-digit temps are COLD, especially once you get moving and the wind strips away any warmed air around you. This is true even for degrees Centipede, and most definitely if you're talking about degrees Fahrvergnuegen. When the temperature drops below 10F it's fairly miserable driving my car and my brain's too cold to consider riding the bike.

"Wind chill" is a suspect concept since you won't end up any colder than the still-air temperature, but it'll certainly cool you off faster and feel subjectively much colder. It won't affect your bike beyond taking longer for components to warm up or possibly preventing them altogether from reaching optimal operating temperatures. At 5F and 50MPH,  "wind chill" is about -24F, which is technically termed "freaking cold." Just sayin'.

[DucHead]

Ride like you do when it is raining and you are on an unfamiliar road and you should be fine...  

+1    I ride year round, and I think this is good advice.  

It gets into the teens here in Raleigh, so I have heated gear for longer rides, and a variety of undergarments to keep me warm (e.g., Schampa "Skinnys").  I also use my two-piece (full circumference zip) leather riding suit.  In addition I just ordered FirstGear's thermal one-piece suit.  I plan on using that for commuting rather than my leathers.  For a 10 mile ride, heated gear is unnecessary.

[bdub]

Does the FirstGear suit have armor ?  If you plan on weraring just that and commuting clothes I'm assuming so. I would also like to ride in the winter but my two peice leathers are not even close to being warm even with layers under them. Motorcycle superstore has those suits for 150.00. Thats a good price.

Pompetta, are you riding now? The whole US is freezing. I'm in Va. in the Shenandoah Valley and it's just cold this week.  Just askiin'

[hoyden]

The whole US is freezing. I'm in Va. in the Shenandoah Valley and it's just cold this week.  Just askiin'

Whaddaya talkin' about? It's been in the low 70's here in Phoenix!

[moto]