This fall, several of us rode north to W. Va. to do the leaf thing and take advantage of some challenging twisties. Friday dawned cold and wet as we met but plans were made so what the hell. Off we rode.

Monday morning we awoke to find the temp had dropped to 28 degrees. Frost was over everything. Again, plans were made and most of us had to get back to work. It was cold, it was wet and the ride was nothing less than miserable. The farther spouth we rode, the more it rained. Around 250 miles later we stopped for a welcome break. I pulled into a parking spot, hit the kill switch, shut off he gas and removed the key. I stepped away from the bike with nothing on my mind but warmth and coffee and watched as Lola slowly keeled over on her left side.

I had frorgotten to put out the kick stand.... DUH!!!

I think Will may have missed a safety lesson opportunity here. That is not like Will :clap

All riders get caught in inclement weather now and then. I think this post is a good reminder that riding in cold weather for a long period can affect our cognitive abilities. Sure, any of us can have a senior moment and make a bonehead mistake. However, I think it is important to keep in mind that when dealing with unusual cold while on our bikes, it can negatively affect our ability to think properly. Being aware that this can be a problem may be enough to avoid a mistake that may cost you more than a scratched bike or damaged turn signal.

.............any of us can have a senior moment and make a bonehead mistake......


while I agree with what you say, let's be careful with the words.........senior moment :laugh :laugh :laugh

Riding a bike in the cold is no different than falling out of a boat into freezing water............hypothermia can and will affect you, causing loss of reaction time and cognitive (didn't know I could say that word did ya) abilities.:chop

We learn our best lessons on the field of battle (experience). I will never again ride extended distances with a half helmet. :frownthre That cold air beat me up pretty badly.

We learn our best lessons on the field of battle (experience). I will never again ride extended distances with a half helmet. :frownthre That cold air beat me up pretty badly.

The cold air beats me up too, but I've been bitten hard by the "ride the bike bug" :tour and have refused to give up riding for the winter. To combat the cold I have experimented with probaby 20 or so different combinations of external coat, under coat layering, face and neck protection, thermals, chemical and combustive heating...haven't tried the electrically heated clothes yet, maybe next year. Bottom line, what I have learned is to first be prepared: expect the worst and you usually won't be disapointed :laugh. I would much rather get too hot and have to stop and take something off than be cold and not have anything to warm up with! However, I have found that the most effective thing in staying warm is to keep the wind away in the first place. The windshield is probably the single best item to do this. Next, a coat that is as impermeable as possible to the wind...leather doesn't cut it. However, most rain suits...or even a plastic poncho over top would be of great help. I got caught one time 200 or so miles from home and got into some weather that got me chilled to the bone. A stop for some hot coffee to to stop the shivering kept things from getting any worse. Putting on my rain suit over my leathers made it so I could continue on home! It was that experience "battle" that motivated me to experiment on how to stay warm.

My personal "kit" is a Kilamanjaro coat over a wool sweater, additional fleece vest, long sleeve shirt, and perhaps thermals if really cold, a sheer wool balaclave under my helmet, and of course, chaps and gloves. This keeps me warm enough to enjoy riding down to the upper 30s. Down toward freezing I find I need a neoprene face mask (keeps the nose hairs from freezing :laugh ). Depending on the distance, I may also fire up a couple charcoal hand warmers and keep them under all but the last couple layers next to my skin under my coat.

The cold air beats me up too, but I've been bitten hard by the "ride the bike bug" :tour and have refused to give up riding for the winter. To combat the cold I have experimented with probaby 20 or so different combinations of external coat, under coat layering, face and neck protection, thermals, chemical and combustive heating...haven't tried the electrically heated clothes yet, maybe next year.

Buying a heated jacket liner, gloves and a Heat-troller was the best investment that I've made. The gloves could be better or I need a separate controller for them as they don't get warm enough. The jacket liner gets nice and toasty if I turn it up. I wear a thin hood under my fullface helmet and a fleece neck collar on the outside of my jacket. For pants I wear First Gear HT overpants over my Dockers which keep my legs warm on my commute to work. I have a pair of waterproof Joe Rocket boots that work okay for the 10 mile trip to work but need something warmer on longer rides in the cold. The coldest temp this winter has been 22 degrees and I've been okay. I highly suggest heated clothing and a thermostat.

I literally blundered into a few items that turned out to be really useful. First were silk gloves and socks that I usually get from Cabela's to get through hunting season. I wear them under other socks and gloves. Silk is one of the finest insulators and they really work and are remarkably inexpensive. The gloves work under any other gloves because they're so thin and they really work well. My hands seem to suffer the most so I am always trying to find innovative ways to keep them warm without reducing dexterity with thick, impossible-to-use heavy gloves...

The second find occurred on a day when I needed to get somewhere quickly and couldn't spend time looking around the house for sweats, etc. I grabbed a PolarTec 200 hooded jacket (also from Cabela's), put the hood on and the helmet over it and could not believe how warm it was and how effective at cutting the wind penetration down the front of my jacket. They are now permanent parts of my cold weather riding gear.

I like the silk glove idea. I have used silk undersocks for skiing and that works well. I have heard that the thin plastic gloves that doctors and dentists use will help to keep hands warm and dry.

One time when my boots were wet from riding in a cold rain I stuck plastic bags on my feet before putting on my boots. This kept me dry and was also very warm.

I use a Schampa "Pharoah Deluxe" balaclava under my FF helmet. It is the most well-constructed balaclava I've ever seen. I highly recommend it.

I use a Schampa "Pharoah Deluxe" balaclava under my FF helmet. It is the most well-constructed balaclava I've ever seen. I highly recommend it.
As balaclavas go, silk is undeniably the best.