winter riding?

[alke]

Anyone ride in winter? If you do what extra precautions do you have to take?

[RTR]

alke wrote: Anyone ride in winter? If you do what extra precautions do you have to take?

Holy smokes! Don't be telling us, you already have snow in Edmonton :laughing: Wow! June 19th and asking about winter riding. :roll:

All kidding aside. As far as winter riding goes for me. I bundle up to keep warm. Plus I only take the bike out when the roads are dry. The coldest I have set out in was about -8 celcius. Plus I usually do a Tim Horton's tour on winter rides :cold:

Enjoy the warm riding, before worrying about the cold weather stuff :wink:

[alke]

Heheh, I just like to be on the safe side.

[Sev]

I won't go out if it's below zero anymore. 2 wheels + ice = the suck.

Edmonton has a decent public transport system. Well worth the price of a buspass... hint hint.

I've seen pics of bikes with studded tires from Alaska... and it's possible to ride year round if you have a sidecar. Just ask Gummi... but over all you're better off parking the beast once ice starts to form.

Oh, and we've (I've) been setting up rides recently for local riders, you're welcome to come to the next one feel free to drop me a line:

jeff.dewald at gmail.com

[NorthernPete]

dont laugh, I have seen snow July 1st here.....

[alke]

Sevulturus wrote: I won't go out if it's below zero anymore. 2 wheels + ice = the suck.

Edmonton has a decent public transport system. Well worth the price of a buspass... hint hint.

I've seen pics of bikes with studded tires from Alaska... and it's possible to ride year round if you have a sidecar. Just ask Gummi... but over all you're better off parking the beast once ice starts to form.

Oh, and we've (I've) been setting up rides recently for local riders, you're welcome to come to the next one feel free to drop me a line:

jeff.dewald at gmail.com

Problem with the public transit thing is, I live in Spruce, so i have to get into the city first, and one of the main reasons i'm going with a bike ,which I don't have yet, but i'll take you up on your offer when I do, but the main reasons is they're cheaper than cars, and better fuel milage.

[Sev]

Trust me, you don't want to be riding in Jan or Feb without a sidecar, and a big set of nuts.

[blues2cruise]

It was almost cold enough to snow on the Coquihalla Highway this weekend. If it had gone a degree colder, I probably would have been riding in snow instead of rain.

I'm getting some heated gloves for my next biking investment.

[RTR]

NorthernPete wrote: dont laugh, I have seen snow July 1st here.....

Why would we laugh? We live in Canada. We can expect snow any day of the year. :D

How's the old saying go... "if you don't like the weather, wait 5 minutes" :mrgreen:

[Crash]

Sometimes in late December usually have the bike out again by early March. Might be a few days during the midwinter thaw we get in Ottawa around early Feb. Unfortunately the bike is tucked in at that time and its not worth it to get it ready to ride for only a few days.

Not much to riding in the cold, dress in layers, wear an electric vest, consider purchasing an anti-fog device like a Pinlock shield, watch for ice, watch it in the corners as your tires aren't as sticky when they're cold, ABS and heated grips are handy, stay upright.

Have fun.

[blues2cruise]

I bought heated gloves. I wore them today for my Fraser Canyon ride. I had happy hands. :)

[ArcticHarleyMan]

I would ride in the winter, but only a couple of things prevent me from doing it.
1: Can't get from my garage to the street (which is covered with ice and snow):(
2: Not game enough to try moving the bike at -40C. :laughing:
3: Even during the now annual Christmas thaw, there's too much rain on the ice-covered roads. :mrgreen:

Other than that, absolutely NOTHING keeps me from riding in winter. :santa:

[blues2cruise]

If you had a bike with an aircooled engine you wouldn't have to worry about the radiator freezing up...... :laughing:

Studded tires would make it possible to ride on the ice.....

And of course no home in the north would be complete without......



Plug in your heated vest and gloves and you're good to go..... :twisted:

[NorthernPete]

Theres snow and ice out side right now...my stratagy for winter riding...

[blues2cruise]

Pete, that looks like a blast.

[NorthernPete]

does, doesnt it...I want one....theyre pricey though...

[blues2cruise]

So far it is too mild here for snow. However, the temperature is just right for a torrential rain fall.

It's too wet to ride safely. The rain is falling too fast and too hard that it is not moving off the roads fast enough.

I was out in my car today and had to slow down quite a bit because of the hydroplaning.

[Rydr]

I ride my Beemer 650GS in the winter. I don't go out in the snow or anything but cold days I wear my heated vest and the beemer has heated hand grips. I wear a full face helmet, warm socks etc. In an average year we don't get much snow on Vancouver Island so it's not that difficult to ride all year. But this year during November we have already broken several records for rain and snow. All the ski hills opened early. You have to be extra vigilant if you are riding in the winter as the people in cars and trucks aren't expecting motorcycles to be on the road and as such many times just don't see you. Ride safe, Rydr