Slightly Cold can be Sneaky! A Winter Rider gets the Chills!

[safety-boy]

Thought this might be a good tip for the newer riders. Spring can be a bit of a temperature problem.

The wife, a buddy, and I went riding yesterday (to "Michael's" near Carborro, NC - anyone else?). It was about 55F when we left, and we figured it would warm up. All three of us in winter riding jackets and gloves. All wore jeans with no thermals, chaps, or riding pants.

Now, I have ridden all winter - once in the snow - and the only issue I generally have is that I do not have really good gloves for winter riding. Generally, I only go 15 to 20 miles to work, and it takes about 40 minutes.

Yesterday really nailed me though. We planned on a 50 to 60 mile ride, but as so often happens, we wound up doing about 90 miles. The temp never got above (if even to) 60F. 25-30 miles to our first stop with no problems. Decided to take a longer way back, which became a longer way back when a multiple cager accident blocked the highway.

Around the 60-mile total trip mark, the shivering started. I was bringing up the rear, so I did not force a stop. About 75 miles we finally hit a red light, and I suggested we "go this this place up the street," and get a drink. We stopped, but the place was closed. I admitted that I wanted to stop because of the cold - which they were as well. I can get a bit uppity about being the only all-weather rider of the three, so maybe they didn't want to look wimpy

The moral... We all should have dressed warmer. Cutting through 50-60 degree wind at 60MPH can really pull the heat out of you. Once I got home it was hours before I felt warm again, and today the muscles are far stiffer than 90 miles on an uncomfortable bike ussually causes. Also, I should have forced a stop of the group when I noticed how bad I was getting. If you are shivering, you are pretty desperately cold, and continuing to ride will only worsen the issue. Also, if you are shivering, and then stop shivering... Definitely pull over. That might be your body's way of saying, "I give up!" - a precursor to hypothermia.

--David

[jstark47]

Took me a while to learn this, but when my hands are cold, it can mean my torso needs more insulation. Body is pulling blood back in from the extremities. I hate putting the liner in my heavy riding jacket, 'cause it feels like I'm in a snow suit, but my hands stay warmer.

Trick is to stop before the shivering starts. Hot beverages are good. Stop at any convenience store, get hot coffee, tea, whatever, inside you. Your core temperature is down, gotta get it back up. David is right, if you're shivering then it stops, you're in deep doo-doo. By then your decision making capacity is shot. This is the a$$ bite with hypothermia: when you catch yourself thinking "it's not too bad, I can tough it out"....... your decision making is already off-track. Stop immediately.

My wife and I haven't winterized bikes the last 2 winters. This is stuff I've found out the hard way, 'cause I'm stubborn and a slow learner!

Jonathan

[safety-boy]

Last fall it was warm, and I wore my mesh jacket to work. When I left it was freezing out! Probably was close to hypothermia that time, as I was ready to stop anywhere I could go inside. Unfortunately, there was nowhere handy. about halfway home, the "this isn't so bad" feeling started... but by the time I got to civilization, I was practically home. Should have packed something like a light fleece sweatshirt, and believe it or not a windbreaker under a mesh jacket works wonders!

I am sure everyone knows booze does not help body warmth. And of course, booze and bikes are a bad mix (he says, remembering that many a ride is to get to a bar...).

--David

[sapaul]

You mentioned the booze, we had a speaker on one of our meeting nights and he came with a slide show with lots of charts and stuff telling us how being cold on the bike was the same as being drunk, the colder you get the more"drunk" you become and the same thing happens, you do not know your drunk and still deny it. He said that if there is any doubt pack two things in your pocket. Liners for your gloves and an extra pair of socks. He reckons those two things will make all the difference. It gets very cold here in winter but no rain or snow, bright sunny days but feezing cold. My heated grips make all the difference.

[safety-boy]

Finally got the top pad for my sissybar, so I can start packing the essentials - got myself a low budget sissybar bag (an Eastpack gearbag, 8"x10" or so)> Now I can have stuff with me instead of the typical "didn't bring it, don't have it" method

--Dave

[ejshotgun]

45 degrees and lower I automatically wear thermal underwear/double socks/ w/chaps/w/"heavy" leather jacket w/stocking cap/cloth glove inserts w/shorties (nose pickers).
If I ride for more than 30miles then it's full face helmet/face mask/hoody under jacket/leather gloves w/inserts.
If it's going to be 40 degrees or lower I do the full face helmet thing and depending on how far I ride I got some snow boarding "over pants" to keep out the extra cold.
I do ride when it's 30 degrees but I usually don't do anything over 20 or 30 miles (one way) unless I just have too.

I found this on another site WindChill but I only use it occasionally because it tends to make me re-think riding in cool weather. So usually only look at it to see how long I can ride in really cold weather 35 or below before frostbite starts to set in.