| Riding your motorcycle during cold wet weather | | | | starts coming down. |
| requires planning, foresight and the right gear. Clothing | | | | Just my opinion on heated clothes. They work great |
| that seems fine when you are driving your car or | | | | when they work! I used to wear a heated vest and |
| walking down the street in the rain probably wont | | | | heated socks. I stayed warm and toasty even in |
| cut it at 70 miles an hour on your motorcycle. It | | | | really cold weather. One day in January one of my |
| takes the right gear to keep you warm under these | | | | heated socks quit working, I didn't realize it. I froze a |
| extreme conditions. Buy gear designed for | | | | couple of toes and darn near lost them. That was |
| motorcycling. There is a difference. Women riders | | | | enough for me! |
| have had a tough time finding gear made for them at | | | | A few general observations: |
| an affordable price until fairly recently. Happily myself | | | | Avoid real tight clothing. You loose that insulating |
| and other vendors are offering affordable quality | | | | warm air layer when you wear a jacket, pants or |
| gear tailored for women. | | | | boots that are too tight. |
| DRESS IN LAYERS | | | | Dress for comfort and protection. Wearing your |
| COVER ALL SKIN | | | | beany and a denim jacket when the chill factor dips |
| BLOCK THE WIND | | | | below 30 only impresses dummies. Surprisingly this |
| STAY DRY | | | | occurs at about 45 degrees F at 70 mph! |
| KEEP YOUR HEAD WARM | | | | Bring gear for the worst weather you may run into. |
| THE LAYERS | | | | You probably will. Those nice 70 degree October |
| Insulating Layer: The insulating layer creates dead air | | | | days sometimes turn into a rainy 35 degree ride |
| space between the layers of clothing, trapping warm | | | | home. |
| body air and keeping it around the body. Look for | | | | WIND CHILL |
| outerwear that is warm, water-resistant and well | | | | The cooling effect of wind at 70 mph is astounding. |
| insulated with a synthetic fiber such as Thinsulate | | | | Plan carefully before you leave. At about 10 degrees |
| Insulation. | | | | fahrenheit you are entering very dangerous territory. |
| Outer Shell: This layer protects against wind and rain. | | | | Wind chill is not something to fool with: |
| This is probably the most important layer. | | | | WIND CHILL @ 70 MPH |
| Outerwear Machine-washable jackets retain their | | | | DEGREES F-> 50 40 30 20 10 0 -10 |
| waterproofing better than those that require | | | | WIND CHILL 38 24 9 -6 -20 -35 -49 |
| dry-cleaning. Jackets with sealed seams also prevent | | | | HYPOTHERMIA |
| water from getting in. If you wear a non-leather | | | | 1. Hypothermia is a decrease in the core body |
| jacket get one designed for motorcycling. That | | | | temperature to a level at which normal muscular and |
| stylish $300 jacket you bought at the department | | | | cerebral functions are impaired." Hypothermia can |
| store probably won't work as well as a $100 jacket | | | | creep up on you and seriously reduce your thinking |
| you buy from me because it's not designed for | | | | abilities andcoordination. |
| motorcycling. Leather is a great wind stopper. A well | | | | 2. Conditions Leading to Hypothermia |
| made leather jacket designed for motorcycling will | | | | Cold temperatures Improper clothing and equipment, |
| last for years, keep you comfortable and protect | | | | Wetness, Fatigue, exhaustion, Dehydration, Poor |
| you in a skid. | | | | food intake, Alcohol intake - causes vasodilation |
| Look for outerwear containing Thinsulate and similar | | | | leading to increased heat loss |
| Insulation, it provides about 1 ½ times the | | | | 3. Temperature ranges at which hypothermia can |
| warmth of down and nearly twice the warmth of | | | | occur on your motorcycle: |
| other high-loft insulators when equal thicknesses are | | | | 32 DEGREES Below freezing ALWAYS DANGEROUS |
| compared. Look for features such as cuffs that close | | | | WITHOUT PROPER GEAR |
| tightly to keep out cold air and snow, zippers with | | | | 40 degrees - ENTERING DANGER ZONE: PROPER |
| large nylon teeth, and storm flaps over the zippers | | | | GEAR NEEDED IF RIDING MORE |
| and double breasted chest openings to block wind | | | | THAN A FEW MINUTES |
| and water. Cuffs, pockets and chest closures with | | | | 60 degrees - CAUTION! COVER EXPOSED SKIN |
| multiple closure systems such as zippers and snaps or | | | | ESPECIALLY IF IT IS RAINING. |
| zippers ,velcro and snaps tend to stop more wind. | | | | 4. WHAT TO LOOK FOR; SIGNS AND SYMPTOMSa. |
| Zip out liners are very handy. You can remove your | | | | Watch for stumbles, mumbles and fumbles which |
| liner when it is warm in the afternoon, store it in your | | | | show changes in motor coordination and levels of |
| saddlebag and put it back in when the temperature | | | | consciousness. Having troubles with controls, have to |
| dips. | | | | consciously think about where the brakes are etc. |
| Add leather or string ties to zippers etc so you can | | | | STOP AND GET WARM. DON'T DRINK ALCOHOL, |
| open and close them with your gloves on. | | | | THAT REDUCES BLOOD FLOW AND MAKES IT |
| Your neck Nehru or Euro style collars on jackets tend | | | | WORSE. A WARM DRINK WITH SUGAR HELPS.b. |
| to cover the neck better. A turtle neck sweater will | | | | Mild Hypothermia - core temperature 98.6 - 96 |
| help some. In really cold weather a balaclava or a | | | | degrees F |
| leather riding mask will make a big difference. | | | | AT THIS POINT YOU CAN MAKE DANGEROUS |
| Remember to cover your neck! By the time you | | | | MISTAKES; FORGET TO PUT ON THE BRAKES, |
| have traveled a half a mile in cold weather you will | | | | OVER OR UNDERSTEER A CURVE. ( ONE TIME I |
| know if you forgot to cover that adam's apple! | | | | STOPPED FOR A RED LIGHT AND FORGOT TO |
| Legs Protect your legs from the wind. There are a | | | | TAKE MY FEET OFF THE PEGS!) Shivering - not |
| variety of choices for protecting your legs. Chaps, | | | | under voluntary control Can't do complex motor |
| Leather pants and Textile pants. I sell a variety of | | | | functions, can still walk & talk Vasoconstriction |
| these items in various price ranges. All of my items | | | | to peripheryc. Moderate Hypothermia - core |
| are designed for motorcycling. Once again wear | | | | temperature 95 - 93 degrees F |
| layers; thermal underwear and lined pants or chaps to | | | | Dazed consciousness Loss of fine motor coordination |
| block the wind. When it gets cold a pair of Levis and | | | | - particularly in hands - can't zip up your jacket, due |
| long johns won't do it! | | | | to restricted blood flow to the hands.Slurred speech |
| Footwear Wet feet become cold and numb quickly, | | | | Violent shivering Irrational behavior - Paradoxical |
| keep your feet dry by wearing appropriate boots. | | | | Undressing - person starts to take off clothing, |
| When your feet become wet (through sweating or | | | | unaware s/he is cold MANY SYMPTOMS LIKE BEING |
| immersion) you need to put on dry, fresh socks. | | | | STONED. A person in this condition needs help. |
| Insulated boots help. Wear socks made of synthetic | | | | Immediately get them indoors. They may not be able |
| fibers like polyester and polypropylene. Make sure | | | | to make good decisions for themselves. If you or |
| your boots are loose enough to comfortably wear | | | | someone riding with you reaches this point reassess |
| thick socks. Avoid steel toe boots. A pair of cold | | | | your plans; Make frequent stops to warm up, get a |
| feet will ruin an otherwise great ride! | | | | room for the night or park the bike and get better |
| Headgear You loose most of your heat through your | | | | gear. You are taking a serious risk!d. Severe |
| head and neck! Wear a full face helmet with face | | | | Hypothermia - core temperature 92 - 86 degrees and |
| shield for optimum comfort. Leather masks cover the | | | | below |
| neck and lower face. Balaclavas cover the neck, face | | | | (immediately life threatening) You won't have any |
| and insulate your head. | | | | trouble noticing this stage. The person falls down, |
| Gloves Waterproof gloves lined with synthetic | | | | curls into a fetal position appears to die! Shivering |
| insulation such as Thinsulate insulation are effective | | | | occurs in waves, violent then pause, pauses get |
| insulators, keep your hands covered at all times. The | | | | longer until shivering finally ceases - because the heat |
| savvy rider has several pairs of gloves designed for | | | | output from burning glycogen in the muscles is not |
| various riding conditions: Fingerless gloves for warm | | | | sufficient to counteract the continually dropping core |
| summer riding. This cuts down on vibration, reduces | | | | temperature, the body stops shivering to conserve |
| calluses and offers some protection in a skid. Zip Cuff | | | | glucose. Person falls to the ground, can't walk, curls |
| Gauntlet gloves The next choice is usually flexible | | | | up into a fetal position to conserve heat. Muscle |
| gloves with thin lining that offer wind protection and | | | | rigidity develops - because peripheral blood flow is |
| a gauntlet cuff to keep wind from blowing up the | | | | reduced and due to lactic acid and CO2 buildup in the |
| jacket sleeves. I carry a pair all the time in my | | | | muscles. Skin is pale Pupils dilate Pulse rate decreases |
| saddlebag along with a pair of cotton liners to add | | | | at 90 degrees the body tries to move into |
| when it gets cold. They are handy even on cool | | | | hibernation, shutting down all peripheral blood flow |
| summer nights.For really cold weather I wear a pair | | | | and reducing breathing rate and heart rate. At 86 |
| of thick gauntlet motorcycling / ski gloves with thick | | | | degrees the body is in a state of "metabolic icebox." |
| insulate lining. Gauntlet cuff gloves are very important. | | | | The person looks dead but is still alive. |
| They fit over the jacket sleeve and keep ice cold air | | | | Make sure your passenger is dressed right before |
| from blowing up to your arm pits at 70 miles an hour! | | | | you leave. They may not know how to dress. It's up |
| Mittens keep hands warmer than gloves but offer | | | | to you to help them make the right choice. And |
| less dexterity. They are a definite no-no for riders or | | | | guess who is going to listen to them nag to wear |
| passengers. You can't feel the controls and the | | | | your nice warm jacket on the way home if they |
| passenger can't hold on! | | | | don't? |
| Rain Gear | | | | Keep these guidelines in mind the next time you |
| Keep a set of nylon rain gear in your saddlebag for | | | | venture out on that motorcycle in cold weather. |
| each person on the bike. They don't weigh much but | | | | You don't have to park that bike when fall rolls |
| they are a real life saver when the rain or sleet | | | | around. Just dress right and enjoy! |