What to do this winter?

[Aucker]

Its getting more colder and depending how bad this winter will be it may take its toll on us bikers?

Any pointers on what to do during winter to keep your bike running sweet? I'm glad mine is garaged ...and do you change your riding gear to suit too?

[vifferman]

It's OK, Aucker - you're living in D'Auckland, where it's fairly mild. I rode all year round when I lived in Chch, including riding in the snow twice, so we've got it pretty sweet here. Apart from the rain...
And D'Auckland drivers...

Only tips apply to everyone: make sure the bike is properly maintained, tyres good, chain lubed, brakes working well, etc. And in my case, coat the whole bike with pork fat, so it keeps the rain and religious people out of the workings.

I also make sure that my visor is kept clean with Plexus, as it aids visibility in crap conditions, and makes the rain slide off more readily. Just don't use it (or engine degreaser - but that's another story) on your tyres....

[MD]

It's OK, Aucker - you're living in D'Auckland, where it's fairly mild. I rode all year round when I lived in Chch, including riding in the snow twice, so we've got it pretty sweet here...
And D'Auckland drivers...

Thats the spirit, we all need reminding its worse somewhere else. I was just about to moan on about another crap wet, cold n windy weekend coming up. But you're right, I rode for years in Chch and thats COLD on a whole new level compared to Welly.
Nah stuff it I want to moan. GIVE US A FINE BLOODY WEEKEND

[Big Dog]

Crikey by international standards it is still summer you know.

Just pay attention, never ride tired because tired + cold = slow reactions and poor conce... what was I saying?

Do your jacket up several minutes before you swing a leg. This gives your insulation time to warm up before it has to do its job (slow down the rate your core temp drops).

Avoid wearing denim as the only pants you have on as the denim will hold the water and act as a heat exchanger taking the heat out of your legs and giving it to the atmosphere (simulating sweating) (a $10 pair of warehouse rainpants, the nylon work better and last longer, will do wonders and will fit under the seat on most models.

Drink lots of fluids all day (caffine does not count as it dehydrates) as cold weather wind chill causes you to dehydrate just as quickly as running on a hot day.

Remain positive. If you focus on the annoying parts about being wet cold and miserable you cannot concentrate as effectively on the job at hand (keeping the shiny side up and the black bits down). Also focusing on the positive sides help you to enjoy the experience.

Make sure you know how to use both brakes independantly. I regularly make "practice trips" without using a particular component against the day something stops working. Also if you are confident with both brakes you can use the front brake effectively (75% of your stopping power), your back brake (to supplement and to shift some of the weight off the front wheel if applied before the front), and your engine brake (unless you are a 2 stroker) (to mellow out your braking).

Practice cornering with as little lean as you can muster. To maximise your contact patch should you encounter a slippery surface.

Start braking 2 seconds earlier than you think you need to. So that if the situation changes you have plenty of grip left.

If you find you are still cold with all your gear on try a silk scarf as a bandanna. Light weight and it retains most of the heat from your breath and slows down the rate that your breath carries off your moisture. Sounds kinda gay but it works better than neoprene, wool or mircofibre and you should be able to pick them up for $1 a dozen at your local op shop.

Pay attention to what other road users are doing. Give that car with fogged up windows extra space coz they can't see you, etc.

Keep positive and accept responsibility for your own safety.

[sparrow_34]

Great advice Big Dog. I also keep a polyprop long sleeve T-shirt and long johns under the seat in case it turns nasty. Still Keeps you warmish even if wet, compared to cotton or jeans etc.

[Big Dog]

Still Keeps you warmish even if wet, compared to cotton or jeans etc.

Thats the great thing about the silk scarf when you are warm enough it will fold down to the size of a pen with negligible weight.

Just a leather jacket a siglet and a t-shirt (and pants) used to be enough to ride in -4 for 1/2 hour at a time with the scarf. without it I needed an extra jersey and long johns.

[MikeL]

Any pointers on what to do during winter ?

Yes. Every day, remind yourself how lucky you are not to be living in Minnesota or Moscow (or, even worse, Birmingham), and just get out there and ride!

[Zed]

Its getting more colder and depending how bad this winter will be it may take its toll on us bikers?

Any pointers on what to do during winter to keep your bike running sweet? I'm glad mine is garaged ...and do you change your riding gear to suit too?

I have felt the temperature drop over the last month or so and are already wearing my woollen neck warmer which stops the cold wind getting up under my helmet. Gloves is an obvious one for maintaining the feeling in your fingers- yet I keep seeing bikers on the way to work wearing NO gloves??

That guy Big Dog has some sound practical advice. Not too sure about the silk scarf though- may have to try it in secret?


Zed

[Jackrat]

Personaly I'm gonn'a park up the bike an concentrate on killing things.
Like If we're not ment to eat animals,How come their made of meat??
Yum,yum.

[Marknz]

Ride the bike when you can and sit down to watch the MotoGP on Sky late on a Sunda...... oh no, that idea's fucked as well

[brit_vtr]

Yes. Every day, remind yourself how lucky you are not to be living in Minnesota or Moscow (or, even worse, Birmingham), and just get out there and ride!

Birmingham....USA, or UK ??, hey wait a minute they are all just part of the USA arn't they ??, anyway its spost to be summer here...yep road home in a thunder storm, nice.

[Ghost Lemur]

Birmingham....USA, or UK ??, hey wait a minute they are all just part of the USA arn't they ??, anyway its spost to be summer here...yep road home in a thunder storm, nice.

So no freaky 40º heatwave this year? Bet you had fun last summer though.

[brit_vtr]

So no freaky 40º heatwave this year? Bet you had fun last summer though.

Not yet but the hottest months arn't until September/August (school holiday time)......then everything falls apart (if it reaches those temps again).

[Big Dog]

Now that we are in the right place mentally or as american corporates put we have "had a check up from the neck up", lets move on to practical matters.

According to several studies most "lock up" involved accidents are caused by insufficient heat in the brakes due to them now being "water cooled", but especialy in the case of sport bikes they require to be at fairly high temps to operate properly. I "warm and dry my brakes" by riding to the end of my street with the front brake (20 odd meteres) on and another twenty odd with the rear on.

Without application it takes about 20km's to reach operating temps. Something to think about for those off us who only commute 10-15 kms each way.

I also dab them after hitting deep puddles or being sprayed by other motorists, as most brakes are next to useless for the first revolution or two when wet.

In an effort to gain better skid control I used to practice first on mountain bike in gravel then on the bike until I could lock up the back wheel without too much panic, or too much fishtailing.


Avoid painted roadmarkings, steel plates and anything else that is shinier or duller than the rest of the road.
If you do start to "step out" the back end a "kick" to your outside foot peg should arrest this. Alternatively "relax" your throttle one or two dgrees.
DO NOT SNAP IT SHUT!
Or you will almost certainly high side. If you are travelling fairly slow you can pull the clutch in but over a certain speed (dependant on type of bike and your weight), you once again risk high siding it if the hook up is too violent.

Another option is to just ride it out with some counter steer. This is the easiest to do but requires the most spare road, because it is the same technique as skid control from braking.

[Big Dog]

Then there is the bike.

Riding in the wet is a lot like sex with a prostitute.
Not everyone is game, even though it is the same "activity".
There is increased risk, even though it is the same "activity".
You increase the risk of dying if you are not wearing decent rubber!


Check your tyres regularly, for tread depth, unusual markings and pressure. If in doubt as a pro.

Check your brakes regularly, by doing a couple of drills, front brake only rear brake only and both together. Do it in the wet as any flaws will be magnified. Visually check for meat on the pads. I got lazy recently and it was only discovered I was down to the metal a couple of months after they would have worn out. Despite a WTS warrant.

Check your suspension, on the same drills is there any oily residue? Is the dive excessive? If the front feels vague and there is excessive dive it would pay to get them set up to your weight before riding hard in the wet. Unless you weigh 72kgs exactly it is unlikely that your suspension will be ideal out of the box.

Ultimately look after your bike and it will look after you, and remember it is not any more dangerous than normal riding as long as YOU look after you. It is a different skill set and regular wet riding will ultimately make you a better more patient rider or failing that a better judge of the weather.

All of the pros practice in the wet (even if they don't like it). Some are even faster in the wet.