BEAT THE COLD: WINTER RIDING TIPS AND TRICKS

Stay safe on two wheels throughout the depths of winter, with the help of this straightforward guide.

Riding a motorcycle at any time of the year demands caution, but riding through the winter can prove especially treacherous. That doesn’t mean you have to give up riding though, tucking your bike away in a darkened garage until the sun reappears. With the right kit, a little common sense, and some minor changes in your riding style, you can carry on riding safely through all but the worst of the winter weather.

Watch the weather

Keep an eye on the weather if you’re planning to get out on two wheels. If the temperature has dropped below freezing overnight, chances are patches of ice could easily form. Even if the weather looks mild, there’s no guarantee you’ll not encounter some ice on your journey.

If it’s snowing outside, try and avoid venturing out on your bike. You might think you’ve got the skills, experience and response times to handle it, but accidents do happen. In short, play it safe when the weather’s bad and don’t overestimate your abilities.

Cold weather, colder tyres

Cold weather means colder tyres, and colder tyres means limited traction. Simple. Of course, riding will help to increase a tyres’ heat and subsequently their traction – but even the briefest break in cold weather will allow your tyres to quickly cool, and you’re back to square one.

Don’t skimp; you’ll also need to ensure you’ve got plenty of tread left if you’re going to be riding through winter. If the weather takes a turn, you’ll need all the tread you can get to help channel away water and snow on cold roads. And be sure to check your tyre pressures too; ideally before every ride.

Bear in mind braking distances

There are a number of factors that can affect braking distances, including vehicle weight, speed, braking force and thinking time. Add winter road conditions to the mix and you’re going to want to adapt your riding to help keep you safe out on two wheels.

Braking distances in winter can increase up to 10 times, so the more space you give yourself, the better. Firstly, open up your line of sight and increase your visibility – basically, look further down the road than you usually would, to give yourself as much time as possible to react to hazards. Secondly, increase your following distance. Riding tight up the back end of a car is always a bad idea. Even in optimum conditions, you’re going to struggle to pull up in time – never mind if the road’s wet or icy.

Wrap up

Being cold and wet on the bike is not fun. In fact, you’ll become less alert, and your slower reaction times could leave you at risk. Insulated, nonbulky, wind and waterproof gear will maintain your body temperature and keep you at your sharpest when out on the road. Multi-layering works best – but it’s important to make sure you can handle your machine’s controls easily and effectively. There’s nothing worse than a bulky pair of gloves which make you catch your horn when you reach for your indicators.

In short, there is no doubt that a warm rider is far safer than one who is frozen solid in the winter chill. Being too cold can lead to shivering, exhaustion, confusion, memory loss, slurred speech, drowsiness, low energy, slow reaction times, and stiff and sore joints. Whereas, warm and comfortable riders are more alert, more supple, and better able to deal with emergency situations.

Stay alert and know your limits

For all the risks attached to winter riding, it surely still beats standing at a bus stop, fighting your way onto an overcrowded train or struggling to de-ice your car each morning. Just be sure to stay alert and stick within your limits.