‘RIDING IN WINTER ISN’T JUST FOR TOUGH GUYS’
Vanessa rides a KTM off-road, a Harley-Davidson on it and believes that riders are really missing out if they only take to the roads in summer
Biking in winter has its challenges. The nights draw in and frosts arrive, but it can be rewarding to stay on two wheels. I’m saddened by bikers going on about putting their precious bike into hibernation, protected by ACF50, plugged into a trickle charger, and wrapped up in a tailored bike cover. Really? Dogs aren’t just for Christmas and bikes aren’t just for summer.
Riding under crisp blue winter skies has generated some of my most cherished riding memories. The dark nights may bring a bitter chill, but the combination of frosty mornings and the swift, magical dusks provide a great backdrop of escapism that lifts you out of the winter blues. In the right riding gear and with the right bike preparation, there’s pleasure to be had from beating Jack Frost and going for a blast. But if you’re anything like me, a hybrid human-reptile, you might struggle to stay warm when the mercury really drops. No matter how many layers of Merino you slap on, you’re still going to get cold. But science has the answer.
When we’re cold the body’s defence is to stop sending blood to our extremities, holding it back to keep vital organs cosy. But when we’re warm the warmth is shared. Our bodies constantly give off a heat-creating pocket of air around us like an invisible heated jacket. But on a bitter day when on our motorcycle, the airflow strips away the bubble quicker than our bodies can replace it, resulting in you getting cold and miserable. And the faster we go, the colder we get. Last year I was often ridiculed for stuffing a hot water bottle down my jacket. It did work, kind of, but I largely just ended up with a burnt belly for 10 minutes and then it went cold. Determined to one-up myself this winter, I’ve splashed out on a heated Gerbing jacket and gloves, and 100% Merino IceBreaker base layers to trap the heat. My shivering has been replaced by the politically correct version of cuddling a sheep while riding. Wafting along in toasty warmth, I’ve never felt so snug. No more being a ‘tough guy’ (or gal). Cold can kill you on a bike. Your reaction times diminish, your muscles don’t do what you want, your fingers burn with the cold, and accidents can happen in a flash. Being warm increases your safety, and riding pleasure. And riding all year improves your happiness. Just make sure you remember to unplug before dismounting, or you look like a horizontal bungee jumper.