5 Ways to Stay Warm on A Winter Motorcycle Trip

 It's winter again which means it's time to take the bike out for our last ride before storing it away until the spring. If you love riding your motorcycle, winter is the best time to go on a trip because the weather is perfect for both humans and machines. The relatively low temperature is very conducive for continuing to ride longer distances without overheating the engine and since the temperature is low, you don't feel the fatigue of sweating constantly all day. On top of that people learnt in a rush to get into the shade or in particular because they all love basking in the sun.  

  

But too much of everything is bad and so you need to save on and protect yourself from the low temperatures of winter, especially when you are facing a cold blast of winter wear on your chest and face while riding a motorcycle. Here are eight ways to stay on a winter motorcycle trip. 

  

Light a campfire 

At the end of the day is everything you need to feel the stress and fatigue melting away from your body and mind. Whenever possible try to have a campfire late at the end of your days ride and sit around with your riding buddies to share experiences and life stories. This is one of those simple yet memorable things that will stay with you for life and you will enjoy every moment of it. A campfire is also a great way to warm up your body before going to bed because at night the temperature starts dropping even more and you need to gather as much warmth as you can. One thing to remember while sitting around the campfire warming your hands is to keep your head completely covered to prevent dew drops from soaking your hair. Campfire and friends inevitably lead to drinks and getting tipsy! Just make sure not to consume a lot of alcohol because you will be miserable the next day.  

  

Invest in riding safety gears for winter 

Get yourself a motorcycle riding helmet that is specifically designed for keeping the wind out of your head. A nicely padded and softly lined motorcycle helmet will make it so much more comfortable for you to stay on the bike despite the chilling cold outside. If your helmet has started to show age and you don't feel warm wearing it, then it's time to replace it with a new helmet. In addition to the helmet, you are also going to need winter motorcycle riding jackets and ankle high boots that will prevent the cold air from getting inside from below. 

  

Ride when the sun is up 

Make sure to stay on the road and complete most of your ride during day time when the sun warms up the environment making it comfortable for you to ride longer.  However, if you are riding through the mountains then the shadow of the mountains or fog in the air can prevent the sun rays from reaching you. But despite that, the air will be much warmer compared to riding at night. It is always a good idea to start early as soon as the sun comes up, and make the best of daytime and spend the time after sunset with your friends around a campfire sharing experiences in stories. 

  

Stay dry  

Like we mentioned earlier, when you are riding in a cold area, especially in hilly or mountainous regions, the fog tends to hang low in the atmosphere for a long period of time even after sunrise. Riding through such areas will completely soak you and cool you down even if you have warm clothes on. Remember, no warm cloth is useful once it gets soaked! The cold air blowing from all directions will cool down the wet clothes even further and that will make it very difficult for you to continue with your trip without changing your clothes first. Always make sure to wear a windcheater or a polyethylene jacket on top of your riding jacket just to keep the moisture out of your inner clothing. Once you cross the foggy area, you can take it off and store it away in the motorcycle luggage box.  

  

Know when not to ride! 

When you are on a road trip there is an itinerary that you need to follow religiously otherwise you run the risk of extending your trip beyond your initial plan and that might not be possible for you especially if you are on leave from your job! But there are exceptions when you need to prioritize your safety and health over convincing your boss for an extension to your leave application.  Keep an eye on the weather every day and follow the itinerary only when the weather is conducive for riding a motorcycle. If it starts to snow heavily or there is a chance of rain with hail, it is highly advisable that you postpone the ride for the next day. The inherent nature of two wheels is to lose grip on slippery surfaces, and if there are conditions which make things dangerous for you on the road, it isn’t wise to risk your wellness.