Failure to adequately anticipate and prepare for the possibility of precipitation compounds a motorcyclist’s exposure to any and all of the above cold weather riding risks. Risk-The evaporative cooling effect of water on skin will cause a wet rider to lose body temperature much faster. Mitigation-Avoid riding in sub-freezing temperatures. Because mountainous areas can create their own climatic conditions, weather conditions and road surfaces can deteriorate quickly at higher altitudes. Black ice is a treacherous hazard, because riders may not identify it before it’s too late to take evasive action. Risk-Once the temperature falls below freezing, the risk of a slippery road surface, caused by ice or snow, is greater. Mitigation-Seek warm shelter and medical attention as necessary.Īccidents Resulting from Loss of Traction Injuries sustained in an accident are potentially made more serious by cold temperatures. Risk-Even the early stages of hypothermia or frostbite can substantially decrease a rider’s situational awareness and ability to avoid an accident. Mitigation-Riding gear should cover and adequately insulate all exposed skin, and it should leave no indirect pathways for cold air to enter or warm air to escape.Īccidents Resulting from Impaired Thinking, Judgment, and/or Dexterity The risk of frostbite in cold weather is dramatically higher for exposed skin. Your body is programmed to preserve the brain and other vital organs first, which may cause a reduction in blood flow to the extremities. Another factor that can accelerate frostbite is if core body temperature is also falling. Ears, nose, hands, and feet are particularly susceptible. Once blood stops flowing to frostbitten skin, tissue death begins. Risk-Prolonged skin-tissue temperature of 23 degrees or less can cause temporary (superficial) or permanent (deep) damage to skin and blood vessels. In the case of advanced hypothermia, seek medical assistance promptly. The body needs to be warmed up by getting off the bike at a location with warm shelter, consuming warm liquids, and evaluating whether it is safe to continue in current weather conditions. Mitigation-It’s vitally important that riders recognize and address a hypothermic condition promptly. The next and final symptom of hypothermia may be death. These symptoms indicate that the body’s metabolic processes are shutting down. Decrease in shivering followed by rigidity of muscles.The initial symptoms, which usually begin slowly, are likely to include one or more of the following:Īn advanced stage of hypothermia is often indicated by one or more of these symptoms: Risk-Once core body temperature falls below 95 degrees (remember, normal is 98.6), hypothermia has set in. Mitigation-Ride at lower altitudes in cold weather reroute where necessary to avoid high mountain passes. When your route takes you up an additional 6,000 feet, however, the ambient air temperature will be around 29 degrees, without considering the effect of wind chill. Let’s say you’re riding along, moderately insulated, at a comfortable 50 degrees. The rule of thumb is that for every 1,000 feet of additional altitude the temperature will drop by approximately 3.5 degrees. Risk-Temperatures drop as riders gain altitude. ![]() This can be supplemented with insulating base layers and/or heated gear, depending on the level of protection needed. ![]() Mitigation-A rider’s first defense against wind chill is a windscreen, fairing, and a wind-resistant outer layer of riding gear, including a full-face helmet, gauntlet-style gloves, heavy socks, and boots and neck protection. Riding in 10-degree weather at 60 mph is the equivalent of -19 degrees. For example, 40-degree ambient air temperature with 60 mph of wind converts to 25 degrees. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association’s (NOAA) Office of Climate, Water, and Weather Services publishes a wind chill chart that explains the effect wind has on temperature. Risk-Wind velocity effectively lowers the air temperature a motorcyclist is riding through. Although many of us like to ride throughout the year, there are additional risks that need to be mitigated for cold weather riding: Wind Chill Those of us living in the northern latitudes have recently been in the grip of a particularly cold blast of winter weather.
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