Staying Safe on Your Bike: Winter Riding Tips

Cold weather riding requires the right riding gear, and if you’re not willing to invest in it, you should skip the winter rides. Why? Because without the right gear, you risk hypothermia and frostbite< — both of which put you in danger of an accident.

So here’s how to dress for a winter ride. First, start by layering with full leg and full sleeve under clothes so you can stay warm and let your skin breathe. After your base layers are on, a Gore-tex winter suit and boots are ideal, but so long as you’re in waterproof gear made for riding and you’re layered, you should be ok. A balaclava is a good choice for under your helmet and it can function as a neck warmer, too, without adding too much extra bulk. If you don’t have a winter helmet, consider getting one, and while it should be common sense — don’t ever do any riding in the colder months without a full-face visor. Lastly, if you don’t have heated grips, get yourself a good pair of waterproof, winter riding gloves — your regular riding gloves won’t be as effective against the cold.

Consider making a winter emergency kit part of your gear. It may make a big difference one day.

Motorcyclists always need to pay close attention to road conditions, but in the wintertime, road conditions can really wreak havoc. Wet roads, black ice, potholes, and road salt all create potentially deadly road conditions. It’s important to learn as many safety tips for driving on icy and slippery roads.

Road salt can cause corrosion of the metal parts of your bike, but it can also create slippery conditions. Slow down when you see it and avoid it when you can. With wet roads and the potential for black ice, you need to increase your following distance and reduce speed on curves. Stopping distances can increase considerably on winter roads, so be sure to give yourself all the room you might need.