Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Planning, Trip > Route Planning
Route Planning Where to go, when, what are the interesting places to see
Photo by Daniel Rintz, Himba children, Namibia

The only impossible journey
is the one
you never begin

Photo by Daniel Rintz,
Himba children, Namibia



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 18 Dec 2007
Land Sailor's Avatar
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Edmonds, WA, USA
Posts: 13
Arctic in the Winter?

Has anyone ridden to the Canadian Arctic in the winter?
Land Sailor
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 18 Dec 2007
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Canada
Posts: 146
Winter Riding

There are a number of people who've ridden in the arctic in winter. Here's one... Ride up for Autism.ca I also recall seeing a Traveller's story on the HUBB about a rider who went across Siberia in the winter, but I can't find it just now. One key thing to keep in mind is that many parts of the arctic are dark 24 hours a day for a considerable part of the winter season. Get good lights!!
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 18 Dec 2007
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Sax, Spain
Posts: 901
Cold!

Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 18 Dec 2007
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: quebec city
Posts: 41
it's all about tire

Hi

From my experience (I live in Canada , not in artic, but it'is -15 celcius today and there is already (december 18 ) 165 cm of snow here) , I would never ride with standard tire on snow again. I would try to find one with metal pins or made it myself with screw. It's juste an idea I never made it.

Distance are huge in canadian artic, I don't know how long those type of tire can keep a resonable grip.

also think about the difficlty to start your engin at minus 40

FranK
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 18 Dec 2007
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Sax, Spain
Posts: 901
owwwwww!

Quote:
Originally Posted by frankkyboy View Post

-15 celcius today and there is already (december 18 ) 165 cm of snow here) think about the difficlty to start your engin at minus 40

Too Cold!, Too Much Snow, not enough.

How do you cope????????????
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 19 Dec 2007
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Saudi Arabia
Posts: 173
Give Me Some Snow

It's Christmas and no snow here.
I can't imagine riding in the arctic I nearly got hyperthermia crossing the mountains one December in Saudi. At fuel stations they thought I was mad when I sat on the floor and hugged the engine.
Cheers
Ian
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 19 Dec 2007
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: N.Yorkshire
Posts: 336
the biggest danger is the creeping hypothermia, your hands feel cold, initially you keep stopping to warm them up.
after a while you leave it longer between hand warming sessions.
eventually they don't hurt, so you continue. a bit longer. By this time you could well be hypothermic without realising. I admit to not having any heated equipment, but with a 50w genny, it wasn't an option.
The problem is the concentration goes, on icy roads, with hgv's this could easily be fatal. I had a close shave at -36c in scandanavia, luckily there was a hotel nearby to thaw out in.
be very careful.
__________________
Harley Davidsons,
The most effective way of turning petrol into noise without the side-effect of horsepower
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 19 Dec 2007
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Oslo, Norway
Posts: 521
Sound advice there from JoeC90. It's by all means doable to ride in the winter, but you must above all be prepared to cope with unexpected events. What if your bike breaks down in the middle of nowhere in -30 centigrades? In any case it's a thrill to ride in the winter time. Sheer fun, and the fellow bikers you meet along the way are every bit as crazy as yourself

In Norway, many winter riders put these babies into their Pirelli MT21's or other knobbly tires:



They are to screw into your tire, and comes in 18 and 30 mm length - the latter usable only on thick ice/snow. In the spring they can be taken out of the tire and re-used later. They are really durable - they tried them on tires on a large tractor and ran it extensively on bare asphalt. None of the spikes came out.

Here screwn into a car tyre:



Can be ordered at e.g. Norwegian Agri purchasing Co-op.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 19 Dec 2007
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Saudi Arabia
Posts: 173
Creaping Hypothermia

Yep, I got the shivvvvvers and because I had to get back to go to work I started taking risks and now I look back I should have stopped. Your mind plays tricks, I would ride over one mountain and pray for the road to drop down into the next valley where it was warmer and all the time I am thinking, this can't be happening, I'm in Saudi Arabia.
The Arctic ? Noooooo way, not for me anyway.
Cheers
Ian
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 19 Dec 2007
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 15
There are few roads in the Canadian arctic, most of them are very remote and heavily used by trucking convoys when the ground is frozen. This makes for dark, low visibility, dangerious roads. It can easily get -40 to -50 (not including wind chill) so getting lost or stuck can cost you your life.

That being said, if you do try such a feat, bring the proper gear, many people use a motorcycle side car to keep the rubber down. I do a lot of winter trail riding up north, and it doesnt take long for the hands and feet to go completely numb...
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 19 Dec 2007
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Oslo, Norway
Posts: 521
These might help you to avoid cold fingers. However, I'm not sure what to call them - winter handlebar muffs? Anyway, I use them all the time during winter, and they keep my hands warm. I can even go with thinner gloves to get more handlebar "feeling" and still be very warm. Coupled with handlebar heaters, you can't go wrong, really.



Several Norwegian bike accessories dealers have these available for ca 40 euro incl VAT, e.g.
www.mc-utstyr.no.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 20 Dec 2007
Land Sailor's Avatar
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Edmonds, WA, USA
Posts: 13
Many Thanks!

Thank you all very much for the sound advise and links to great equipment and resources.

I am still considering my options but am leaning toward a trip to the Canadian Arctic probably in early April. I want to ride the ice road to Tuk from Inuvik. I use to race sled dogs and have slept out often at -20F so feel comfortable with the cold but do want to equip my bike to so as to stay verticle.

Anyway thanks again for your sound advise and for taking the time to respond to this thread.

Merry Christmas,
Land Sailor
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 20 Dec 2007
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: quebec city
Posts: 41
Hello !

I don't see a reason why you couldn't make it. Have you consider the snowmobile option ? It's very popular here, if millions of peoples have fun to ride there snowmobile all day long here, there is no reason why with similar clothing you condn't make it on 2 weels. Exept maybe the fact that riding a snowmobile is a lot more an active ridind tant you a alway have to apply a lot of force to steer in the snow in a normaly smaler trails with more curves than a road and riding a motorcycle at the opposit you have to restrain your mouvement to keep you in balance.

don't forget to chage your oil for a winter one, a more fluid one in low temperature help your engine in cold starting.

(p.s. here minus 15 is nothing , there is an avrage of 10 days per winter with temperature below -30, but at this time of the year 1,75m of snow (10 is actualy falling with 80 km/h wind ) is a lot for this time of the year, we usualy got 3,20 m /year ) and the winter start only officialy december 21)

FranK
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 20 Dec 2007
Land Sailor's Avatar
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Edmonds, WA, USA
Posts: 13
Good Advise

Thanks, Frank. Good advise regarding changing the oil to a higher viscosity. I think if I go in early April that the weather will still be cold but probably around -20c. I want to go before the ice is off the Mackenzie so I can ride the river to Tuk. Otherwise I would probably would not go at all. I have spent a lot of time in Alaska and lived there for several years. In fact had a racing dog team for several years.

Also, I from what I hear the heated clothing available today is excellent.

Again, Thanks for the advise.

Land Sailor
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 24 Dec 2007
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Canada
Posts: 146
Arctic Travel

For what it's worth, Landsailor, you may want to have a look at Dave Barr's story/book about travelling across Siberia in the winter (finally remembered his name) . Look in the Traveller's Story section.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Vladivostok-Mongolia-Europe in Winter Panmundo-Tobias Northern and Central Asia 6 28 Nov 2007 16:13
Vladivostok-Mongolia-Europe in Winter Panmundo-Tobias 4 wheel Overland Travel 4 9 Oct 2007 16:45
about the winter.... Ruioliveira Travellers' Advisories, Safety and Security on the Road 13 28 Sep 2007 07:56
Any brits fancying some short winter rides? McGowan Travellers Seeking Travellers 4 8 Nov 2004 23:18
Europe Winter Riding Info needed maxonbike Europe 14 12 Nov 2003 20:03

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

HU Event and other updates on the HUBB Forum "Traveller's Advisories" thread.
ALL Dates subject to change.

2024:

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

HUBBUK: info

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 06:50.