Geez, I really don't know what to say about this idea of doing an intentional long trip in cold weather.

Some years back, as a result of unforeseen delays and tight deadlines, I rode my ST1100 about 1,000 miles or so from Kansas to Toronto in temperatures from 0° to -8° C (32 to 18F). Despite having a very expensive BMW cold temperature riding suit, Widder electric vest, electric chaps, electric gloves, heated handgrips, a larger than normal windscreen, etc., I found that the whole ride was very fatiguing.

I could ride for perhaps an hour at a time in reasonable comfort, but after an hour, I would notice that my overall awareness, reaction time, and judgement was starting to suffer. I would not want to make a trip like that again.

My biggest concern would not be frostbite or physical harm as a result of the exposure to the cold, it would be making a mental error (a judgement error) that would lead to an accident.

Michael

Well, maybe that´s what made you freeze....

CapoSakke is an expert on winter riding, and I ain´t, but I did some of that years ago, enough to know that thorough preparation (especially regarding your gear & the bike!) is everything.

Very challenging actually, to do 1600 kms within 24 hours in winter conditions. You´ll need to keep a decent average speed on snowy & icy roads. Surely ain´t for everybody.

Gear is everything and i don't condone the use of electrics however facts speak loud,Your body produces perspiration with electrics and as soon as you are at a stand still you produce even more but as soon as you start to move you will find that your perspiration cools at a much faster rate.I do not consider myself the expert on winter riding but i can say i have been in the most extreme conditions with wind chill factored in i have under my belt -63 over hundreds of kilometers,some days were 14 hours of endurance and the only cold part on my body was my feet due to improper fitting boots.
The helmet used was a BVS2 Skidoo helmet,It has a integral respirator with a filter to protect the lungs from freezing as well the stock visor worked perfectly until it got allot of snow in side from standing at the road side with it open in a blizzard,I had to replace it with an electric one that made a night and day difference.When the stock visor failed i was riding at night and i could not see a thing so when i opened it up to see where i was going i suffered frost bite within a minute on the only exposed skin, my cheek.
For the layering i wore the first layer of a polar tech followed by Fleese Hely Hanssen and the a ATV riding suit and that was all that was needed.My ride across Canada in the winter from the west Coast to the East Coast and back again is explained on my website,The story is still not completed yet but you can find out the troubles and mistakes that were learned along the way.

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2 Lost Canadians on a World Walkabout

Capo Sakke, looks like you have had some fun weekends winter riding on your ice butt race, I am kind of suprised to see the boys wearing reguler helmets with ski goggles on.On my ride i used self tapping carbide tipped studs what were you fellows using?

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2 Lost Canadians on a World Walkabout

4 years ago whilst returning across Norway, the Grotli pass was unseasonably cold, even by Scandanavian standards, my temp guage showed -38c, the news said -37c. either way it was cold.
everything made of flexible plastic broke, spare oil turned to rubber, I was hypothermic. Cold is dangerous, not because of freezing to death, but because it removes your inhibitions. You take more risks, because you don't really care. Your hands and feet are numb, but it doesn't matter, cos they don't hurt.
Fine if your heated kit works, but your stuffed if it fails. more complication= more failure. Batteries wont start cold engines easily, so preheating is essential, so the oil will pump. In the proper cold, simplicity rules. gloves stay on at all times, so fiddly stuff is no use.

On the positive side, ice is quite grippy at those temperatures.

It was one of the most spectacular and beautiful rides I have ever had.
(apart from the G/F)

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Harley Davidsons,
The most effective way of turning petrol into noise without the side-effect of horsepower

COOL RUN

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...You know it's a bit windy when you get passed by your own dust...

COOL RUN

That's the thing you must be prepared "mental error" in cold temp you brains are coming "slower" and you must be capable to recognised that before it's to late otherwise results could be very inexcusable....
What I have done it's based on decades practice of all kind of winter sports what include year after year mental and physical training.
I don't recommend to try any kind of challenge whit out thoughtful practice.
Hope you remember that before give a try. I'm willing to give advices how to do it if need it.
There is thousands of peoples who can run 100 meters in 10 seconds but only few can do it in 9,7......

Training is every thing

COOL Runnings

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...You know it's a bit windy when you get passed by your own dust...

Thank you for your kind offer, but I have long since determined that my preferred air temperature for riding is about +25°C. The long ride in freezing temperatures I made some years ago was a result of getting surprised by a totally unexpected polar high pressure area... for sure not something I would want to do again.

Michael

Total respect for being a freezing weather rider...

Not for me though.. I travel JUST to get away from the cold. I hate it !
We evolved out of Africa... Being cold is just not normal !

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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Being hot is even less normal !, just cant understand wanting to be dripping sweat, getting dehydrated, everything is harder in the heat its uncomfortable, helmets are awful to wear, protective gear is a hinderance and uncomfortable give me a cold one any day. That said minus 35 is just silly. Joe c90 I know your mad so its ok for you.
Riding in the cold means lots of high calorie hot - small meals every hour or two (warm up from the inside) it stops the brain slowing and lets your body recover while you eat and move around off the bike, get good multiple layers of wool/silk/down and a wind waterproof outer layer - nylon based so wind and water runs off not Cordura based stuff which just gets damp and freezes, heated clothing opens up the surface blood vessels tricking your body its warmer and so draws heat from your core so you actually cool down quicker - not good and very bad when you stop - your body temp plummets, fine for short trips or an occasional boost over a cool period but not for extended cold trips. Heated gloves or hand grips are a good aid to hands and worth having if your bike can support them. Good quality 100% wool/mohair socks with a loose knit and fluffy finish trap lots of air and work better than any high tech modern stuff I have ever seen or even better wool mixed with fur socks (don't wear as well as wool) but they are so warm (yes - you can get them in Finland - super warm) also worn with a fine silk sock next to the skin. your feet will stay alive in the coldest weather.

very cold:
No midges/mosquito's/ flying teeth
No tourists/campervans
No need for campsites
No trying to find water
Food never goes off
Tyres last well.
Maximum giggle factor

Nah not mad at all!

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Harley Davidsons,
The most effective way of turning petrol into noise without the side-effect of horsepower

I'd still rather be hot.. I rode through Sudan with temperatures of 49/50C and although I almost past out with the heat and dehydration, it beats riding around with numb fingers which you can't feel..

I ride all year through and I HATE the cold.. HATE IT HATE IT HATE IT !!

This is probably due to circulation problems in my hands that even with heated grips and winter gloves, my fingers feel like theres nails being driven through them.

The worst thing about the heat is trying to camp.. Your tent is like the inside of a sauna and you have to wait to pass out through heat exhaustion lol. Still, I think I prefered it to sleeping in at 4000m where the inside of my tent had icicles and I shivered myself to sleep...


A nice steady 25-30c would be just perfect


Still, respect to you crazy frozen bikers who ride in the cold for fun

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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

To quote Billy Connolly, "there is no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothing".

I find it far easier to stay warm than keep cool, so at minus-stupid it's just careful use of layers (which means the top ones are far too big without the lower ones). At high temperatures you can't win, wrap up and you boil, strip off and you burn/chaff.

WRT to the comments about heated jackets, I think they have a use. At minus 30 you have to assume the bike might die and if you don't want to follow it you'd better be dressed to survive. Only those who want to prove Darwins theory head into the top of Finland in January reliant on a waistcoat full of hair like wires. If you are dressed to be warm by body heat alone, you don't need the wires and risk of sweating until you are cold. I think the heated jackets corect use is about now in climates where you can't tell if it'll be 3-degrees and sleeting, foggy or 25 and sunny, or maybe all three if you are crossing hills. The ability to dress for comfortable riding at plus 10, uncomfortable survival at plus 3 and switch the jacket on to take the edge off the higher bits is just convienient.

The guys who scare me are the ones who decide to try somewhere cold without buying the oversize rain suit, skiing gear etc. thinking a 40W jacket will make it OK.

Andy