TEAM Arizona Riding Tip: MacGyver Your Ride Part I

Published: Posted on by admin

Last Updated: February 6th, 2021

Riding around Europe, we run into a few situations riders might not typically encounter.  Since we have very little luggage space and couldn’t have possibly thought of EVERY riding scenario, inevitably we miss a thing or two.  Happily, the items we haven’t missed come to our rescue.  In this piece, we’ll discuss how to keep those hands warm!

JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED

So you set off on your trip and aren’t expecting any cold weather, then BAM!  A cold front moves and suddenly your summer motorcycle gloves just aren’t getting the job done and the grip warmers haven’t seemed to make their way onto your ride just yet.  What do you do to keep your hands warm?

blue nitrile glovesSNAP goes the blue nitrile glove as you place it onto your hands before slipping into your regular motorcycle gloves.  Yep, you read that right.  Latex gloves underneath your summer gloves will help you cut some of the cold your hands experience.  Also, it will help with waterproofing.  You may experience a bit of too much warmth and your hands may start to sweat.  It may not be a perfect solution, but if we are to error on one side, we want our hands to be able to move freely to manipulate our motorcycle’s controls.

GETTING IT DONE

The first step is to locate a glove if you haven’t already packed some extras in your luggage.  There are a few ways this can happen:

  • Go to an auto store or any big box store (Walmart) and buy yourself a bunch.
  • Stop off at a local auto repair shop.  Most of the time they’ll empathize with your situation and donate a pair or two (even in a foreign country!).
  • Some gas stations are now providing nitrile, and in some cases, plastic gloves for pumping gas.  In a pinch, these might be the next best thing to having frozen fingers.  Plus, you can use the air dryers to heat your hands before venturing out on your next leg.

Of course, if your hands are losing their dexterity and you’re unable to properly control your motorcycle, we advise riders to stop riding immediately.  Why risk a crash when simply warming up your hands could solve the problem?

Do you have any interesting ways to keep your hands warm when the riding gets unexpectedly cold?  We’d love to hear about your solutions.  Visit us on Facebook and tell us your ideas!

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