TEAM Arizona Riding Tip January: Man Up or Warm Up?
Last Updated: April 1st, 2024
We posed an interesting questions to our Facebook fans last month. What are you doing to stay warm in the cold weather. Not surprisingly, lots of folks replied with comments like, “I’m just manning up”, or “Layers”. Layering is a good strategy; it can be enhanced with heated gear. A quick look reveals the benefits of investing in some good heated gear.
HEATED GEAR BENEFITS
It would be too simplistic to say that the benefit of heated gear is that it keeps us warm. As motorcycle riders, we are engaging in an activity that not only requires gross motor control skill, but one that DEMANDS fine motor control skill. As we peel this onion, it is easy to see that staying warm doesn’t just provide comfort, but it provides safety.
We are safer in the following ways:
- COMFORT: Being comfortable on the motorcycle immediately transfers to being confident on the motorcycle. When we’re comfortable, we feel like we can maneuver the motorcycle with ease. Being comfortable reduces our reaction time and increases the likelihood that we’ll be able to brake, swerve, and corner as needed.
- FOCUS: Distractions can be external or internal. By eliminating the external distraction of cold weather, we also remove the internal distraction created by having the internal voice nagging us about how cold we are. The less distracted we are, the more we can pay attention to the task at hand: arriving safely at our destination.
- REDUCE FATIGUE: If the body has to work overtime to warm itself from the core, we expend a lot of physical energy that could be devoted to riding. Have you ever noticed, after a cold ride, how tired you might feel? By using heated gear, we can reduce fatigue and extend the ride.
IT CAN HAPPEN TO YOU
Experienced riders know that even though most people consider Arizona a desert, the environment is far more textured and complex. In fact, Phoenicians can wake up to near freezing temps several months out of the year. What some riders fail to understand is that once we start moving we are subject to a wind chill effect.
How about a scenario that hits close to home? Taking a look at the chart reveals that at 55°F, at 55mph, we can reach freezing temperatures. Hypothermia (subnormal body temperature) could be a reality for a rider at this point. This could mean a loss of concentration, slowed reactions, and a loss of smooth, precise muscle movement.
We know that motorcycling can sometimes be an expensive proposition. When it comes to being safe, we feel that we can’t invest enough. Heated riding gear is one of those investments that pays off not just today with a warm ride, but keeps paying off with future rides and winters to come. Will you, for your safety, join us in making that investment?
