Road conditions and weather can catch us off guard as the season changes. I pulled together some tips from a number of sources for us to keep in mind.
There’s a lot of information on the web about cold weather gear. A couple key points are:
- Dress in layers. Mornings and late afternoons can get cold, mid day can be warm. Be prepared to change layers for the conditions.
- Avoid cotton as a base layer. (cotton retains moisture, and wet clothes will be COLD)
- The sun stays lower longer, and gets lower earlier. Be prepared with a good pair of riding sunglasses.
- Wind chill can be a significant issue as slow as 30mph. Keep exposed skin protected.
- A neck gator, balaclava or face mask will help a lot. Even if you have a full face helmet, wind can get to your neck, and up under your helmet.
Here's an article with more detail on dressing in layers:
http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/streetsurvival/0802_crup_street_survival/index.htmlWatch for leaf covered road conditions. Wet leaves will be particularly slippery, and even if they look dry, they may actually be wet underneath. Visual cues (such as leaves blowing around on the road) might help you evaluate whether or not they're dry. So: see leaves, assume they're wet if you aren't 100% certain they're dry. Reduce lean angle if possible; minimize hard braking or acceleration when you're forced to ride through them.
Anything in the "shade" (roadside tree shade, even the "shade" created by leaves themselves) is going to be colder and more likely wetter--or even icy, even when the rest of the road surface may be dry and warm. In early mornings during fall, ice is often prevalent in shady areas. Leaves may also cover other road safety concerns, such as large sticks, potholes, or even road markings that may increase the slipperiness of the leaves. Be cautious when riding into leaves and shady road conditions.
Critters may get more active in the fall, especially deer. Watch for movement off the road and be prepared to take evasive action.
