Weather, Riding and You

Weather affects our lives on an almost daily basis. It can determine what we wear, where we go, what we do and how we do it. We talk about it often. We gaze out windows to check the sky for signs of rain, and we listen more attentively when the forecast is given on the morning or evening news. Weather is important. At this time of year, as both a pedestrian and motorcyclist, it is especially important  because it really does determine what I wear, where I go and how I might get there. As we approach the shortest and darkest day of the year, we are not only well into the rainy season, but also approaching lower temperatures. Because of the ice and wind-chill exposure, I avoid riding in temperatures lower than 5 degrees Celsius. Similarly, if the rain is so heavy it seriously impairs my vision and tire traction, I’ll park my bike and wait it out, use an alternative means of transportation or stay home.

Recently, I heard a forecast for rain in the morning followed by showers. Since I was going out on my bike to a medical appointment about 15 minutes away, I wanted to know what I should expect. To be honest, I didn’t know the difference between “rain” and “showers” so it was time to find out. Fortunately, The Weather Network has an entire page dedicated to definitions of this kind. Rain means: the sky will be overcast and the rain will be continuous, with water droplets greater than 0.5 mm in size. Objects will get wet quickly and outdoor activities will be affected. When heavy rain is forecast, flooding is possible. Showers, on the other hand, means: some sun is expected, interspersed with showers from time to time. As opposed to rain, showers describe liquid precipitation that can vary greatly in intensity over a short amount of time.  There are over forty more weather terms and definitions meteorologists  use on The Weather Network site as well as, of course, the weather forecast. Bookmark it or download the mobile app because it might just help you ride a little more safely.

As a rider, the other main weather concerns I have besides rain, as mentioned above, are temperature and wind chill. The two go hand in hand. Wind chill factor can get a little complicated, but the gist of it is knowing that if the wind is calm and the weather is dry and the temperature outside is 5 degrees Celsius, for example, and you are riding your motorcycle at 50 km/hr, it can “feel” as if it is -1 degree, which is below freezing. Of course, if you are well insulated, then it may not and if your skin is wet or you are riding against the wind, then it will feel much colder than -1 C. Both Environment Canada and the United States National Weather Service have Wind Chill Factor Index calculators on their websites that you can access in addition to the science and math behind it. It’s worth noting that some people are also more susceptible to the effects of wind chill, according to Environment Canada, such as the elderly, people with a tall, slim build and those who do not live in a cold climate. If you do happen to be riding and become cold, try to find a dry, sunny location and get warm by running on the spot, drinking something hot and adding on another layer of clothing. Hypothermia occurs when you are cold over a prolonged period of time and causes a drop in body temperature below the normal 37 degrees C. Shivering, confusion and loss of muscular control can occur. That’s dangerous, needless to say, when you’re riding a motorcycle on a winding mountain highway. It can progress to loss of consciousness and cardiac arrest. You just don’t want to go anywhere near there or it may be the last trip you ever take.