I have this competitive streak in me that forces me to go out and record these videos. I really don't like it but unfortunately it seems to be part of who I am. Yesterday afternoon, I wandered around the local area to record a couple of videos for the Polar Bear Challenge. This is in spite of temperatures well below 0°F but it really was a beautiful day to be out riding. The temperatures keep me "local" as I probably wouldn't be willing to even change a rear tire on the road at these temperatures.
The heated gear repairs are working well. The jacket liner was the only one running on "high". The heated grips were only at 20% power and the gloves were at medium. I should have worn the face mask that came with the helmet as my glasses kept fogging up after stopping to take a temperature and odometer videos.
On that note, here are the next three videos recorded and submitted last week.
Windshield, heated gear and a third wheel makes a world of difference. And the engine starts easily with the enricheners on. The Beemer starts just as well at these temperatures. In either case, it starts on the first compression. I'm getting ready to head out to the BMW Airheads get together at the local micro-brewery and it's a balmy -4°F.
For the most part, the videos are pretty boring. Just done to have something to submit. Every submission has to have at least 3 minutes of riding video. I usually just do that when taking off and after a few minutes, stop recording. But #8, I rode out to North Pole and recorded a bit more. And #15/#16 will be out to the Silver Gulch and back.
Did I miss a ride thru town? Do you ever spin through downtown neighborhoods? Just curious what parts of the city look like.
Happy to report no snow here. Not one person I have talked with is sad about that either. We are enjoying seeing the ground and walking without fat boots.
Thanks for the link. Postcard pretty anywhere gets boring to me after awhile, so I like to see neighborhoods and cities, etc. The streets just look like I would expect- full of grit and ick after snowplowing. I like the two city workers at the end sweeping :^)
Not much architectural uniqueness downtown; very utilitarian buildings. You need more Germans in Alaska. What are all the flags flying on Barnette?
Yesterday I found that with the gear and heated grips I was never cold while riding. But when I got home, I found myself chilled. My hands actually became cold at home. I suspect there is a hypothermia risk where your whole body is slowly chilling, even if parts are actually perceiving warmth.
Do you ever feel that way? I mean below zero F is friggin cold. Plus factor in the wind chill at speed, you're probably at -30F, no?
So far, not yet. If your core temperature drops, circulation to your hands and feet will slow down. The heated gloves and grips may compensate for that and keep your hands warm. When it's below 0°F, I need to hear a fleece liner on top of the heated jacket liner or I'll feel the cold on my chest and back. The heated liner seems to do a good job or heating the outside of my arms and upper back but seems to ignore anything else.
Wind chill is only a meaningful number when you are talking about heat loss from exposed skin. If you use the NWS wind chill table, highway speed on my coldest ride would be equivalent to -90°F. It felt cold but not that cold.
The Roadcrafter one piece suit does a great job of trapping a layer of air next to you and is significantly warmer than the jacket/pants setup even though they actually have some insulating value. The Roadcrafter is just a single layer of Goretex. No liner or insulation.
I should be use to it by now but I'm still fascinated that the bike (and you) can operate at those temperatures, competitive or no.
ReplyDeleteWindshield, heated gear and a third wheel makes a world of difference. And the engine starts easily with the enricheners on. The Beemer starts just as well at these temperatures. In either case, it starts on the first compression. I'm getting ready to head out to the BMW Airheads get together at the local micro-brewery and it's a balmy -4°F.
DeleteBrrrrr! Those are some cold (and slick) rides!
ReplyDeleteNot too cold when everything is working. When the gloves broke, it started to feel cold.
DeleteYou really get this going, eh? I, for my part, enjoy your winter trips very much (while cuddled in a blanket on my sofa).
ReplyDeleteFor the most part, the videos are pretty boring. Just done to have something to submit. Every submission has to have at least 3 minutes of riding video. I usually just do that when taking off and after a few minutes, stop recording. But #8, I rode out to North Pole and recorded a bit more. And #15/#16 will be out to the Silver Gulch and back.
DeleteDid I miss a ride thru town? Do you ever spin through downtown neighborhoods? Just curious what parts of the city look like.
ReplyDeleteHappy to report no snow here. Not one person I have talked with is sad about that either. We are enjoying seeing the ground and walking without fat boots.
There is this video that I did last April of the downtown area of Fairbanks.
DeleteMany here would rather see colder rather than warmer winter temperatures. Warm = mess.
Thanks for the link. Postcard pretty anywhere gets boring to me after awhile, so I like to see neighborhoods and cities, etc. The streets just look like I would expect- full of grit and ick after snowplowing. I like the two city workers at the end sweeping :^)
DeleteNot much architectural uniqueness downtown; very utilitarian buildings. You need more Germans in Alaska. What are all the flags flying on Barnette?
No, not much architectural uniqueness anywhere in Fairbanks. There are lots of Germans in Alaska and Fairbanks.
DeleteThey put the flags out everyday during the summer. I'm not sure of the reason.
Yesterday I found that with the gear and heated grips I was never cold while riding. But when I got home, I found myself chilled. My hands actually became cold at home. I suspect there is a hypothermia risk where your whole body is slowly chilling, even if parts are actually perceiving warmth.
ReplyDeleteDo you ever feel that way? I mean below zero F is friggin cold. Plus factor in the wind chill at speed, you're probably at -30F, no?
So far, not yet. If your core temperature drops, circulation to your hands and feet will slow down. The heated gloves and grips may compensate for that and keep your hands warm. When it's below 0°F, I need to hear a fleece liner on top of the heated jacket liner or I'll feel the cold on my chest and back. The heated liner seems to do a good job or heating the outside of my arms and upper back but seems to ignore anything else.
DeleteWind chill is only a meaningful number when you are talking about heat loss from exposed skin. If you use the NWS wind chill table, highway speed on my coldest ride would be equivalent to -90°F. It felt cold but not that cold.
The Roadcrafter one piece suit does a great job of trapping a layer of air next to you and is significantly warmer than the jacket/pants setup even though they actually have some insulating value. The Roadcrafter is just a single layer of Goretex. No liner or insulation.