Calculating how cold your ride is...

[bikerdoc]

Planning that next wintry outdoor ride/excursion and wondering how cold it might get? Planning your cross country ride during winter and trying to work out how much is too much winter woolies to pack? Can't get that last gear bag zipper closed because your trying to stuff it with that last sock like a pork sausage? That bungy just wont stretch that far :exclaim:

Two different tools to help with your ride/trip planning during the cold stuff.

http://ridemyown.com/windchill.shtml

 

[20valves]

I see just standing still in OKC today the wind chill was 57!

 

[Twisties]

I find it is very bike specific, as wind protection varies significantly. My RT is at least 10 F better than a GS. The Tenere is in between, closer to the RT. My naked DR is probably getting about what your charts show. Once you figure out what kind of temps you are good with given your bike and gear (I interleave layers and wear a rain suit outer for added wind protection, if necessary), then the real challenge begins, the one I have not found any real solutions to: How to predict temps on the course of your ride given elevation and time of day and change of locale issues. It is not uncommon, when riding from Torrey, UT to San Diego, CA to experience temps ranging from the teens to something north of 100 F in a single day (with elevations approaching 11k' and sea level). Personally the most range I have ridden through is from 9 to 80 F going from SLC to Death Valley in January.

You can certainly review forecasts for towns, however passes don't generally get forecasts and they are, obviously, much higher than nearby towns. All that said, I have dealt with temps from 9 to 113 F while riding with no real problems. My weather related concerns are snow, ice, wind, downed rocks (in thaw), severe summer storms, and road sand/salt (which may be present even when snow and ice are not).

 

[Karson]

Why does that one chart show that the wind"chill" is 105F when it's 100F ambient going 60MPH?

 

[thfraser]

If I was riding buck naked, I guess I would have been riding in -8F weather on my commute in.

However, with appropriate gear I just: ::021::

 

[RED CAT]

In hot temps like 100F it seems hotter while moving at speed on a motorcycle. We rode in 100F weather a few years ago and it was cooler to wear a riding jacket than a T shirt. Mind you we had windshields so that may have something to do with it. In cooler temps its reverse whereby it gets colder while moving, alot colder. ::001::

 

[merchant]

Riding in TX when 110*F, it doesn't matter how fast you're going - it's like having the world's biggest hair dryer blasting you in the face. I've been waiting for warmer temps, but all too soon I'll be whanking about the heat.

 

[OkState]

Wind increases convection, increasing how much heat you gain or lose to air. When air is hotter than your body, wind "chill" is making you hot faster

 

[Karson]

Wind increases convection, increasing how much heat you gain or lose to air. When air is hotter than your body, wind "chill" is making you hot faster

ahh thanks for that explanation. you should be a weatherman here in iowa, you probably could do a better job than them!