Spring and Fall riding are cool in Canada and extended exposure to low temperatures can cause hypothermia. We ride in temperatures down to 0 degrees Celsius, provided the roadways are not slippery with frost and ice. Hypothermia can also occur during a summer rain storm when the rider gets wet and the air temperature is below body temperature. Wet clothing will conduct heat away from the body 25 times faster than heat is conducted away through the air. Riding will increase the rate of heat transfer due to the wind chill effect.

A rider may suffer from hypothermia and not know they are at risk. Hypothermia caused by the air removing heat from the body may not be readily apparent, depending on air temperature and the wind velocity over the body. It may take an extended period of time for any symptoms to appear. People tend to ignore the onset of this condition placing them at increased risk of worsening the hypothermia. Elderly people have been know to suffer from hypothermia by living in a residence with temperatures slightly below normal room temperatures.

Mild hypothermia symptoms include feeling chilled, having goosebumps, stiff and/or clumsy fingers, trembling of an arm or hand, shivering, a decrease in mental acuity, and a decrease in response time or improper responses. Moderate hypothermia symptoms include further muscular coordination deterioration, lethargy, apathy, slurred speech, confusion, etc.

As the core temperature of the body cools down the body tries to protect the vital organs and the brain from danger. The body restricts blood flow to the extremities to reduce temperature and decrease heat loss but this self-protective behavior places the extremities at greater risk.

Everyone should recognize that being improperly dressed for the riding conditions places them at greater risk. There are some circumstances where your riding partners may be at greater risk than you, given you both have dressed appropriately. Factors increasing the risk of hypothermia are alcohol consumption, smoking, diabetes, use of prescription medicines for blood pressure maintenance, age, physical conditioning, body mass (skinny people have less heat to lose), fatigue level, diet, dehydration, the wind protection their bike offers such as a fairing or windshield, and the lack of knowledge about hypothermia. Alcohol is a vasodilator and increases peripheral heat loss. Tobacco/nicotine is a vasoconstrictor and increases the risk of frostbite. Caffeine is a diuretic and causes water loss increasing dehydration. If you are riding with others make certain they know what hypothermia is and how to diagnose the condition then watch each other for symptoms.

To prevent hypothermia the first requirement is to stay warm and dry. During my research I did not find a definitive method of staying warm while riding a motorcycle. Motorcycle riding does not generate great amounts of energy to warm the body and the effect of the wind rushing by the rider increases heat loss by convection and even increased evaporation. Experts seem to agree that dressing in multiple light loose layers is better than one or two heavy garments. As you warm up or weather conditions improve remove layers of clothing to prevent sweating.

Wool is better than synthetics and synthetics are better than cotton. Cotton clothes are subject to holding moisture and therefore conduct heat away quicker than other materials. Any fabric that has fibers that will trap layers of air is recommended. Overlapping layers at the waist, neck, etc. is also a good idea. Down filled clothing and heavily quilted clothing may not be very practical due to it’s bulk but they are recommended as insulators. Winter underwear, especially Arctic style, is recommended for lower temperatures. Sweat pants may be an alternative. Protecting the head and neck from heat loss is mandatory and protecting the hands and feet is also required. Wear footwear that is not snug and socks designed for low temperature. Wear silk, nylon or thin wool socks next to your skin and change your socks if your feet feel damp. Keep your boots waterproofed to prevent moisture wicking in through the stitching. Wearing your rain boots over your riding boots can help but may prevent moisture loss and make your feet damp. Wear thin silk gloves or special liners under your cool weather riding gloves to wick away moisture from your hands. Mittens are a better choice than gloves but it may be difficult to ride with them. Covers are available that go over the handgrips and then you can slide your hands into the covers to protect them from the wind. I am wary of these as they may create more problems than they solve, especially if the rider is confused and cannot see the handgrips and controls.

A lot of riders wear leather jackets and chaps that help to reduce the effects of the wind. Leather is not a great insulator but it is required to protect against road rash. Some of the space-age materials, such as GoreTex provide wind and rain protection but allow the body to get rid of excess moisture. Most of these materials are extremely expensive and are not traditionally used for riding gear. When we get cold riding we put on our rain suits to provide additional wind protection. The rain suit may trap more moisture against the body increasing the rate of heat transfer. If you wear your rain suit stop periodically and vent off the moisture. Wear fibers against the body designed to wick away the moisture. Try to keep your rainsuit ventilated by leaving the collar open, etc. to prevent moisture buildup.

If you have to ride in cool weather keep in mind that you can help prevent hypothermia by taking frequent stops and warming yourself. Drink plenty of liquids to keep hydrated since cool air will extract moisture from the body. Breathing is also a process where the body dehydrates and breathing cold, dry air rapidly dehydrates you and removes heat from the body core. Drink warm liquids that provide heat and calories. Eat carbohydrates for a sudden brief heat surge and quick energy. Eat proteins to provide slowly released heat over a longer period of time. Eating fats provide the greatest source of heat over the longest period of time. However, it takes more energy to break down the fat into glucose and it consumes more water in the process increasing the risk of dehydration.

Calories are the source the body uses to produce its energy. Foods high in carbohydrates include potatoes, breads, cereals, fruits, legumes and vegetables. Foods high in protein include lean meat, fish, poultry, tofu, cheese, low fat cottage cheese, kidney beans, seeds, and nuts. Foods high in fat include all oils, bacon, olives, coconut and its milk, seeds, and nuts. A nut and fruit filled chocolate bar may be a good source of calories.

If your clothing gets damp stop at a laundromat and strip off all non-essential clothing and dry it in the dryer. Put the clothing back on warm to add an extra surge of heat. Urinate frequently. As the body begins to protect the extremities vasoconstriction creates greater volume pressure in the blood stream and the kidneys pull off excess fluid to reduce the pressure. A full bladder is a place for additional heat loss so urinating will ultimately conserve heat. Carry a minimum of four chemical heat packs in your riding kit, one for each hand and foot. Packs such as Hot Shot provide heat for 6 to 10 hours. Heat packs placed under the armpits and in the groin area will more rapidly warm up a cold body. For those of you who do not have adequate cold weather clothing protection in the groin area consider riding with a heat pack outside your underwear and inside your trousers. Take care to make sure the heat pack does not cause burns from extensive contact with the body.

When you are riding in cold weather do mild exercise as you are riding. Contract all your muscles starting from the head and working towards the toes, wiggle your hands and toes, twist and turn the torso, etc. Exercise will take its toll on your body by using up carbohydrates and may fatigue you so keep well nourished. If you find you cannot concentrate on exercising while riding, and perform the exercises logically, stop and warm yourself. You could be suffering from hypothermia. If you find you do not have enough manual dexterity to operate the zipper on your clothing you are probably already suffering from hypothermia and should warm up thoroughly before continuing your riding. If you begin to shiver your body is trying to produce vast amounts of heat to warm up so you need to stop and warm up immediately.

Electrically heated riding apparel is the best defense against hypothermia. Electric vests, with a thermostat, are best because they keep the trunk warm by supplying heat to the body. The body now does not have to use valuable resources to generate heat to replace all the heat lost by the extremities. Keeping the trunk warm will also keep the hands and feet warmer by helping to provide warm blood circulation. A thermostat control is necessary for the vest to prevent overheating and sweating. Electric gloves protect the fingers that always seem to get cold first. Electric chaps are available but the ones I have seen only cover the fronts of the legs, leaving the back side unprotected. If you have electric apparel remember that you should also follow the other suggestions to eat well and keep hydrated while riding. Ride safe. Ride warm.

(Gore-Tex and Hot Shot are Trademarked)

* Please note that the article compiler is not responsible for the content of this article. This information is presented here as a method to incite awareness of hypothermia and possible methods of prevention for motorcyclists. The information was gleaned from a myriad of sources on the Internet. Some of the articles researched were authored by Chuck Bramlet, Dale Blumenthal, Michelle Dick, Hiker, Chris Haggerty, Gene Haning, Dick Gunn, US Dept. Health and Human Services, COHIS, NOLS, Rick Curtis, Widder, etc., etc.