Long winter trips

[Jings]

Anyone do any long winter trips? I need to drive across Europe over Christmas/New Year and am thinking about doing it on the TTSE. I've done it before in summer. I'm also a year-round rider but only commuting to work, an hour or so.

Just wondering about the feasibility of a 600-800 mile day in the depths of winter...? Any tips or experiences gratefully received.

[1675]

Take the car?
I reckon the main roads and motorways would be okay. Might have to use the tunnels for the high bits rather than passes where even the main ones could be closed. Plenty of stops, warm food and a heated jacket would be a good start for me. Also good winter gloves or handlebar muffs as well, the heated grips are good but feeble when it gets down to zero degrees. Bit of planning, shouldn't be a problem if the weather isn't too harsh.

[Verdun95]

800 miles a day is a bit above average range for me. The more I've done in a single day is 550 miles and it was during summer. As far as your European trips is concerned I guess the main question will be where to? It won't take the same if you ride to the French riviera or if you intend to venture around the Swiss-Austrian border...

[GarminDave]

Hi Jings,

the issue is obviously weather.  Riding on ice or snow on a large touring bike is no fun.  If there is enough time to 'hole' up should the weather be too adverse then it is doable and the long range weather forecasts are getting better.

In Northern Europe the daylight hours are restricted and the riding temperature usually plummets as the Sun goes down, equally early starts are difficult as the temperature is at it's lowest before the Sun comes up.  This means a shorter riding day so 600-800 miles or 12 to 16 hours riding is probably not on; I would think 400 miles a day would be OK to avoid riding when the Sun is down.

Clothing is tested in winter so make sure you are confident of all your kit.  I have three layers, LSComfort Wear as a base layer, Gerbing Jacket, Trousers, Socks and gloves as my warm layer and an Aerostich Roadcrafter as my waterproof layer.  The big issue with heated clothing is if it fails you are pretty much knackered whereas some rely on Rab style loft clothing as an insulated layer.  I have both, but the Gerbing is controlled by four temperature adjusters which makes it perfect, I know where the fuses are too and have spares!

Good vision is also an issue so PinLock is essential and visor cleaning stuff is a must.

Spare Gloves and Neck Warmer is a good idea.

I change tyres at 2 mm tread depth as riding right down to the legal limit of 1 mm in my view is not worth it which is even more important in winter conditions.

I don't advocate night in riding in winter but if you do then lighting upgrades are worth considering, having said that the Trophy is blessed with good standard lighting any way.

I also take a JetBoil so I can brew up anytime, any where.

Enjoy as often there are wonderful bright days with dry roads for those who dare.

Love, light and kindness,

Dave

PS the attached image is my Kawasaki GTR the morning of my return to UK from a Colditz IBA UK Ride 2 Eat, it was -5C (the white on my RDL saddle is frost) but dry roads and when the Sun came up a perfect ride, 927 miles back to South Shields, the warmest part was inside the Channel Tunnel!

[Jings]

I've got the bike over here in Germany (near Hamburg) and am thinking about riding it over to the UK for the Christmas holidays and back again in the New Year.

Approx 600 miles door-to-door if I take the Hook/Harwich ferry, or 800 miles if I take the tunnel. The advantage of the ferry is that I can take a night sailing which should mean it's easier to plan riding in daylight, and the ferry can be cancelled up to 2 hours before sailing with a full refund.

I already have flights booked as a backup but I will keep a close eye on the weather. As d-day gets closer I will decide whether to ride or fly. The gamble then is the weather on the return trip in early Jan. 

I am perfectly comfortable with the bike set up and with my gear. I don't have heated kit - only the grips which are brilliant. The only nagging thought for me is can I do a 12 hour day in cold temps and much darkness?

[1675]

Hamburg to the Hook must be about 300 miles or so. 6 hours if all goes well and roads are clear and there are no high passes as far as I recall. 100 miles of so on the other side with an overnight warm up in between. Go for it!

[Ebenezer]

I 'd say, the way Garmin Dave does winter-riding, is the way to go. Hamburg-Hoek van Holland is doable without heated clothing. I did so several times when I was stationed near Hamburg. I once rode a 955i Tiger home in winter from Aston Clinton to Apeldoorn (NL) without the proper gear and will never do that again.
I do make trips in winter but 600-800 miles on the European continent in January? Forget it. Even if the weather forecast isn't to bad. And the weather- and road conditions in Norfolk  during wintertime can be very tricky too.
Just my opinion,

Henk

[ShaunDW]

It might seem obvious, but you will be fine if the weather is fine. However, what will you do if it isn't? With a ferry to catch, can you afford to change your itinery if bad weather closes in? If you have that flexibility then, with proper preparation, it should easily be doable.

I think the TT must be as good as it gets for cold weather riding - I have certainly coped well enough in freezing temperatures on mine.