Last week, I left on a trip to Maryville, TN on the BMW R1200RT.  I had to go there for traffic court, as a Tennessee State Trooper was pretty impressed by the performance of my bike the last time I was there.  As another blogger, Gail puts it, I was given a performance award (ticket).  More on the ticket and court in another post.  

When I left Northeast Ohio after my overnight shift at my part-time job, it was 6:00AM and 22 degrees.  I had been meaning to buy heated clothing for months, but I kept putting it off “for one more week” after not finding any decent heated gear at local dealers.  I donned my jeans, chaps, a t-shirt, fleece sweatshirt, and my Olympia Patton Tech Mesh Field Jacket (they named it, not me).  I rode for about one hour and stopped for breakfast.  With the heated grips and the heated seat on the R1200RT, this ride was tolerable.  

I exited I-70 in Cambridge, OH.  The light at the end of the ramp was red so I had to stop.  To my alarm, my legs did not want to move.  I was having trouble moving all of my muscles.  It was hard to shift my motorcycle because of this.  I had lost all fine control.  I pulled into Bob Evans and had trouble climbing off of the motorcycle.  When I did dismount the bike, I had to look drunk walking into the restaurant, as I was stumbling a little bit.  The hostess seated me and when the waitress came, I realized what was happening.  The waitress took my order.  I ordered the “Rise and Shine” which is eggs, home fries, toast, and your choice of meat.  I always get this when dining at Bob Evans.  When the waitress asked me “Bacon, sausage, or ham?” I replied with “Bacon” (I never get bacon at restaurants, I always get sausage or ham).  I then follow with “I prefer links.”  The waitress countered with “Sir, you ordered bacon.”  ”Yes, I prefer links,” was my reply.  It was at that moment that I knew I was a victim of hypothermia.  After I was at the restaurant for about 20 minutes, I  warmed up enough to start shivering.

When I finished eating at Bob Evans, I crossed the street to the TSC (Tractor Supply Company), a farm store that I know sells long johns.  I bought a pair of long johns and added them to my layers of clothing.  The long johns helped tremendously, but I still suffered from hypothermia for the rest of the ride.  

In Florence, KY it started snowing.  I was halfway to my destination at this point.  It snowed on me for about 1 1/2 hours.  The snow only stopped when the rain started.  The looks I got from people while riding in the snow at 33 degrees were looks of disbelief.  

I pulled in at my Uncle’s house in Maryville, TN at about 3:45PM.  I was glad the ride was over.  This is the first time in my life that I have not thoroughly enjoyed riding a motorcycle.  I was rethinking my decision to take the motorcycle for the last half of my ride.  Again, after I was off of the bike for about 30 minutes, I started shivering.  I shivered for about two hours off and on.  It was about three hours after arriving that we found out the heat had been switched off in the house.  I was still very cold when I went to bed at about midnight.

The effects of hypothermia can vary from person to person, but they usually include the following list:

• pale, puffy face
• cold feet, hands, and face
• shivering (may not be present with the elderly)
• listlessness
• drowsiness
• mental confusion, irrational thinking
• apathetic, hostile, irritable attitude
• cold abdomen
• poor coordination and balance
• stilted, jerking movement
• slow, shallow breathing
• slowed or irregular heartbeat
• stiff muscles and some trembling on one side of the body
• loss of consciousness
• loss of heartbeat

This list actually follows the most common order for hypothermia symptoms.  I am not a doctor, but I am a paramedic.  I realized at the restaurant that I had a pretty significant case of hypothermia, as I had poor coordination and balance, confusion, and shivering had stopped.  As you can see in the list, it is probably a good thing that my hypothermia did not get much worse.

In 500 miles of riding, I saw three other motorcycles on the freeway.  Everybody I know said I was crazy for taking a 500 mile motorcycle ride in the middle of November, but I contend that the ride was not crazy.  My taking the ride with inappropriate gear was what was crazy.  After arriving in Tennessee and spending one night, I went to Destination Motorcycles and purchased my Tour Master Synergy heated liners and a pair of Olympia Ranger 2 Overpants.  The ride home was in toasty comfort.  There was no threat of hypothermia, as I rode with the heated gear on low in the morning, and by afternoon, I had to turn off the heat, as I was getting too warm.  I would encourage anybody who rides in the cold weather to buy heated clothing.  I never realized how nice it would be to have heated gear.  

After riding 500 miles in the cold (35 degrees and below), I realize that heated clothing is safety equipment.  I was not prepared for the ride I was taking, but that has changed.  I have learned from my mistakes.  I will not let that happen again.  I have ridden about 750 miles in my heated gear now and could not be happier.  It snowed on me on the way to work Saturday and the temperature was 28 degrees.  I never felt cold.  It snowed the next day on the way home and the temperature was 27 degrees.  I could ride all winter when the roads are clear.  Prior to getting my heated clothing, the coldest I have ridden has been 8 degrees, and I froze.  My commute is 20 miles each way and is safer now with my new gear.