It’s inevitable, winter touring in North America is coming. For those of you that are fortunate to not experience a slushy, snowy, cold winter, you make me green with jealous rage. For the rest of us, Here are 5 Tips To Survive Winter Touring in 500 words or less.
1. Dress appropriately
This is a no-brainer. Bring a waterproof, windproof, warm jacket that you can move in. Personally, I like to use the Milwaukee heated hoodie so I’m toasty but limber and can put a jacket over top. Bring a touque (a beanie), Waterproof and warm boots, insulated gloves, and keep a change of socks in your tech case for after load-in.
2. Boost The Immune System
As soon as the weather starts to change, I generally add the following items to the rider (or shop for them myself).
- Lemon Ginger shots – 1-2/day
- Emergen-C. Gummies or the drink
- Get rest whenever you can.
- Spicy soups to clear the nose and the soul.
3. Appreciate The Beauty
If you find fun activities, winter touring doesn’t have to be a drag. For the love of god, no X-games shit on days off. You’re smarter than that. Personally, I like to shut it down in my hotel whenever I can and order uber eats… I’m not gonna lie and say that it works to survive winter touring, but I find comfort in Netflix binges and a good sweat at the gym.
4. Know That Christmas Is Coming
If you celebrate Christmas, chances are it’s going to sneak up on you. For almost a decade, I’d get home from tour sometime between Dec 18th and 23rd. Every year, I’d panic and rush to do my Christmas shopping after I get home. Online shopping is a beautiful thing and you can do it while you’re away. I wonder if 2020’s “Top 8 Christmas Gifts For Roadies” still holds up.
5. The End Is Not Always Near
I think it’s important for the soul to escape the winter at some point. I generally go to Costa Rica in January to break up the monotony. Make sure to pace yourself and know that winter weather is a variable until deep into April.
Summary
If you’re fortunate enough to make it through the whole year without seeing snow or sub-zero temperatures then you’ve somehow cracked the code. If you find yourself north of the border and need some help finding supplies for tips 1-3, hit me at [email protected]
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