Iron Horse Motorcycle Ministry

You've heard it said, "It's not the destination, it's the journey." Well, we believe that the journey is the destination. The helpful hints and tools on this page are intended to help you to be safe and enjoy the journey. It may be a refresher course for some, while for others an opportunity to have some questions answered. Hopefully, there will be a little something here for everyone.

We here at I.H.M. feel that you can never be too prepared for a ride. The following list is to help you make sure that both you and your machine are properly prepared, so you can enjoy the ride to its fullest and be as safe as possible.

1. Make sure you are well rested and alert before you ride. Fatigue can set in quickly and it will significantly reduce your ability to ride safely.

2. Check your bike before you ride:

   Do the headlights, running lights, marker lights, tail/ license plate lights work?

   Do the turn signals work?

   Do the brake lights work?

   Does the horn work?

   Are all the fluids at their proper levels?

   Are the fluids clean?

   Are there any leaks?

   Are the tires properly inflated and do they have good tread?

3. Always wear protective clothing: helmet, eye protection, gloves, jacket/ long sleeve shirt and chaps. Use the wind chill and/or the heat index charts below as a guide to determine how you should dress for a ride. Be prepared for changing weather conditions. Remember, the only thing between you and the road is your protective gear.

4. Consider hearing protection as part of your protective gear. Traveling at 70mph with a helmet, the decibel level is 100db's. According to OSHA, riding for 2 hours at that level, will cause damage to your ears. There are different types of earplugs available, use whichever is best for you.

5. Health issues are a very real risk on the road. Be aware of the following potential health hazards while riding:

   Dehydration - In hot weather, the hot wind passing over exposed skin will quickly sap the moisture from your body causing dehydration. Wearing a light weight, long sleeve shirt, along with plenty of water to drink, and fruit to eat, will all help to prevent you from becoming dehydrated.

   Hyperthermia - This is when your body temperature rises sharply. It can occur with prolonged exposure to high temperatures. Keep yourself well hydrated before and during the ride to avoid hyperthermia (Heat Exhaustion and/or Heat Stroke).

   Hypothermia - This occurs when your body loses internal heat due to wind chill or cold conditions. Riders are especially at risk for rapid chilling which will lead to diminished reflexes and response times. It is essential to wear insulated layers of clothing whenever riding in cold weather.

6. Take frequent breaks along the way, especially if you're on a long ride. This will help reduce your level of fatigue and the possibility of injury or health risks.

7. Know your limits and ride within them. Never let anyone push you beyond your ability to operate your bike safely. You don't have to prove anything. Just be safe, and have fun.

8. Remember, you are invisible. Drivers of other vehicles are not watching for motorcycles and are not likely to see you.

9. Practice the acronym S. E. E. :

   Search for factors that might lead to risky situations.

   Evaluate how the factors might interact to create a risk.

   Execute an action to maintain a margin of safety.

10. Emergencies can happen anytime, anywhere and come in many forms. Be prepared by carrying a tool kit, a first aid kit, and a cell phone if you have one.

11. NEVER, ever ride while under the influence of alcohol or drugs (prescription or otherwise). Even some over the counter medications such as for colds or allergies can have an effect on your ability to ride safely.

Getting organized and packing your bike for a road trip can be difficult. There's always so much stuff, and so little room. The link to the right, has some information and a check list to help you pack your bike for that great adventure you've been looking forward to, for so long. It's our hope that you'll find it useful.

Weather plays a major role in deciding where and when to ride. It is important to be as informed as possible of the conditions in the area in which you are riding, no matter what part of the country you're in. For that reason, we have made a weather link (left) for you to use. Once it's opened; on the upper left portion you can enter the zip-code that you plan to be riding in, and get a more precise idea of what to expect. It is our hope that you will find it to be a very useful tool.

The wind chill factor is a measurement of how fast heat is being removed from your body. For example: If the air temperature is 50 degrees (across the top), and you are riding at 55 miles per hour (down the left side), it will feel like it's only 25 degrees with no wind at all. So check your local weather, then check out the chart, and dress appropriately - and have a GREAT ride.

Prevention is the real key to heat-related illnesses. This heat index chart is provided as yet another tool, to help you to determine what temperature you should properly dress for, and how much extra water and such, you should bring.

Humidity plays an important role in how hot the air temperature feels. Just as cold weather is affected by the 'wind chill factor', warm weather is affected by the 'heat index'. As the chart shows, if the ambient air temperature (across the top) is 90 degrees, and the humidity (down the left side) is only 10%, it will feel like it's 85 degrees. That's good. However, if the air temperature is 90 degrees and the humidity is 80%, it will feel like it's 113 degrees. That's dangerous (note the "KEY"). Please, don't think that the faster you ride, the better you'll be. Remember what was said about hyperthermia in the 'Tips For The Trip' list (above). Again, check your local weather, then check out the chart, and prepare yourself and your passenger appropriately - and have a GREAT ride.

Unfortunately, motorcycle theft is a very real problem. To get some tips to help prevent your motorcycle from being stolen, click on the link to the right.

Visibility and communications are paramount when it comes to riding, so don't forget to use your turn signals. In addition, whenever you're riding with someone else, it's important to know and use basic hand signals. The illustration shows the most common hand signals used, if you don't already know them, learn them so you can communicate effectively when riding in a group. They may save someone's life some day - maybe your own.