I’ve been doing the preparation work for Galen & my own joint vlog.

The title will be Preparation for winter driving: A Beijing, Netherlands comparison

The original plan was to have the 1st draft done by the 1st of November, and the final video done by the 15th of Nov.  But clearly that hasn’t happened due it taking so damn long to get my bike properly registered.

In the meantime, Galen has taken my advice, and bought a Drift Ghost S, which is the moto-vlogging camera that I use.

I think I have an article about it somewhere.  But when people think of moto-vlogging, or recording outdoor activities or something, they instantly think of the GoPro.  However after much research, I came to the decision of the Ghost S, because it doesn’t need a case to be water-proof, it can accept an external microphone easily, it has a wrist controlled remote control (so you know when it’s filming, and it has a twistable lens, so you can be sure that you’re getting the right shot.

For me, 95% of what I’m going to be using it for is moto-vlogging, and for that I’m positive the Ghost S was the correct choice.  If I was doing anything else, perhaps a GoPro would be better, but for what we’re using it for this was the smart choice.

I found out through my 1st official ride in the Netherlands, see link here: [link]  that anything above 60 ~ 65 km/h the wind noise just becomes too much.  Like the wind manages to get inside the helmet.

So expect that this video myself and Galen will be riding around at below this speed, to make sure everything is clear and audible.

Here are the general things we will be covering:

Topic titles

1.) Why the hell ride in the winter?

2.) What should I wear?

3.) Driving habits, what to look out for on the road, how other people drive

4.)  Riding differences with regard to the weather & situation (how your should act on the road)

And here’s my general responses to the question topics: (in case you can’t be bothered watching the video)

1) Why the hell ride in the winter?

For me I think you’re all weak if you don’t ride in the winter…but that’s just me. In fact there are a lot of solid reasons to ride in the winter…Beijing public transport is terrible this kind of year…

That goes for my dad too.

He’s what you’d call a ‘fair-weather’ rider.
But he’s still back in Australia, Western Australia at that, and the weather is amazing there.
So in my mind, fair-enough.  I’m just happy that riding a motorbike is something I can share with my dad.
Plus, he has other options to driving a motorbike, so why not?

Once you get used to riding a motorbike and slipping through traffic to the front of traffic lights and everything, going back to a car just feels like you’re wasting time.

Having to take public transportation feels like the biggest waste of time of all.

The motorbike gives you the freedom to make your own time schedule… no waiting for anyone else.

I think this is also the reason why I just assume that it only takes 30 mins to get ANYWHERE,  because on a motorbike in good traffic, it does.  But if you’re using other forms of transport it most definitely does not.

2.) What should I wear?

My actual response:

  • Boots, leather water-proof boots with toe, heel and side protection
  • Normal protected riding jeans (knee protection, hip protection)
  • Plastic water-proof pants that you wear over your normal pants
  • Dri-rider (Aussie brand) jacket, with water-proof & winter inserts, fabric outside, but includes forearm, elbow, shoulder, back, neck, & some chest protection.
  • Scarf, to keep that neck warm
  • Neck wind-protection (covers the mouth inside the helmet)
  • Helmet
  • Protected, heated gloves
  • Tucked in shirt (prevents heat from escaping)
  1. ) Driving habits, what to look out for on the road, how other people drive

Notes that Galen & I made:

Ok, is this a winter specific one? How do people drive differently in the winter?

-but for example not having their lights on during a snowstorm….is something that people should know about

-I would say something like common sense suggests that cars would run their headlamps during adverse weather, but you can’t count on Beijing drivers to adhere to this driving norm.

My actual response:

– i think this goes the same for Beijing too, but generally just stay away from BMW & Mercedes drivers, in Beijing you can add in Audi drivers, especially Black Audi A6Ls at any time of the year.

Here in the Netherlands too, BMWs and Mercedes are the ‘good’ cars, and so if you’ve got a bit of money, and have no desire for a car’s look then you go for that.  If these people can’t concentrate enough to know what they want from a car, and just seem to know that ‘this car can go fast’  do you really expect them to be great drivers?

The answer, is no.  So just stay away from these douchebags as much as possible

– in the Netherlands, you have to be constantly vigilant of bicycles.  In a to of occasions they have right of way.  Which is confusing if you’ve come from China, , or any country where driving cars is the norm like Australia or USA.  But here many people cycle.

The point is that although it is required by law that they have lights.  Many people don’t realise that it is for their own safety. they may have a headlight on… (just visible, doesn’t provide any forward projection of light)  but maybe don’t have a rear light.

For the way that i think it works here, i think if you hit them you are to blame, even if it is their fault… because you should have been more vigilant.

Sometimes cyclists will just indicate by sticking their arm out and swerving in front of you, without seeming to realise that their hand has no light, so you can’t see their hand.  They don’t know this because they are riding at such a slow speed that they only consider people at their speed, so assume you can see.   or…they’re just dumb.  But either way, night-time driving be especially vigilant for cyclists .

4.)  Riding differences with regard to the weather & situation (how your should act on the road)

My actual response:

Snow– only if you really have to.  only if you can actually pick up your bike again.  trust me , in the  snow once its down its incredibly difficult to pick up.

I’ve driven a couple of times in snow before, and its hell. People will drive slower, but they still don’t quite understand that braking distances are fucked.  As with rain driving, stay as upright as possible.  If needed put your legs out to prevent motorbike from sliding downwards/ tipping.  Stick to main roads, because they will be the ones that are worn down the most.

Rain– Keep in mind of stopping distances.  Increase your distance between the cars, In extreme fog, or rain put your hazard lights on.

That goes the same if every car on a freeway is rolling forward at 10 km/h and you’re going through the middle of them.  Put those hazard lights on, they have more chance of moving out the way.  Plus, in Europe there’s always some dickhead BMW or Mercedes driver that will be powering down the motorway and they won’t notice you on your motorbike with your slim profile.   So be as visible as possible.

-If your motorbike doesn’t have hazard lights, as most bikes that I’ve ridden that is below 600cc, then just put on your outside indicator.  ie. driving on the Right, and you’re in the fast lane (left lane) indicate left.  If you can’t turn left, then there should be no confusion from others.  If you’re in the right hand lane (slow lane) indicate right

don’t be in the middle lane indicating anywhere…because people will think that you actually want to go somewhere.

– don’t cut in front of trucks before traffic lights. that should be obvious.  or in front of any car.  Once approaching the traffic light, you should stay in your lane as much as possible. Other drivers often won’t see you and may not be able to stop in time.

cars can stop more easily, because they have a host of special features… motorbikes don’t have this.  Well …not my motorbike.

And once your bike locks up, it’s difficult to control on wet roads, the slightest tip, usually means it’s going down.

Spare yourself that scary sensation, and keep your distance.

If you normally listen to music, turn it down to ‘elevator style background music’ best to have all your senses, to deal with the potential shit-storm that winter driving can entail.

If at the end of the day, you don’t feel comfortable driving- don’t drive.  Your first priority is your life, not your deadline at work or whatever.  If you don’t feel safe on the roads, or know that it would be more dangerous that you’re willing to accept to drive on the roads… simply don’t drive.

On one of the days it snowed in Beijing, I got past the 2nd block, then after trying 3 times to get off the line at the traffic lights, I decided that the normal 40 min drive to work….would have an incredibly high chance of crashing….so i just rode back home, rang work and told them that i was working from home, and explained the situation.

If your work protests, then I would say you’ve got a pretty easy choice to make, work or living.  Always do what you feel is the safest.  Deadlines, or even legality of the roads should come 2nd place to making sure that you are safe.   If there’s a conflict then you’ve got a choice to make for later.

Looking forward to making this video to be honest.

I’m hoping to have all the footage by the end of next weekend.

And then before Christmas we should have the video edited, and out on youtube.