Hot weather riding

1940 Views 27 Replies 27 Participants Last post by JerseyWinger, Aug 13, 2009

AndyB

Discussion Starter · Aug 10, 2009

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I rode for 2 hours yesterday in the 95 degree heat at interstate speed. By the end, I was pretty miserable due to the heat. What do you guys do to stay comfortable in the heat? I did stop to get gas and get a drink about 1/3 of the way into the ride, but it did not really help.

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BustedKnuckle

· #2 · Aug 10, 2009

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The best thing I've done is wear a light, long-sleeved shirt. I used to go bare-armed, but found that the sweat evaporates too fast to be of any use. The shirt sleeves serve to let the moisture stay on your skin long enough to cool down.

Beyond that I just grin and bear it and chug as much water as I can hold.

bbach

· #3 · Aug 10, 2009

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That's the key for me. Plenty of fluids. What I hate the most is my head being inside the helmet when it's hot out. The rest of me seems to do ok in the heat. Maybe I could try putting some other body part in the helmet and leave my head out. :cheeky1:

cntryboy1289

· #4 · Aug 10, 2009

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Drink plenty of fluids, wear one of those under armour shirts and ride!

The Lake

· #5 · Aug 10, 2009

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I wear a t-shirt under a mesh jacket. At stops I soak the T-shirt in water. Under speed the air flowing through the jacket evaporates the water in the t-shirt . . . feels like air-conditioning!

Chuck

redeyes88

· #6 · Aug 10, 2009

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T shirt,,shorts,,sneakers or sandals,,dew rag,,sun glasses,,no helmet,,:waving:

:action:

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DougW

· #7 · Aug 10, 2009

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It is cooler with a mesh jacket than with no jacket.

Foodman

· #8 · Aug 10, 2009

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I wear over size long sleeve shirts and carry lots of water I stop frequently and pour water on the sleeves of my shirt and a little down my back.. It's like AC for about an hour..
Very refreshing...............

fenry

· #9 · Aug 11, 2009

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DougW wrote:

It is cooler with a mesh jacket than with no jacket.

+1

Just got a super deal on a closeout Joe Rocket Goldwing Mesh jacket from an outfit called (for real) "Revzilla". Had my doubts but they delivered fast as advertised and have a low price match guarantee. Couldn't resist and it sure feels good so far up to 90...

AndyB

Discussion Starter · #10 · Aug 11, 2009

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I will try the wet t shirt under my mesh jacket. I chose to ride home without the jacket yesterday but I would have been better off with it considering the sunburn I got.

DaveO430

· #11 · Aug 11, 2009

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That's what I find, the sun on my skin is hotter than the jacket. As some others say, a long sleeve cotton shirt works pretty well but doesn't do much to protect you from road rash.

shnev

· #12 · Aug 11, 2009

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http://www.mscooling.com/

I bought the long sleeve deluxe for me and my wife. The evaporative vests are the way to go. It is like wearing an air condition unit for a couple of hours between recharges. your milage may vary.

Cousin Jack

· #13 · Aug 11, 2009

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Two weeks ago, Red and I met Mr. and Mrs Blackdog in the Columbia River Gorge during a record heat wave...... When we rode out of the Gorge up the Klickitat River, it was 108 degrees....... We were wearing long-sleeve t-shirts, cotton, under our Field Sheer Mesh jackets and kevlar reinforced jeans, white and silver colored full-face helmets..... I wet my shirt constantly, but Red doesn't (she's shy, doesn't like the "wet t-shirt" connotations!), and we both drink constantly out of a ice and water filled Camelback water bag (you shove the bite valve and tube up under your helmet chin guard.... takes practice, but becomes second nature...... When I say constantly, I mean constantly. In 120 miles we filled the bag three times.... we also pee'd three times!We were comfortable all the way home, but we have little humidity here. I'm told the wet shirt trick doesn't work when the humidity is high.........

DrifterTex

· #14 · Aug 11, 2009

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Just ride and sweat....It has been 98* or over, all summer long here and NO rain... Cotton T-shirt under long sleeves...and LOTS of fluid. Stay Hydrated.

Wingboomer

· #15 · Aug 11, 2009

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When it gets too hot I try to stop at easy river access areas and dump my whole mesh jacket in and completely soak it and kinda shake it out and put it back on and man it is so nice. My wife wont do it but actually gets some cooling too behind me. If no river, when you fuel up there is usually a hose somewhere and just run the water over it to get it soaked and away you go. SO NICE

jimsjinx

· #16 · Aug 11, 2009

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To avoid the heat, ai like to stay the heck home!LOL I rode my trusty 1100 every day for 17 years in Mesa Arizona, and I'm done with that kind of heat! I had an air conditioner fanbelt break on a drive from San Diego to Phoenix, in August. We were dyin! We pulled into a gas station in Yuma, and soaked our clothes with water. We filled our empty water bottles, and off across the desert we went. With the windows down, we would keep wetting our clothing till it would evaporate. It really saved our bacon. I mean, it was 116 degrees out there! And it was at night! I really do avoid the heat. jimsjinx

garyft

· #17 · Aug 11, 2009

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Well, we've had over 50 days of 100+ temperatures so far this summer with humidity usually in the 50-60% range. I always wear a t-shirt under my mesh jacket and I do OK with that. If I have a long ride I usually wet the the t-shirt. As others have said, KEEP HYDRATED!

TXRLGL1500

· #18 · Aug 11, 2009

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In low humidity climates I (we) wear Mira Cool cooling vests over long sleeve columbia outdoor wear shirts. (high ultra violet rating) Over all this goes a Olympia Airglide 2 mesh jacket. It works fine in dry climates right up to about 100 deg or so. In high humidity which would be 50% and up its less effective. Wearing a mesh jacket over your arms and upper body IS COOLER than going without but only when you are on the move and not in a mobile parking lot.

Drinking lots of water staying hydrated helps. Last year on our trip home we stayed in 99+ deg heat most of the day and we sweated it out mostly. Never once do I remember having to visit the recycle station. Stay away from all sugary drinks.

wodam

· #19 · Aug 11, 2009

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I'm surprised no one mentioned the old standard neck cooler. You can buy them now with synthetic beads inside at places Like Cabelas, Dick's, Gander Mountain etc> When I was young and riding the deserts around Burago Springs the old trick was to take a hand towel soak it in water then wrap it around your neck. Just like the bandannas Cowboys use (what you thought they were only for blowing dust?). I've always worn long sleeve flannel shirts in the desert they are light weight and the hold moisture so you don't dehydrate. I know have a mesh jacket with multi vent points (man that thing is nice). I never cared for ice cold drinks in high heat, they seem to be too much of a shock to the system. I drink lots of tepid water. Since I'm an alcoholic currently in recovery (14 years) I tend to drink too much coffee, but it's funny how hot drinks on hot day actually make your system feel cooler (the old hot showers in the heat, cold showers in the cold acclimation theory). Well that's what I do not sure how many others do similar.
Richard

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kyboy67

· #20 · Aug 12, 2009

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I will ride alot more days a year when it is below 32 degrees than I do when it is above 90 degrees.
I have always been hot blooded and If it's gonna be above 90 and I don't have to ride,than I don't.
It takes too much out of me and my tires......

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