Riding in the Heat

motowebmaster · 06-22-2010

I've been working a great deal lately, both at the office and on projects during my off-hours. My rides have been either early morning or errands around town.

Vehicle Temp indicators aren't always accurate, but the humidity has been so high that the 112-degree indicator (noticed at 5pm Central today) caused me to pause and question if it wasn't that far off. In truth the heat has been a blessing to my allergy problems, but I haven't been on my bike during mid-day in a few weeks.

Speedtrip · 06-23-2010

I did about 400 miles last Sunday (as thats been my only day off lately). When I left around 6:30 in the morning it was in the mid 70's very nice, by the time I stopped for lunch it was in the mid 90's. Hot when not moving but very bearable at speed.

Two things I do when the heat arrives is take plenty of water with me, no sodas or caffeine drinks when I stop just lots of water. The second is mesh gear, what a life saver this stuff is in the summer. In the last few years I've taken to wearing lightweight sports shirts like Under Amour for even better cooling. Did I mention DRINK LOTS OF WATER!

The Prophet · 06-23-2010

I think one of the biggest dangers in "heat" riding is - as you've stated - we get dehydrated, and if too severe, we stand the chance of making poor decisions, poor judgements.

The other danger arises from thinkin (as I'm sure we've all done at some point) "man, it's too blinkin' hot to wear all this stuff. Maybe just a T-shirt... " and so on. Tempting, but not very wise at all.

By the way, I never mentioned it but - when I was in Florida in May, I noticed a LOT of folks riding around in shorts, flip-flops, no helmets, and "wife beater" tops. By a LOT, I mean more than half(?). Not good, but to each his own I guess. Helmet threads are absolutely pointless as we all know, so I'll leave it be with that comment / observation.

The weather here in Illinois has been difficult as well. It's been storming very severely (as it is right this moment), lot's of extremely heavy rain, thunder, high winds. Same pattern the last three weeks or so. We've had three power outages in the past week, two of which were over-nighters.

Then, when it finally lets up, HOT and muggy. On the bright side, my grass and trees / plants have never been fuller, or greener!

Agree of course - Drink lot's of water, but eat lots of fruits as well, for the moisture and vitamin pick-up.

Ride Safe!

Bob

motowebmaster · 06-23-2010

I was in Fort Smith today, and am staying in Little Rock this evening. It was painfully hot until late evening - on my way back to the hotel. Couldn't imagine what the experience would be like on a motorcycle.

However, I saw three sportbike riders on the highways; two faired bikes and a bandit. One was wearing khaki pants, but all three had gloves-jackets-full helmets. I didn't envy them, but did miss my bike.

snuffcityrider · 06-25-2010

Two weeks ago I rode in 100+ temps from central Texas, through Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska on my way to Yellowstone which I had to cancle due to snow

I was wearing a British Motorcycle Gear jacket, the Challanger I believe. Very heavy, black jacket. As long as I was moving it was tolerable seeing how the sleeves unzip the entire lenght of the arm and there are vents in the back. The jacket caused me to sweat and the breeze coming in felt good. I had bought Triumph Expedition boots made with gortex and they did great in both hot and cold extremes. Well 40 degrees and raining, anyway. The thing I notice about the heat when riding on a cruiser (Rlll) is my butt starts screaming with pain way sooner that it ever does in cooler temps. I had my light weight Joe Rocket jacket waiting for me in Durango, CO. for the trip home and the certain end of cold and damp riding and it was much better for the 100 degree days. I'll have to try the mesh one of these days. I have mesh riding pants with rain liners and they seemed to work well during all the temp changes during the trip.