Hot Weather Riding

[BigTom]

It may not be so hot where you are, but it was 115º at MCAS Yuma today. Time to review hot weather survival tips.

RULE 1. Hydrate. Before, after, during. The Marines say you need to drink one ounce of water per kilogram of body weight when it is really hot. Something over 100 oz per day for me. OK, OK. 110 ounces per day for me. If you are riding in this sort of weather, you can not catch up. You MUST keep putting fluids in all day. A good rule of thumb is "Drink enough water that you pee completly clear once each day."

2. Shade yourself. I use a mesh jacket, wear it all the time. It is much cooler than riding in a tee shirt. If you are not ATGATT, at least wear long pants and a long sleeve shirt. The more skin you expose, the more evaporation and de hydration you encourage.

3. Stop and smell the shade. Generally speaking, I try to stop every 100 miles when it is 110º or over. I carry a hydration pack, so I can keep hydrated while I ride, but a little time under the air conditioner or at least in the shade makes a BIG difference. Is a good time to have a cold ice tea. If you start to feel punky, get stopped and shaded with a cold (non alcoholic) drink in your hand. Alcohol will speed the de hydration...

I use an evaporation vest, makes a huge difference in my riding. Doesn't just extend it, makes it pleasant even at the high temps we get. I also try (it doesn't always work) to do the bulk of my riding in the very early am this time of year...I head for the high country at 4:00 am regularly...

NWS said to stay inside unless it is an emergency today and tomorrow. No can do, I fear:) I will try to be as wise as I can in regard to the heat, however.

Ride safe. I suspect that half the single MC accidents in hot weather are at least compounded by heat fatigue or de hydration. It sucks out your brains.

[Capt_Gruuvy]

... It sucks out your brains.

I hate when that happens !

[pretbek]

It may not be so hot where you are, but it was 115º at MCAS Yuma today.

It's all relative, innit?
I remember last year that I was riding here in Pennsyltucky and it was HOT indeed, topped out at 93 degrees! :crackup

You know what, I enjoyed the Arizona heat a lot more, which is dry. But that was November heat of just over 90, not the summer heat of 115 that you talk about. Ugh!

So when do we get to go out for food and apple pie, then ride together again?

[BigTom]

Well, I'd be ready for the Julian Pie any day you want to come by:)

The up state NY pie is probably going to have to wait a couple of years:rolleyes:

[Mark]

Good reminder Tom.

Just a thought on mesh...

I feel that a long sleeve (very thin) cotton shirt under the mesh keeps the wind from dehydrating me even better than wearing a short sleeve shirt.
Same for shorts under mesh pants: I wear a very, very thin pair of long cotton pants.

I guess the wicking athletic wear for both top and bottom would work as well...

Mark

[AzDesertRider]

Great post Tom.

Thanks for the reminder.

[John H2]

I soak my long sleeve cotton pull over shirt with water and put my mesh jacket over that. Also a soaked bandana around the neck. We went across Death Valley last July this way. Shorts under the mesh pants. Works for me.

[STingray]

Here's an article I read recently that added to my survival techniques, even after 35+ years of riding in it...very helpful: http://www.zunis.org/at_least_theres_a_breeze.htm

On a similar point, a urologist and 2- internists (MD/Surgeons) told me that a healthy male should *eliminate* about 2 full quarts of fluid each day. So that means the intake has to vary with conditions (heat/humidity). One clear pee a day isn't enough, especially if one has the propensity for kidney/bladder issues (stones, etc.)

A good informative read...

[josephthreedogs]

Having lived in the desert all my life I am surprized by the number of people who don't know how to survive the heat. It comes second nature to me I seldom think about what needs to be done I just do it.

[SupraSabre]

Last year I had the Heat experience of my life! I rode out to George's Route 666 ride and the starting temps here in San Burn-arse-dino was 102º. As I approached Palm Springs, it went upto 113º. I stopped at one point where it was only 109º and re-hydrated my Cooling Liner with cold water (from the frig at the store) and drank an bunch of the water myself. I then procedded on I10 and around the CA-AZ border, it was 115º, which lasted for an hour and a half! Now, THAT was HOT! I stopped just short of Phoenix for a sandwich and more water for me and the cooling liner. Then proceeded to my destination, just east of Tucson. It was 9 hours and much of it was in 100+ degree temps. :(

Even on my way home I had to re-hydrate the liner a number of times, like BigTom was saying, about every 100 miles or so. Sometimes I had to do it sooner.:(

[Blrfl]

You know what, I enjoyed the Arizona heat a lot more, which is dry.

It's a dry heat... Like my oven! :eek:

--Mark

[STingray]

SuperSabre: Yup. Fun huh? <not!> Last year (and in '04) we started the 3 Flags Rally in Mexicali. Last year it got to 117 in the afternoon. Randy Q's ST1300 had a soda can in the sunny-side saddlebag. At night, he found it...exploded. It looked like a 9mm hit it. Next morning, 2:30am, we were loading the bikes: it was 97º and about 90% humidity. Here's a photo of the '04 start at almost the same time, same hotel (note the caption, it was only 93º and 90% then):

http://thumb14.webshots.net/s/thumb2/5/7/68/191950768nmhtBT_th.jpg (http://travel.webshots.com/photo/1191950768049812074nmhtBT)

Aweful place to live. What gets me is the humidity down there...it IS the "desert", isn't it??? That year we rode down next to Salton Sea. We were doing OK at 110º w/mesh gear and cooling vests, but when we passed a farm that was irrigating w/ sprinklers, it felt as though someone tossed a pan of boiling water at our chests. Literally took the wind out of our lungs. A few seconds later as we got passed the sprinklers, it got 'cooler' again. What an aweful experience!

Joseph3Ds: Common sense isn't so "common" any more. But you can help by sharing what you have learned with those who ask! :clap2:

[MidLife]

Anybody has problems wearing ear plugs in hot weather?

If the temp climbs in the 90s, they become uncomfortable for me (painful) after 2-3 hr of riding in the heat.

Any tricks here?

[sherob]

Anybody has problems wearing ear plugs in hot weather?

If the temp climbs in the 90s, they become uncomfortable for me (painful) after 2-3 hr of riding in the heat.

Any tricks here?

I never had problems wearing the squishy foam ones... I wore those all day ;) I hated the hard plastic ones :o:

I found some really good ones at that drugstore that is 3 letters in Houston... LOL!!! Can't remember the name now... LOL!!! They had one at the corner of Richmond and Wilcrest :confused: Starts with a "C" :confused:

[Mellow]

Anybody has problems wearing ear plugs in hot weather?

If the temp climbs in the 90s, they become uncomfortable for me (painful) after 2-3 hr of riding in the heat.

Any tricks here?

For some reason, I had problems riding with foam earplugs going to CampSTOC. It wasn't hot or anything and I've ridden with them many times. I even have the plastic flange type as well but once your ear gets sensitive, the only cure is to leave them out.

I recently added a laminar lip which helps to quiet the wind noise so I left mine out for 2 days and then on the trip back home put in the flange ones. For some reason those don't irritate me as much as the foam ones do.. go figure.

To answer your question, I've never notice an issue based on the temperature.. .they either hurt me or I'm fine with them.

[Mellow]

I never had problems wearing the squishy foam ones... I wore those all day ;) I hated the hard plastic ones :o:

I found some really good ones at that drugstore that is 3 letters in Houston... LOL!!! Can't remember the name now... LOL!!! They had one at the corner of Richmond and Wilcrest :confused: Starts with a "C" :confused:

CVS Pharmacy ?

[MidLife]

I never had problems wearing the squishy foam ones... I wore those all day ;) I hated the hard plastic ones :o:

I found some really good ones at that drugstore that is 3 letters in Houston... LOL!!! Can't remember the name now... LOL!!! They had one at the corner of Richmond and Wilcrest :confused: Starts with a "C" :confused:

CVS?

I have some soft "waxy" ones that work well for me on short hops, but become painful after an hour or so, even worse in the heat.

I can wear the squishy MaxLite all day long in 40-50 F CO fall weather, but not in the 95+ Tx days.

[sherob]

CVS?

I have some soft "waxy" ones that work well for me on short hops, but become painful after an hour or so, even worse in the heat.

I can wear the squishy MaxLite all day long in 40-50 F CO fall weather, but not in the 95+ Tx days.

http://www.cvs.com/CVSApp/cvs/gateway/detail?prodid=317536&previousURI=/CVSApp/cvs/gateway/search?page=1^Query=ear+plugs^ActiveCat=65

CVS is it... remember, I lived in Katy/Houston for almost 30 years... and I wore them all day when I rode anything other than the Wing ;)

The "wax" ones just don't work for me either... the foam ones you can squish up and push in that expand for a good fit always worked for me. Just like anything else I guess... what works for me, may not for you :(

[MidLife]

http://www.cvs.com/CVSApp/cvs/gateway/detail?prodid=317536&previousURI=/CVSApp/cvs/gateway/search?page=1^Query=ear+plugs^ActiveCat=65

CVS is it... remember, I lived in Katy/Houston for almost 30 years... and I wore them all day when I rode anything other than the Wing ;)

The "wax" ones just don't work for me either... the foam ones you can squish up and push in that expand for a good fit always worked for me. Just like anything else I guess... what works for me, may not for you :(

Yes, I remember your being in the neighborhood!

I was thinking about using some lube on the foam plugs on the next longer "hot" trip, to try and see if it makes any difference. Like Mellow said, it comes to a point were there is so much discomfort that you have to leave them out!

[UNTMatt]

Good reminder Tom.

Just a thought on mesh...

I feel that a long sleeve (very thin) cotton shirt under the mesh keeps the wind from dehydrating me even better than wearing a short sleeve shirt.
Same for shorts under mesh pants: I wear a very, very thin pair of long cotton pants.

I guess the wicking athletic wear for both top and bottom would work as well...

Mark

Although I've not had the opportunity to ride through the desert (we will, in July be passing through Yuma and the rest of AZ), after watching Survivorman and other shows on desert survival, they all say, stay covered up. Light colored, long sleeve, long pants clothing to keep from losing your fluids too quickly.

I think we will follow that advice when making the run to Cali in July. I don't know that I have the capability to stop every 100 miles though...stopping is something I hate.

[Mark]

Chris and I don't do 100 mile stops... we stop when we want or need too...
Just make sure you stop if you get drowsy with the heat or bored... get off walk in a circle, do jumping jacks, whatever. Bored in the heat leads to mistakes in judgment...

Mark

[Mellow]

If you don't want to stop... then get a couple camelbaks and fill them. Take a sip every now and then.. don't wait 'til your thirsty then take big gulps... just go 5 or 10 miles and take a sip.. or 20 miles.. whatever.. it's truly amazing what this simple little thing can do for you. Trying to put a full tank under you in the desert during the summer is not a bad idea... it's a foolish one that you'll pay for...

I never saw many camelbaks in TX... but, when I went to my first WeSTOC in Minden, NV it was funny how many had them. When I did my CA trip a couple years ago the three of us had them and it made a huge difference.

[STrep]

Thanks for the hydration reminder Tom,

We won't have to worry too much today however, it was 38 on my ride in to work;)

[STingray]

STrep brings up an interesting thought: hydration even when it's cold. We lose body moisture when we breathe. Yeah, it's much faster when it's hot out, but it also happens when it's cold (when you can 'see your breath', that's the moisture your body is losing). You might not sense it as fast, but staying hydrated when riding any long distance even when it's cold is a must.

FYI

[STrep]

You might not sense it as fast, but staying hydrated when riding any long distance even when it's cold is a must.

Good point Ray, I was not thinking of fluid replacement when it is cold.

[UNTMatt]

If you don't want to stop... then get a couple camelbaks and fill them. Take a sip every now and then.. don't wait 'til your thirsty then take big gulps... just go 5 or 10 miles and take a sip.. or 20 miles.. whatever.. it's truly amazing what this simple little thing can do for you. Trying to put a full tank under you in the desert during the summer is not a bad idea... it's a foolish one that you'll pay for...

I never saw many camelbaks in TX... but, when I went to my first WeSTOC in Minden, NV it was funny how many had them. When I did my CA trip a couple years ago the three of us had them and it made a huge difference.


We almost always have our Camelbak's strapped to us during the summer. Only for short around town trips do they stay at home. Love those things...

I don't know how anyone rides in Texas w/o them. The 'bak's allow us to put more miles on the clock with less stops; although, too much and there will be a lot of potty breaks.

[Blue STreak]

All good advice. Unfortunately, evap vests don't work so good here in the muggy mid-atlantic and southeast. Phase change vests work much better for short rides, but can be hard to "re-charge" on a long one.

[Nevada]

Some additional suggestions for toasty weather riding.

Choose your riding gear carefully, but go ATGATT. Good mesh riding gear will allow some airflow, yet keep you on the positive side of the evaporative cooling vs. evaporative dessication divide. You may feel slightly cooler without the riding gear, but you will lose water much quicker. Dehydration and heat injury are both risks, and its possible to incur one without the other. Uncommon, yes, but possible. Minimize black gear, get the lightest color gear you can live with. Yes, it will show the dirt quick, but it won't soak up the heat nearly as much. Ditto for your helmet. A white or silver helmet will be cooler than a black helmet.

When its really toasty and you stop someplace where you're going to go inside, get off the bike, take your keys and GO INSIDE. Don't waste time taking your gear off outside, just get inside. Once you lose the cooling breeze, you'll start to heat up very fast in the riding gear, especially since you're probably standing in the midst of an asphalt or concrete baking stone, er, parking lot. Of course, certain places (such as banks) may require rethinking this option, i.e. taking your helmet off on the way inside.

Chapstick.

Your rightside fairing pocket makes a good drink holder. Styrofoam cups will do a pretty good job of keeping your drink cold, even when its ahunnertandteen degrees hot outside with the added bonus of the engine heat coming from below. Take advantage of the fairing pocket!

Salt. If you're out riding extensively in the heat, skip the low salt diet unless you've got a bonafide medical condition. This doesn't mean load up on salt, just don't work to reduce salt intake.

I generally ride in T-shirt or lightweight long sleeve travel shirt and lightweight nylon travel pants (the convertible type) under my mesh gear. REI's Sahara shirt and pants are good examples. Just enough to keep the hot wind off the skin, but otherwise light and comfy, plus when I get where I'm going, I don't have to mess with sunscreen. (As an added bonus, I can carry three complete changes of clothing in one saddlebag!)

Vented boots, if you can find them.

Sports drinks are not the enemy, just water them down. Drinking ONLY water when sweating a lot runs the risk of mineral depletion. Diluted sports drinks will replenish the minerals. Full strength ain't necessary since we aren't workin' nearly as hard as athletes, plus diluted is easier on the stomach.

Caffeine is problematic. It is a diuretic. Coffee and "energy drinks" are the worst culprits.

Slurpees - wonderful, but beware the brain freeze!!!

[STingray]

Yup, good advice Nevada...

Along with the chapstick, remember the sun screen/block for the exposed part of your face (@ visor 'up').

Avoid ALL diuretics (coffee, tea, alcohol...and especially "energy drinks". A guy I worked with last summer is a factory sponsored KTM rider, and his trainer said that those energy drinks (Red Bull, etc.) are all fake, meaning that the "vitamins and other so-called beneficial ingredients are all synthetic, and actually do your body -0- good. The only one that is "ok" is that "5 Hour" drink that comes in a small bottle and is not for hydration.)

This is good stuff! :)