Jackets AGATT in the heat

ski_rush

ski_rush

Joined
Mar 21, 2020
Messages
1
Location
Nebraska
I am an AGATT type of person, but it makes it difficult at times. The other day I saw a guy in his 40's riding a sports bike and wearing shorts, a t-shirt, Crocs...and no helmet...I'm the opposite of that guy.

My job is 35 miles from my home. I'd like to commute to work on the bike. But, it's 80 degrees where I live and going to get warmer in June and July. I have one riding jacket and it's pretty warm. Even if I just where a t-shirt underneath my jacket, I still get a little sweaty. The problem is that I'm an executive at a company and cannot show up to work drenched in sweat from my gear. I'm wondering what you all do to ride AGATT but still be able to be presentable at work in the warmer months. Any recommendations on riding jackets that still let you stay cool?

Thanks
 
Mellow said:
When I rode into work more, the only thing that worked for me that didn't involve a sweaty ride into work was the vests that had freezable inserts.
Click to expand...

Are those ice vests, or the "phase changing" vests worth it? I'm seriously considering....
Thanks
 
I'm an Aerostich guy, management but not a suit. 84 miles round trip daily. I find the 'Stich is good to about 80*F, but only if moving. I might upgrade to the newer unlined R3 suit as I hear its a bit cooler. So the ride to work even in summer is fine as mornings are generally cool enough. The ride home is the issue, I get cooked in traffic for the first 10min on my way to the slab. I also have a mesh jacket and pants, but thats a PITA, reserved only for the 6 really hot weeks. I've considered Motoport mesh however I already have a lot of coin in MC gear. I think if I was a suit I'd have to just leave 10min early and change at work. I have to admit sometimes being envious of the cagers on 95+*F days.
 
rwthomas1 said:
I was looking at this one. If it works its a solution. The evaporative ones don't work here, too humid.

www.thewarmingstore.com

Techniche TechKewl 6626 Phase Change Cooling Vest with Inserts and Cooler - Blue

TechNiche's Phase Change Cooling Vests maintain a comfortable 14 degrees C (58 degrees F) for up to 3 hours of critical heat stress relief. ...
www.thewarmingstore.com www.thewarmingstore.com
Click to expand...
It's interesting, you don't think it's working but when you get home you can feel where the paks are touching and your skin is cool. Perfect would be if they had little fans as well... LOL
 
My R3 ‘stitch vents very well.
I think it’s much cooler than the mesh jacket and riding pants I used to wear.
As a mechanic here in sunny Georgia, I sweat more at work.
 
Brings back memories of crossing Nebraska one day at 104 degrees wearing full gear and loaded bikes. Moisture wicking wear, wet cooling vests, wet skull caps and lots of hydration for both us and the gear made it possible. The most important thing, in my opinion, to stay relatively cool is a jacket with proper ventilation ports like my Klim has.

Using the wet gear in dry conditions certainly works better than in humid conditions. I remember zipping my jacket front closed while crossing a desert area in Wyoming at mid 90's because the metered incoming air was cooling me so well with the wet gear.

Face it, no matter what you do or what you wear, over 80 degrees you will likely be sweating to some extent unless you get an air conditioned envelopment space-type suit while riding a bike in the heat.
 
I used to work for the State of Iowa in IT. I rode to work or took the bus when the bike was unable to be on the roads (in winter months during/after a snow storm). The bus picked up a block from my home and dropped across the street from work and the local bus system allowed military vets (me) to ride free so that worked out nicely.
I didn't want to have more than one jacket if possible so I have a TM Pivot jacket. That starts with very large mesh panels on front, and biceps, and an even bigger one on half the back. I can close those and have a solid shell jacket. Then I can insert a wind/rain liner when it got cool and also a thermal liner when it was starting to get cold. My jacket has just enough room to allow me to also add a fleece jacket under it all when it was downright cold.

When I rode to work in warmer months it was usually not too warm in the morning when I would go in. Mostly around 70-75F at most. So I could regulate staying just a little on the cool side to prevent sweating and still wear my business casual. I'd keep my shoes at my office at work and change when I got there. Coming home was no issue since, after all, I was done for the day. I didn't care if it was 100+F for the ride home since my clothes ended up in the wash that night anyway. I'd put on my gear in my office and let a little sweat build up. But the AC in the building still gave me chills walking to the front door of the building. Then I'd sweat a little walking out to the bike. Sometimes I'd also use the water I brought along to add a bit more moisture to my clothes. The first 15 minutes of my ride home was like I was in my car with the AC turned on very cold, and then it was still comfortable the rest of the way home. I live 13 miles from where I worked, but would often double that going home at least. I've been on the bike at 105F and high humidity doing this with no issues.

If I needed to wear a suit jacket at work (happened sometimes) I'd carry it separately and put it on in exchange for my riding gear.
 
Location does matter.

The phase change stuff works well for short commuting rides, useless for any real touring IMO.

I prefer my mesh over textile on all the rides I've done. The venting works okay but mesh always does a better job for me. Of course that only applies for full fairing bikes that shield you from incoming hot air that might be hotter than what is in your 'bubble' on the bike. Sweating is good as that's what your body does to control body temps, mesh can evaporate too much of that.

For touring, whatever makes you comfortable works as long as you don't forget to hydrate which is the #1 most important factor.

For commuting, it's a different thing altogether and more about comfort for a short period of time.
 
I commute in Florida. Hot and humid pretty much all the time. I wear mesh in spring, summer and fall, and a textile jacket in the "winter".
I don't wear a suit but I wear a collared shirt at work so I usually put that in my top box and ride in wearing a t-shirt under my jacket.
Most of the time in the morning it's not hot enough that I sweat bad on my way in to work. I have about a 15 mile mixed commute so there are times I can cool off and I do go through a few stop lights too.
I don't know if a suit would fit in a box without wrinkling it up though. I'd imagine that you could loosely roll it up and it might survive ok.
 
Not on a bike, but I used to commute in Toronto in a black car that had no air conditioning. It was a 30-40 minute drive each way, often in stop and go traffic. Summers were brutal - 40C with the humidity - and thanks to my Scottish ancestors, I start sweating above 10C. I ended up commuting in shorts and t-shirt and changing into my suit at the office. I had a closet where I could stash my suits and shirts.

In Calgary, when I used to commute by bicycle, same thing; kept the work clothes at work and changed there. It helped that work had some showers as well but if you don't have that, some wipes are a decent alternative.
 
I used to commute in the humid summer, but wore the shirt, ties and dress pants under mesh jacket and mesh pants. I always left in early morning when cooler and less traffic. I kept 2 dress jackets in the office. The commute home was another matter, if I could leave early, it was okay as no stop and go traffic, if regular time, then it was a sweat fest for the first half of the way home, then cooled down the further along I went, and the shirt goes in the laundry. What I found interesting was that light weight wool dress pants were cooler than cotton. I ended up getting a used one piece 'Stitch and it was very easy to put on and take off, but hot on way home.
 
I have a Joe Rocket mesh and an Olympia mesh jacket, but summer's heat and humidity are just tough to deal with, period.
I carry a CamelBak (which itself is bunglesome), and often tie a wet bandana around my neck. Usually keep the windscreen in lowest position, sunglasses on, and visor open. This keeps airflow in my face.
I always carry a soft bandana as a sweatrag, too... it just gets hot in Bama.
I don't have to wear business clothes in my office.
A hot day riding is better than a car with AC.
 
rwthomas1 said:
Are those ice vests, or the "phase changing" vests worth it? I'm seriously considering....
Thanks
Click to expand...
I think the big issue (at least around here) is the humidity level and where it lands.
They never worked for me as all I became was cool and wet. ;)
 
ski_rush said:
I am an AGATT type of person, but it makes it difficult at times. The other day I saw a guy in his 40's riding a sports bike and wearing shorts, a t-shirt, Crocs...and no helmet...I'm the opposite of that guy.

My job is 35 miles from my home. I'd like to commute to work on the bike. But, it's 80 degrees where I live and going to get warmer in June and July. I have one riding jacket and it's pretty warm. Even if I just where a t-shirt underneath my jacket, I still get a little sweaty. The problem is that I'm an executive at a company and cannot show up to work drenched in sweat from my gear. I'm wondering what you all do to ride AGATT but still be able to be presentable at work in the warmer months. Any recommendations on riding jackets that still let you stay cool?

Thanks
Click to expand...
Back when I got my first bike, my grandfather taught me the best lesson when it came to riding.
I grew up in the SF bay area of California. It gets HOT there, and there were days when I I really didn't want all that gear. My mind always went back to gramps though. That first day he had me take off my shirt and lay down on the asphalt across the street from his house. He grabbed me by the ankles and SLOOOWLY walked back across to his side, me screaming the whole way.
"That was zero miles an hour. Imagine what 60+miles an hour would feel like. Buuy the best gear you can. Upgrade when you can afford it. Never ride without a helmet..."
That would be child abuse now, as would the swimming lessons I got...
In 1977, I had what I consider to be the worst MC accident in my life. I was on a 400Four, ATG. A guy with an entire pharmacy in his bloodstream, on a 750Four, wearing shorts, a tank-top, flip-flops, and a tennis visor ran the red light. I hit him right in the side cover. I ended up with two broken vertebrae. He died 6 months later, having never come out of the coma.
If not for my gear, things would have been a whole lot worse for me.
I remember thinking as I got on the bike "Ghod it's too f*&$%^@ hot for this stuff." I wore it anyway.
it's that one time you don't...
Ice packs work, but only for awhile. They do make cooling vests for under your gear, some of them are pretty sophisticated and expensive.
Last week, I soaked my T-shirt before I put on my gear. I opened all the vents in my jacket, and took off.
It helped quite a bit.
My question for all of you along the same lines as the OP's question.
What do you wear under your gear pants? I mean, I wear Levi's, and man does that get warm. Would you wear shorts?
 
Da Bear said:
What do you wear under your gear pants? I mean, I wear Levi's, and man does that get warm. Would you wear shorts?
Click to expand...
I remember a very old teacher saying a long time ago, why wear denim, it's cold in the winter and hot in the summer. I have some kevlar lined that I sometimes wear alone. I have put shorts on under the Motoport air mesh II a few times, chaffs the knees. Try some hi tech light weight hiking pants. The synthetics seem to stay cooler.
 
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