Here we go again...

[Ryethil]

You know - this is the problem with giving away all my copies of Proficient Motorcycling... I think the author used a specific material that stored a large amount of water and it wasn't around his whole body but wrapped around his neck.

Maybe I'll see it in a bookstore sometime and re-read that section.

RhadamYgg

The neck has a lot of blood flow close to the surface of the skin. People who work construction usually learn to cool this particular area for it cools the blood flowing through the body. Much like a radiator.

[Ryethil]

Speaking as someone who rides in the South Carolina heat and humidity...

-Full face helmet with a dark reflective face shield; this does more to prevent sunburn than I can express
-I have a mesh jacket with a lot of pockets-I stuff Blue Ice cooler packs into the pockets and wear a tank top underneath. It does feel a lot cooler once the air is moving through the jacket.
-I'll admit, I just wear heavy-duty jeans. I have as of yet to find any chaps or pants that fit me (so, I'm losing weight in order to fit into pants)
-I don't ride for more than 30 minutes at a time without a water break. I carry 3 litres of water in my saddlebag.
-I also know where the forested roads are-there's cold air pockets in some of those areas that feel quite nice

Fantastic, I never tought of cool packs in strategically located pockets. What a concept.

Another thingis to get up just before sunrise so you can be up and riding in the coolness of just before dawn with the beauty of the sun rising. It makes biking just so much better. Especially when it gets hot during the day. The memory just relieves some of the problems of heat enough to make it less bothersome.

[Ryethil]

He had some towel or special material that he would soak and put between the layers of armor/clothing. As the water evaporated it cools the body and when it was dry it was time to re-soak it.

The author actually proposes that this is safer in terms of heat and evaporation from skin than riding shirtless/t-shirted.

RhadamYgg

Oh Goddess, I'm so glad he came to that conclusion. I may have questioned wearing "heavy" leathers and armor in 100+ weather but I was wearing a woven kevlar pull over and my jean vest.

It just makes me sick when I'm at a crash site where the victim (usually a fine young man who listened to his friends) is crying his last breath because he highsided his nearly new sportbike and flung himself across the concrete into something very hard. You are working as fast as you can to try and save what is left but you know it will probably be to little, too late and you'll lose him before you can get him to a trauma center. He won't even survive long enough for Star Flight. You look positive on the outside so the kid doesn't go into shock out of fear but inside you're crying at your own inability to pull off a miracle. I'm good but I don't walk on water. And so it goes...

[Grey Thumper]

I'm not sure if you'd be willing to fork out for a new jacket and pants, but motoport (or is it cycleport these days? Not sure which) manufactures kevlar weave riding gear that's as cool as mesh, but far more protective. You could also wear a cooling vest; basically these work through evaporative cooling, but sop up far more liquid than a cotton shirt. The sopped up neck thingy has already been mentioned.

PS, using a dual sport helmet is a cool idea, I'll try that when I need to replace my helmet.

Couple more tips and gear reccos here http://www.sportrider.com/ride/RSS/146_ ... index.html

[Wrider]

A lot of riders in Phoenix would wear a vented/mesh jacket with a soaking wet cotton t-shirt underneath. It'd basically act like a swamp cooler. I knew one guy who had to stop every 20 miles or so in 110 degrees because it got too cold for him and he had to warm back up.

[BuzZz]

.....I knew one guy who had to stop every 20 miles or so in 110 degrees because it got too cold for him and he had to warm back up.

That was you following me!!!

Ya know, you made me pretty paranoid. The third time, I wasn't that cold, I stopped to eat my stash.....

[Zagnut]

I only skimmed the thread and without going into a safety lecture...
Here's the advice I would give:

Get a mesh jacket with CE armour (it's protection, but the wind goes right through it like a fan breeze..a hot fan mind you... but you are ventilated. light color is preferable... and ditch the denim vest. It doesnt protect you and it blocks out the breeze. If the vest is to fly colors then sew your colors onto the back of your mesh jacket if your club bylaws will allow. A mesh jacket will also keep the sun off your skin which will keep you cooler and sunburn free. Wear a cotton tee shirt underneath and soak it with water and when you get up to speed it will actually feel cool.. for awhile anyways unitil it dries... and I see you are a gal so.."Woo Hoo! Wet Tee shirt!".. The fellas will enjoy your wet tee shirt almost as much as you will...lol.. I guess you could wear a dark color so there isn't any "show through." The color of the shirt wont matter because it will be under your mesh jacket. every time you stop to fuel and drink something, pour another bottle of water over your shirt.

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/ ... acket.aspx



Ditch the chaps. Try some draggin' jeans with kevlar and wear some leg armour underneath. I have a pair of Icon knee and shin CE armour but I believe Bonarmour makes them too).

http://www.dragginjeans.com/

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/ ... uards.aspx



Get some vented textile gloves with leather palms and knuckle protection. Be sure to get gloves with vents in the fingers and on the backs of your hands. At 70 mph air will be forced into the gloves cooling you a little and evaporating the sweat.

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/ ... loves.aspx



You can get some vented boots as well. My boots aren't vented but they are Cruiserworks brand so they are very comfortable..even when hot.

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/ ... Boots.aspx

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/ ... Boots.aspx



And finally stop every so often and drink some water. Drink more than you think you need... because you'll need it. I stop about every 80 to 100 miles to fuel up and drink a big gatorade or water every time I stop. The mesh setup keeps me from excessive sweating (unless I ride stop or ride really slow) but it doesn'nt keep me from losing fluids.

This past wekend I was seven hours on the road in 100 plus temperatures. I didnt sweat excessively but my lips just tasted salty. The hot wind was just evaporating my sweat before it could even accumulate. The heat just pulled the moisture out of me...even if I couldn't see it.


Even with stopping and drinking water, by the end of the day, I was just dehydrated and needed to just keep drinking water to get back to normal... If your pee looks like a glass of Shiner Bock, you aint drinking enough water...lol

I see your in Texas like me, so I will just tell you... your are gonna be hot riding in the summer... now way areound it, but this setup or one similar to it will help alot and you still have some protection.

Good luck in whatever you decide and I'll see ya out there on those Texas FM roads... I'll give you "the Wave" so you know it's me...lol
.

[Wrider]

.....I knew one guy who had to stop every 20 miles or so in 110 degrees because it got too cold for him and he had to warm back up.

That was you following me!!!

Ya know, you made me pretty paranoid. The third time, I wasn't that cold, I stopped to eat my stash.....

Sorry bud, probably means I owe you some uhhh, what exactly was it you ate?

But seriously, the swamp cooler effect works great. Also if you do that with the liner of your helmet it works well too. I know that one from years of mountain biking.

[Ryethil]

I'm not sure if you'd be willing to fork out for a new jacket and pants, but motoport (or is it cycleport these days? Not sure which) manufactures kevlar weave riding gear that's as cool as mesh, but far more protective. You could also wear a cooling vest; basically these work through evaporative cooling, but sop up far more liquid than a cotton shirt. The sopped up neck thingy has already been mentioned.

PS, using a dual sport helmet is a cool idea, I'll try that when I need to replace my helmet.

Couple more tips and gear reccos here http://www.sportrider.com/ride/RSS/146_ ... index.html

I maybe going backwards but I'm leaning towards mesh with armor inserts now. I'm borrowing a pullover and a pair of pants for now. But I may go back to my kevlar pull over because I sort of feel exposed with the mesh. I feel so silly about it. *sigh*

On the MX helmet, make sure they are approved for the street. Some not so nice people make real cheap helmets and they're not DOT approved because the companies say they're not ment to used on the street. However, most are but eye ball it any way. Also may sure to wear some sort of eye protection. That big hole that lets in all the air also lets in all the bugs and cr*p too. But it is a bunch cooler which is a life saver.

[Ryethil]

Boy, I stirred up an hornets nest but I'm glad I did for now I have ammunition to tell the less educated there are alternatives. I don't think I can influence the kids with their sport bikes but there are a lot more riders than them. The problem is that there is a culture of the hard core biker that everyone tries to live up to. It has it's limitations and a lot of the posing grates on my teeth but it's hard to tell a doctor or a lawyer that ther're being foolish by acting so idiotic.

I'm a patch wearer but it's an all womens group that has respect. A lot of politicking was done but we aren't f*cked with by guys who think all "chicks" are " in heat". Also, we've done a few favors and we have a powerful protector that has laid down the law concerning us. As long as we know our place, we're free to ride where we want and not stir up trouble. I'm not anyone's b*tch.

However, trying to explain my Honda ST sure is interesting.

I only skimmed the thread and without going into a safety lecture...
Here's the advice I would give:

Get a mesh jacket with CE armour (it's protection, but the wind goes right through it like a fan breeze..a hot fan mind you... but you are ventilated. light color is preferable... and ditch the denim vest. It doesnt protect you and it blocks out the breeze. If the vest is to fly colors then sew your colors onto the back of your mesh jacket if your club bylaws will allow. A mesh jacket will also keep the sun off your skin which will keep you cooler and sunburn free. Wear a cotton tee shirt underneath and soak it with water and when you get up to speed it will actually feel cool.. for awhile anyways unitil it dries... and I see you are a gal so.."Woo Hoo! Wet Tee shirt!".. The fellas will enjoy your wet tee shirt almost as much as you will...lol.. I guess you could wear a dark color so there isn't any "show through." The color of the shirt wont matter because it will be under your mesh jacket. every time you stop to fuel and drink something, pour another bottle of water over your shirt.

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/ ... acket.aspx

I'm going to get a mesh jacket. I don't know what kind yet but the Fieldsheer looked just about right. However, I normally wear a Draggin Shirt. Nevertheless, I see a real need for a armored up mesh jacket when I'm riding my ST esp. on longer rides. I really liked the idea of the "Arctic Vest". I can see a real need/want for such an item.

Ditch the chaps. Try some draggin' jeans with kevlar and wear some leg armour underneath. I have a pair of Icon knee and shin CE armour but I believe Bonarmour makes them too).

http://www.dragginjeans.com/

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/ ... uards.aspx

I really like that idea. More so because I'm borrowing a pair of relaxed fit jeans now and they have the advantage I can wear them around as just another set of pants without gaing anyone's attention. The wearable armor really make a lot of sense. The ST gets me into stuations that don't occur with my HD bikes. Even my big bore Fat Boy doesn't accelerate like the ST does so effortlessly. I wouldn't give up either one of them but the ST requires a more firm grip on my emotions. Also I can buy Draggin products from the Harley dealer who's a personal friend and I use constantly. I help put on his "Garage Parties" which have really grown from when we started.

Get some vented textile gloves with leather palms and knuckle protection. Be sure to get gloves with vents in the fingers and on the backs of your hands. At 70 mph air will be forced into the gloves cooling you a little and evaporating the sweat.

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/ ... loves.aspx

I'm using a pair of LiteWeave Scorpions now and I can see a that there is something better than my fingerless leather gloves. Especially, now that I use the ST so much.

You can get some vented boots as well. My boots aren't vented but they are Cruiserworks brand so they are very comfortable..even when hot.

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/ ... Boots.aspx

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/ ... Boots.aspx.

You'll have to pry my cowgirl boots from my cold dead feet. Of course since I'm changing so much that even this might not be an absolute.

And finally stop every so often and drink some water. Drink more than you think you need... because you'll need it. I stop about every 80 to 100 miles to fuel up and drink a big gatorade or water every time I stop. The mesh setup keeps me from excessive sweating (unless I ride stop or ride really slow) but it doesn'nt keep me from losing fluids. .

There is another thing is that covering your body in breathable material. It keeps your skin from drying out. It means something to women even if it doesn't mean anything to men. The sun has turned my skin to a color tha lets me fit in wiht my Mexican sisters. But with skin cancer on the rise, any protection is to be highly rated.

This past wekend I was seven hours on the road in 100 plus temperatures. I didnt sweat excessively but my lips just tasted salty. The hot wind was just evaporating my sweat before it could even accumulate. The heat just pulled the moisture out of me...even if I couldn't see it.


Even with stopping and drinking water, by the end of the day, I was just dehydrated and needed to just keep drinking water to get back to normal... If your pee looks like a glass of Shiner Bock, you aint drinking enough water...lol.

Hon, if my pee looks like Shiner Bock it's usually because of Shiner Bock.

I see your in Texas like me, so I will just tell you... your are gonna be hot riding in the summer... now way areound it, but this setup or one similar to it will help alot and you still have some protection.

Good luck in whatever you decide and I'll see ya out there on those Texas FM roads... I'll give you "the Wave" so you know it's me...lol
.

If I actually realize it's you, I'll buy the beer.