Keeping cool.

[rflnomad]

Hey all. Keeping cool and I don't mean visually!
The heat down here is oppressing during the spring, summer and fall. The rest of the country is under massive heat this summer as well.
This is what we do. Take it for what it's worth, just a recommendation.
Get out early in the am while it is a little cooler.
Wear a white shirt with long sleeves. I have one of the vented fishing shirts and it is GREAT. And a little powder keeps ya drier too.
Drop your windshield down to its lowest spot. Gets a little more breeze flowing.
Vented helmets are great for keeping the noggin cool.
Hydrate yourself. I drink LOTS of water and Gatorade.
I keep some face wipes in the bags to get rid of the sweat. NOT baby wipes; they can have oils,
I stop often when it's really hot, 75 - 100 miles at a store to have water and cool off.

Just be smart and your mind is clearer and the trip will be better and safer.

[davidjones1]

Great info! add one thing that would be sun screen.

[trip]

Good info, rflnomad.

I ride in the summertime alot and have taken note and gotten very serious about hydration.

One of the hottest places on the planet is Presidio, TX. Presidio is located on the Texas/Mexico border just west of Big Bend National park.

That's one of my favorite places to ride and when you ride the "River Road" as it's called (Highway 170) along the Rio Grand River, it can get up to 115 degrees in May!

I've ridden that road and have seen guys tossing their cookies on the side of the road because they didn't heed their body's warnings.

If you find yourself riding in the heat (90 degress or higher, as a general rule), stop every 70-80 miles and drink water or Gatorade. Then when you stop again, rotate from water to Gatorade. Drink a good 16 ounces of fluid or more whether you are thirsty or not. Wear clothing that is ventilated that will allow air to flow through so that when you sweat, it will cool you, like a long-sleeved t-shirt.

The main thing is to recognize when you're riding in the heat and get serious about hydration and re-hydration.

In September of 2005, (right after I bought my Nomad), I sold my previous bike (a 1998 Honda Magna) to a lady from Vancouver, BC. Yep, she bought it sight unseen off my internet website. Then she flew down to Dallas and drove to Lindale to pick it up. She rode that bike all the way back to Vancouver, but before she left, I had to "educate" her on how to ride in the heat. She made it OK, but I don't think she would have made it out of Texas without some hydration information.

[dogdoc]

Zince Oxide cream from Wally World for the face(dries clear)-$2 priceless!

Doc

Good tip, doc!

[flightdoc]

awesome suggestions. when I'm teaching the MSF courses on weekends the heat and humidity can rise above 100 degrees, add the heatgenerated from the pavement and from the bikes the students are sitting on it can get REAL hot. I learned the hard way to insist they hydrate after every exercise AND eat lunch. Eating along with hydrating is important. I bring some fruit with me too.

vin

Jack & Coke w extra ice. :)

[rflnomad]

Oops, I did forget the sunscreen. Thanks for adding that.
And Nico, nice post ... "extra ice! " HAHA

[Todd]

What's the Coke for???????????????????????????

It is really easy to get dehydrated and I too try to drink plenty of water, sports drinks. A good idea is to make sure to drink a lot (of water) the night before you have a long planned ride the next day.

[spooky66]

This is the best esp. under mesh armored jacket and a camel back.
http://heatreliefdepot.com/catalog/p...roducts_id=667

[bobzinger]

I wear a mesh jacket all summer. The sun stays off my skin and the air blows right thru.