As requested, I'm going to start a sticky for tips on how to stay cool while riding during hot weather. This includes experience with specific gear, gadgets or little tricks you have found. Depending on the response, we'll start one come winter on how to remain warm while riding in cold weather.

Just fair warning to all: this thread is in the How To: Riding Skills subforum. Which means serious tips only. Anyone suggesting something unsafe, even in jest, will find themselves benched for a week.

 

See http://www.ironbutt.com/ibmagazine/I..._62-66_Hot.pdf for excellent information about how to protect yourself from heat troubles when it's HOT out. In short, _don't_ wear mesh when it's above roughly the mid-90s, at least if you're going to be on the highway. I have found this to be true, and I seek wind protection here in the Phoenix area. GEAR-UP WHEN IT'S HOT!

I wear an LD Comfort brand long-sleeve mock-turtleneck under my leather jacket when it's hot out. That shirt will hold quite a bit of water, and having it soaked and evaporating under my jacket makes the ride very pleasant, even at 117F (haven't had a chance to try riding above 120F yet).

Another item I have is a phase-change cooling vest. They're bulky (meaning if your jacket fits snugly, as it should, you probably won't be able to wear it under your existing jacket), and kinda heavy (~5 - 10 lbs, depending on exactly what you get), but can be very helpful, especially in high humidity conditions.

 

I saw a guy today bundled up today on his bike and thought he was crazy... foot-in-mouth-. I always thought wind cooled you off and the faster you go the cooler you got. Apparently not I guess 93 degress F is the magic number where it starts having the opposite effect.

This article was very informative thanks for the post Mz5.

 

^ Yep when it's super hot and bright out, blocking out the sun (covering up) works better than not.

also... stay HYDRATED!!

 

Cant agree more. More gear may seem like it will make you hotter but in reality its blocking the sun and letting air flow over your sweat.

 

i think with winter coming up we should come up with a sticky for staying warm in the winter.

 

+1

 

i know its an older toppic but i took a 400+Km trip (each way) last summer in mid july, the temp was around 35-40C which is i guess somewhere around 95-104F
wore my under aurmour long shirt, with a thin ski mask. and for jacket wore a mesh jacket and heavy jeans.

i had my camel bak and went through around two and half of it full of water with a bottle of sports at the half way point. knew better then to drink pop or coffee.

had a good ride, but the 2nd day i could feel it.

the 2nd trip was with the same setup but leather jacket, and although it was a bit hotter it felt much better the next day.

hopefully this year i can drink more water and stick to the back roads a bit more.