Tips for riding in high heat...Could save A/YOUR life!!

[Yo!Joe!!!]

Heat. What's that..?

 

[SLu]

If temp is over 90 degrees, I put a pack of ice inside my jacket and back of my neck. It may sting a bit, but you'll get used to it. Refill on next gas stop. If you're not peeing every hour or two, or it's yellow, you're not drinking enough.

I fill my water pack with ice then water. When it's hot, it'll melt fast as you can drink and it'll be near freezing.

Lasted me through the long weekend in SoCal.

 

[BISON]

...i've learned the hard way to ride with ATGATT...yet...i have found myself contemplating leaving my jacket home nearly daily out here in the brooklyn summer heat and humidity...i never do, and just sweat my ass of at every fucking stop light, etc...(i've never missed right-turns on red so much...)
...does anyone know of non-'icon stunter vest'-ish gear options which will keep one relatively cool and keep their skin intact???...please advise...

 

[tuxumino]

Diff. between Heat Stroke and Heat Exhaustion and how to help a victim of
either.

Heat Exhaustion

Heat exhaustion occurs as the body continues to shunt blood away from the brain and muscles. Symptoms of heat exhaustion include:

1. Headaches, dizziness, nausea, momentary fainting

2. Cramps

3. Tiredness, weakness

4. Profuse sweating

.

Lived and rode in Phoenix (where it was 118 yesterday) and rode across the desert in summer more than once so I know the drill. There is one thing I think needs to be added and that is that by the time you start to feel any signs of heat stroke or dehydration is it too late. You need to stop regularly just to make sure your head is right. Stop and assess your mental state. Your judgement is the first to go and once you've lost that, you are going to make mistakes.

Drink more water than is comfortable. Drink past being thirsty and into feeling like you are drowning.

Muscle cramps, they used to call it heat cramps, are the first sign of on coming heat exhaustion. You will notice muscle cramps and weakness first. It's very easy to dismiss minor muscle cramps, don't, cause the first thing heat exhaustion affects is your judgement it will get harder and harder to realize that your about to become a heat causality. Once you have heat stroke you will not be able to help yourself, you'll just lie there on the ground having seizures while your brain roasts in your hot little head.

 

[gixxerjeff]

There is one thing I think needs to be added and that is that by the time you start to feel any signs of heat stroke or dehydration is it too late. You need to stop regularly just to make sure your head is right. Stop and assess your mental state. Your judgement is the first to go and once you've lost that, you are going to make mistakes.

Very true. Just this past weekend I was blasting around Berryessa. I never had symptoms of heat stoke, but at one point I did feel overheated. I began to notice my riding was eroding. Not bad judjment stuff (I have enough of that already) but there is no doubt I as getting sloppy. Late downshifts, missing known turn-in points, stuff like that. A brief 10 minute break with my jacket off in the shade made a world of difference. Heat=fatique. I felt brand new after the break. Made my riding more enjoyable as well.

 

[RhythmRider]

...i've learned the hard way to ride with ATGATT...yet...i have found myself contemplating leaving my jacket home nearly daily out here in the brooklyn summer heat and humidity...i never do, and just sweat my ass of at every fucking stop light, etc...(i've never missed right-turns on red so much...)
...does anyone know of non-'icon stunter vest'-ish gear options which will keep one relatively cool and keep their skin intact???...please advise...

You mainly want to make sure your gear has some holes in it to let air through. Once you're good and sweaty, a little airflow will cool you right off. You can add water to increase the effects of evaporation. I think the best place to cool yourself is around the front of the neck where the blood goes through it. You can get a spongy neck chiller like the ones posted earlier in this thread and soak it with water. The colder the water is, the greater the effect of evaporation.