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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: normzone on June 24, 2015, 10:24:57 PM

Title: Cold wear for hot weather riding?
Post by: normzone on June 24, 2015, 10:24:57 PM

I am entering the baking season. My budget requires that I commute by Guzzi as often as possible.

I am going to break out the CamelBak and fill it with ice for the half hour ride to and from my day job.

I've seen the vests you soak and wear - not interested.

Does anybody here own a vest/jacket that is designed for small insertable Blue Ice devices that they like ?

Title: Re: Cold wear for hot weather riding?
Post by: atavar on June 24, 2015, 10:44:09 PM

I spent quite a few years riding in Arizona.  What I found is that your best bet is a white or silver mesh jacket with a white long sleeve linen short underneath.  There are some very reasonable and decent mesh jackets available on eBay. 

If you really want a refrigerated vest look at the Veskimo, which is basically a vest with tubing sewn in to it which gets chilled water from an outside source like a cooler full of ice on your luggage rack.  Power draw is minimal being only a small 12 volt water pump.  The downside?  They're $200.

http://www.veskimo.com/liquid-cooled-microclimate-vest.html

Here's a review...
http://www.mcnews.com/mcn/model_eval/2011MayVeskimo.pdf

Good luck..

Title: Re: Cold wear for hot weather riding?
Post by: normzone on June 25, 2015, 08:59:01 AM

Thank you, [atavar], I appreciate the opinion of a sweaty veteran.

Title: Re: Cold wear for hot weather riding?
Post by: Cage Free on June 25, 2015, 09:41:14 AM

If its only a half hour ride id just get an enduracool towel, soak it and ride. I used to have a 60 mile commute and on hot days would soak my textile ventilated jacket and wear a soaked bandana around my neck, it kept me pretty comfortable and would be completely dry by the time I got home.

Title: Re: Cold wear for hot weather riding?
Post by: Bisbonian on June 25, 2015, 11:54:20 AM

They make some cooling vests which involve filling with water rather than soaking with water, they are supposed to stay dry and not soak your clothing to keep you cool.

I don't remember who makes them but they are quite expensive when compared to the standard soaked cooling vest.

When it starts to get really hot, my mesh jacket actually cools worse than my normal riding jacket with the vents open.

Title: Re: Cold wear for hot weather riding?
Post by: not-fishing on June 25, 2015, 11:52:15 PM

My commute is only 20 minutes each way.  The morning is fine @ 6:00 am.

The afternoons ain't so bad if you suit up in the AC office and get on the bike quickly. 

My G11 is the one that suffers and doesn't like it as soon as I hit the stop & go close to home.