Warm weather riding

[SportsterDoc]

It has been warmer than normal in Las Vegas Valley.
Wednesday afternoon it was 116 F, parked under the shade of a tree at Aliante Home Depot for about 30 minutes.
Reading stayed the same on the northern 215 beltway.

Yesterday, I rode up to Mt. Charleston.
115 F leaving highway 95 onto Lee Canyon.
At about 4,000 feet, I felt a coolness...it was down to 105F!
83F at 8,000 feet and 78F at the highest point...with cloud cover on Deer Creek Road, between Lee Canyon and Kyle Canyon.

Only have 3800 miles on the bike, as of today, 4 1/2 months in service, which computes to ~10,000 miles in the first year.

[stokes]

But at least its a dry heat.

[kingoffleece]

Good lord, that's too hot for this Northeast boy.

[ITSec]

Yeah, I was riding around the Las Vegas valley today - never got a chance to go anywhere pleasant, it was all chores and obligations, so I got the joy of several hours exposure to city pavement heat at anywhere from 114 to 125 indicated on the Norge's dash.

It's been 110+ for a week now, and high temps won't go below 101 anywhere covered by the extended forecast.

(From NOAA)
Detailed Forecast
Tonight - Partly cloudy, with a low around 85. West southwest wind 3 to 8 mph.
Sunday - Sunny and hot, with a high near 110. Southwest wind around 6 mph becoming light and variable.
Sunday Night - Mostly clear, with a low around 85. West wind 9 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Monday - Sunny and hot, with a high near 106. Southwest wind 7 to 12 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph.
Monday Night - Clear, with a low around 82. West southwest wind 17 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph.
Tuesday - Sunny, with a high near 103.
Tuesday Night - Clear, with a low around 80.
Wednesday - Sunny, with a high near 102.
Wednesday Night - Clear, with a low around 79.
Thursday - Sunny, with a high near 101.
Thursday Night - Clear, with a low around 79.
Friday - Sunny, with a high near 101.
Friday Night - Clear, with a low around 79.
Saturday - Sunny, with a high near 101.

[JeffOlson]

My wife and I went for a ride tonight with another couple. It was warm (82 in the twisty forest bits and 93 out on the open roads), but not too hot as long as we kept moving. I almost didn't go, though. I was planning on swimming instead when the tide came in (but I am glad I went, mostly for the company and the scenery around Olympia).

Having ridden my Norge in stop-and-go traffic when the temperature is above 110, I just won't do it any more. When the temperature soars, I'd rather drive my air-conditioned sled with the seat cooler on...

[Yukonica]

That is insane. Is there such a product as an electric 'cool' suit?
My physiology barely tolerates the mid 80's. I'd be ill at 100.

[ITSec]

Weeks like this, I think about the place I'd like to move to - problem is, I just haven't figured out how to make enough money to take advantage of it while still affording travel to places I can ride.

Since my other passion is underwater photography and diving, I would likely move to someplace like Bonaire or Curacao. Highs about where the low has been here this week (85 or so), lows around 70 at worst. Almost never any hurricanes, but nowhere to ride. Oh well, that's what vacations would then be for...

On the other hand, I love walking out to by grungy pickup, throwing in the dive gear, stopping wherever looks good and walking into the water. 60-90 minutes later I walk out and get ready to do it again. And again. And again. (sigh)

[Arizona Wayne]

What's the altitude of Las Vegas?  We've had a heat spell here in Kingman @ 3,500' comparable to LV.  But down by the river in Bullhead & lake Havasu it's 12F hotter than here.  At least here it cools down to 70F at night.  I know in LV some time it stays 95F at night.  Sure the casinos don't mind that.    But at least here it's dry heat compared to the Midwest, SE, NE. And we(King.) don't have the insects they have.

I've ridden around Barstow, Needles in 123-125F temps with the help of a water bag I sip every few minutes to keep going.  Otherwise I'd have to stop until maybe @ night to progress. 

[kingoffleece]

NOW you're talking.  As a former professional instructor I lead many a group to Bonaire (and other places).  In fact, we went there to Honeymoon!

[Arizona Wayne]

That is insane. Is there such a product as an electric 'cool' suit?
My physiology barely tolerates the mid 80's. I'd be ill at 100.

If you're in a different climate long enough your body adjusts to the temp of what it's around after awhile to a point.

But to go from 1 temp to another suddenly your body can go into shock and animals that can't sweat like humans die.

[Tom H]

I don't know how anyone can live in the desert areas like LV with temps up to 120F day and about 90-100 day. I do get one thing there, AC and plenty of water. I do seem to remember cinder block was a cooler building mat'l in the desert.

When it gets 90-100F in the so. Cali area I ride through, I'm cooking with my helmet, boots, jacket and lite gloves. The humidity really makes it hot. I envy the guys riding with a T and pants, boots, but not if they fall down.

I have been to Hesperia Ca. in the summer. Hung out in a steel building with the doors open and just the wind blown roof fans. Didn't seem to hot in the shade or inside. But in the 2 or so hours I did suck down like 4 sodas. Very dry heat there.

Stay heat safe! Stay cool as you can of there in LV!
Tom

[Sheepdog]

I had a flat in West Texas in a place with no shade and not a cloud in the sky. It took me about an hour to pull the tube and patch it and I drank my entire Nalgene bottle of water. By the time I got rolling again, I realized that I had the early symptoms of heat exhaustion. When I got to the next town I checked into a hotel to recover. "Hot day," I said to the hotel clerk. He answered, "It's 117 degrees out there...welcome to West Texas."

I lived in Cura�ao during my teen years. My 1968 Honda CL-70 was perfect for the dirt/coral roads of the Kunuku and a great way to get to the beach.

[SportsterDoc]

What's the altitude of Las Vegas?

About 2200 feet in the northern end.

[Lee Davis]

I did a trip north one year and I remember the 108 degrees going up to Grand Junction Colorado. Started in New Mexico. I noticed the start of heat stroke and so we stopped and wrapped wet bandanas on our foreheads. Then, 4 days later we headed west out of Helena, Montana and found a state campground at the top of Macdonald Pass, a beautiful spot, at about 6,400 feet. In the morning (It was July 10)we headed down the 30 mile ride to Avon, and a café with hot coffee. It was terribly cold, and the folks at the café said that it was currently 30 degrees in town. The pass most have been in the low 20's. I guess I would rather have the heat than the cold, unless I have heated grips.