100+ degrees, took a ride anyway!

[Rough Edge racing]

For you guys living in areas were 100 F is common....Do you have bikes with carburetors? And do they act up in the hot weather. I hear stories how the gasoline used in California and Arizona causes starting and running issues in hot weather...

[JJ]

http://www.ironbutt.com/ibmagazine/IronButt_1002_62-66_Hot.pdf

For your reading pleasure

Good article!!  I've done it numerous times, but the bottom-line, is that it is just INSANE to be riding around above 100+ degrees....

[kingoffleece]

I agree 100%.  I rode 400 miles in an Aerostitch suit-thought I was a gonner.  Never again.  96 degrees.

[Tkelly]

Growing up in Chicago it was always 100 in the summertime,most buildings had no air as well as the cars so riding a cycle in a t shirt felt like heaven..

[JJ]

Growing up in Chicago it was always 100 in the summertime,most buildings had no air as well as the cars so riding a cycle in a t shirt felt like heaven..

Growing up in upstate New York, (Mid-Hudson Valley), you could cut the summer humidity during July-August iwith a cake knife... , but I remember riding in a T-shirt and feeling...well....C OOL!!

[Rich A]

I saw a forecast that Phoenix could hit 116 deg in the next few days. Good grief!

High 90s here in Santa Fe and that's too hot for me.

Rich A

[JJ]

I saw a forecast that Phoenix could hit 116 deg in the next few days. Good grief!

High 90s here in Santa Fe and that's too hot for me.

Rich A

Yes...the forecast is 116 today, and 117 tomorrow in "The Valley of the Sun", aka, the Phoenix area...

OK - Let's just cut to the chase...that is known as..."SILLY HOT"  

It's just another Arizona summer on...."The Forbidden Planet!!" 

[Rich A]

I lived in Carlsbad, NM for around 10 yrs. We had some temps of 112-114 deg, and I saw people jogging and playing tennis on those days. Hottest I've ridden in was 110 to 113 deg for an hour or two--that was ridiculous.

Rich

[Lannis]

Sounds like a great ride Lannis, I’d love to ride it sometime but in the fall in cooler weather👍

It WAS A great ride. Started out at 78 degrees, 4 hours and 45 minutes and 250 beautiful curvy miles later it was 90 degrees but felt like a lot less and I never had to shed the leather....

[RinkRat II]

For you guys living in areas were 100 F is common....Do you have bikes with carburetors? And do they act up in the hot weather. I hear stories how the gasoline used in California and Arizona causes starting and running issues in hot weather...

    I lived in Phoenix for 30 years before relocating to Northern Arizona  and as they started doing the summer/winter blend nonsense you could tell the difference in octane and evaporation. Nowadays I run 91 non ethanol in my 73 Charger and the fuel is so thin it presents a whole new learning curve to starting, especially when hot.  Tuning and rejetting the Thermoquad was a must to get it to be reliable,  but doable.
 I also run that in the bikes, but they're fuel injected and haven't noticed running problems but evaporation is a big deal.  Spill a little on the ground and it's gone in seconds, not like the old days.

    Paul B

[LowRyter]

I took a ride this morning and it was bearable then but is forecasted to be 100 today.  I'll sit in cool air.

I remember maybe 10 years ago riding from OKC to Yellville Ark.  Normally a little more than 300 miles.  This trip I met my Texas riding buddies down in Mena.  This made the trip about 500 miles in 100 degree heat.  The last stop was in Harriet Ark, someone offered me some warm orange Gatorade, normally I don't drink it.  I downed the whole bottle in a flash.  When we got to the motel in Yellville, I jumped in the pool despite some leaves floating in it.  It felt good.  Fatigue is an enemy. 

[Texas Turnip]

Some one please tell me how the "real bikers" wearing a black t-shirt, black leather vest, booger picker gloves and a bandanna survive riding in the heat. Does the bandanna cut off circulation to the rest of the body?

Tex










someone tell me how the "real bikers" wearing a black t-shirt, black vest, booger picker gloves and a bandana

[JJ]

Some one please tell me how the "real bikers" wearing a black t-shirt, black leather vest, booger picker gloves and a bandanna survive riding in the heat. Does the bandanna cut off circulation to the rest of the body?

Tex

It is rumored that a "DO-RAG" has magical properties compared to a full-coverage helmet....










someone tell me how the "real bikers" wearing a black t-shirt, black vest, booger picker gloves and a bandana

[JJ]

That's nice....





Just another data point from..."The Forbidden Planet"

[LowRyter]

I picked up a cooling vest today at Cycle Gear.  I can definitely feel it when I rode back had it on over my t-shirt and under mesh jacket.  Do you wear it over the t-shirt or under?

Thanks for the advice. 

[JJ]

I picked up a cooling vest today at Cycle Gear.  I can definitely feel it when I rode back had it on over my t-shirt and under mesh jacket.  Do you wear it over the t-shirt or under?

Thanks for the advice.

This one says "OVER" a T-shirt...

[PJPR01]

I picked up a cooling vest today at Cycle Gear.  I can definitely feel it when I rode back had it on over my t-shirt and under mesh jacket.  Do you wear it over the t-shirt or under?

Thanks for the advice.

Which one did you get John...post a pic?  Do you leave it in the freezer or fridge overnight or how does it cool you?

[JJ]

This is one I have...but it's from REVZILLA...I am sure others are similar...it works OK...but in 100-110 degree heat, only for SHORT period of time, like 30-45 minutes....

[PJPR01]

Thanks JJ...stay out of the furnace today!  Roasty toasty!

[LowRyter]

Which one did you get John...post a pic?  Do you leave it in the freezer or fridge overnight or how does it cool you?

First, thanks JJ for the advice.

Paul, I bought the house brand at Cycle Gear for $39.  It's the same one that JJ  posted.   

I ran it in the sink at the women's bathroom (don't ask) and took it out the door.  It wasn't soaked by any means.   91 and humid.  They run very tight, so I got a size (or two) bigger.  I think it will be a keeper.  I should've gotten it a lot wetter.  But I could feel it the entire time I rode in it.

[Guzzi Gal]

You’re tougher than I am GG👍

HA!  Seriously, that's not considered hot here.  I didn't start to sweat until sitting at the last light, less than half a mile from our driveway, and I think that was due more to the hot-flash ( it sucks being an "old lady") than the heat. 

As far as keeping cool, those vests work wonders via evaporitave cooling.  When you live somewhere with (usually) low humidity, they are fantastic at keeping you comfortable.  My husband and I don't have the vests but we use Frog Toggs Chilly Pads in the extra large size.  They're a very inexpensive way to keep riding when the weather gets a touch too warm.   

[dguzzi]

No wonder you don't hear about Bigfoot around there.

[JJ]

No wonder you don't hear about Bigfoot around there.

That's correct...no BIGFOOT's in "The Valley of the Sun"...but maybe in the White Mountains!!

http://www.bigfootencounters.com/stories/white_mountainAZ.htm

[PJPR01]

First, thanks JJ for the advice.

Paul, I bought the house brand at Cycle Gear for $39.  It's the same one that JJ  posted.   

I ran it in the sink at the women's bathroom (don't ask) and took it out the door.  It wasn't soaked by any means.   91 and humid.  They run very tight, so I got a size (or two) bigger.  I think it will be a keeper.  I should've gotten it a lot wetter.  But I could feel it the entire time I rode in it.

 

Thanks John!  Have seen some models also with pockets for frozen gel packs...wonder if those would last longer than just plain wetting the garment, but either way, glad to know it's helpful.  I'm just usually covering myself with a bottle of water every hour out in the heat...luckily so far it's been hot but dry here, not much humidity so evaporation is more effective.

[jim_W]

When I moved to Phoenix, many years ago, the first thing I did was buy a mesh jacket and mesh pants. I wore the jacket quite a bit but the first time I wore the pants was on a long trip on a very hot day. I was riding a Honda ST1100 that did 300+ miles between  gas stops. It had pretty good airflow but I soon found out I could go 300 miles between gas stops but I had to stop much more often for water.  I never wore the pants again but I did keep the mesh jacket for trips when the temps were under 100 degrees. Any warmer than that and I go back to leather and close it up.

[JJ]

I moved to "The Valley of the Sun" in 1980...we were young...and it was all fun then...the heat...tubing on the Salt River. etc. riding all over the state, etc.   We lived in Mesa, Chandler, north Scottsdale on and off until 2016.    However, then we moved north to Vortex-Land to escape the crowds and the heat and retired in northern AZ, @ 4500 feet above sea level.  No regrets...    I believe Yavapai County is where I will take my last breath...and that's OK with me...

[LowRyter]

I thought I'd test ride the chill vest today on the V11 Sport.  I mowed earlier and it doesn't feel so muggy today so the heat feels better to me.  Anyway, my phone says it's 97 degrees with Heat Index of 105.  So it's warm (to me 90 and high humidity + sun feels worse).

Anyway, I dropped the vest in the running faucet in the bathroom sink for a minute or so.  I rode it for about an hour on rural section line roads and some interstate, it felt like wearing a wet t-shirt.  I was wearing a mesh jacket and t-shirt underneath.  (and jeans, boots, gloves, helmet, skull cap and earplugs).

It stayed lukecool the entire time.  When I got my gear off my t-shirt is a little damp around my waist and back.   I'd say it might be an important piece gear to have when riding extended time in warm weather.   Until I do a trip, I won't know for sure.

https://www.cyclegear.com/gear/sedici-cooling-vest?rrec=true

[JJ]

Let's all go for a RIDE in Death Valley!!! (NOT!!)      A cooling vest won't help you there!!!

128 degrees is just, well...."INSANE!!"

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/death-valley-hottest-temperature-record-heat-wave/

[PJPR01]

I went out road cycling last weekend mid afternoon, it was about 104F, but very low humidity so it felt like Phoenix in Houston!  :)

Did only 1 8 mile loop and drank 1.5 liters from my 3 liter camelback - I usually fill it 1/2 way with ice, and then water, then drop a Nuun electrolyte tablet in it for some flavor too.    Thought about doing a 2nd loop, but figured I really should ride much earlier.  Not bad, but to be honest, a little too hot to really enjoy it.

Playing tennis or golf is a bit easier as there's no "wind effect" like when on the motorcycle or bicycle...just like standing in front of a full blast hair dryer...and at least you can stop and grab some shade from time to time!