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Riding to SWIII- It’s going to be hot!

23K views 185 replies 51 participants last post by  Q-Hog 
#1 ·
With SWIII just over the horizon, I want to start getting the proper gear for the long, hot ride. With temperatures averaging 100* or more for most of the trip, my biggest concern is the heat and how to combat it. Keeping as cool as possible and hydrated is my biggest concern. I’ve been doing a lot of reading on the subject, but there is so much conflicting information, I’d like to hear what others are thinking or have had experience with. Right now I’m thinking about this for my riding gear:

Layer 1: Wicking under garments, long leg and sleeves, like Under Armor Baselayer, quality socks.

Layer 2: AGV Sport Solare Vented Pants, Hydration Vest, Light colored Mesh Riding Jacket (HD, Joe Rocket, TourMaster), 5.11 A.T.A.C. Storm boots, mesh of perforated gloves, helmet with head liner.

Layer 3: Camelbak or some type of drinking system.

The biggest conflict of information is the jacket. Some say mesh, some say perforated leather, some say textile with vents.

Thoughts or experiences on any, or all of this?
 
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#2 · (Edited)
Howdy X...

Been in southern nevada for the last 27 years .... it's hot !!! but I think your on the right track. Just pack in layers and and full coverage is good. some way to shield your neck should be on the list maybe a do rag with a long tail or something but as long as your moving you should be fine. your big issue is hydrate !!!! ALOT!!!! here at death valley I go through a gallon of water and a half a gallon of gatorade a day and only piss maybe twice a day ... lotta sweatin goin on.. and you may want to plan to do your major ground pounding in the early mornings and early evenings to beat the heat which is between the hours of 1pm to about 5 or 6 pm

It's like riding in a blast furnace during those hours.

P.S. use good lip balm or chapstick.. and 50+ spf sunblock and my advice is cool water not ice water with a slice of lemon in it :D

And thanks again I LOVE my windvest !!! I'll by the first round when we meet !!!
 
#3 ·
I haven't had any major heat issues at highway speeds-only if there is a backup or slowdown for accident, construction, etc.

On long rides, I start early, maybe 6. By mid-afternoon, maybe 2, I have around 500+ miles, enough to shut down if it's uncomfortably hot. For those trying to cover 1000 mi./day, this won't work.

I have two waterbottles mounted within reach plus a cup holder. (Tip: freeze water bottles overnite in motel fridge.)

I don't have any special clothes for heat consideration. Start with leather jacket, jeans, boots, fingerless gloves, shuck the jacket after it warms up.

I'm thinking of new pipes without a cat, plus a stage one upgrade--both of these are supposed to make engine run cooler--anybody got info on this?
 
#4 ·
Im curious to see what the desert heat 'feels' like. Being in the south, we have miserable humidity as well as the heat index ranging from 90-110 during the day.
A friend whom I work with went to Vegas in July and said she didnt even realize it was as hot as it was until she saw the temp reading and it 102. So Im anxious to see how different it is.

As far as staying hydrated....dont wait until you feel thirsty. By that time its too late. Drink as often as you possibly can.
 
#5 ·
For a sample set your oven to 300 degrees and preheat. Open the oven and breathe in (that's a 'dry' heat). I lived in Phoenix and Las Vegas for a lot of years.
Tie a cool collar or wet towel around your neck. Helps a lot.
Cut your runs from 3 hours to 1.5 hours to hydrate.
 
#6 ·
Interested in this as well.

In my head I was planning on under armor heat shirt / shorts / socks and then
either a light long sleeve shirt or a t shirt and a mesh jacket.

Pants... no idea. I'm thinking light cargo pants...

I've been eyeing those bandans that you soak in water and tie around your neck.
 
#7 ·
#8 ·
There was an article in HOG Magazine awhile back about how to plan for riding in the heat. I think all the posts so far are right on target. Hydrate before leaving, stay hydrated, keep your arms, face and neck covered as uncovered skin can help you dehydrate more quickly. The average temp for St. George is 102 for July and 99 for August but it can get up to 110 or so.

Hope that helps. :)
 
#9 · (Edited)
Living on the sun :) Texas now! You definitely can not over hydrate during the heat of the day. You will loose more moisture when riding at hwy speeds than you will sitting or laying around. A good indicator if your pissing yellow instead of white it's to late. Even though it is tempting to just ride in a T Shirt, I recommend the perf jacket. This will help you conserve moisture and save your skin from burning. I highly suggest you purchase the moisture vest, you can get them at Cycle gear. Soak it in water and your good for a few hours, it really helps to keep your core temp down. The good news is that it really works best in low humidity areas like the desert :D oh get rid of the cat too.....it's gonna be a hot one!!!!!
 
#10 ·
Just to alleviate a lot of the heat concerns, the majority of the rides that we are organizing will be heading up in elevation, where the temperatures will be pretty reasonable. I'd still advise taking a couple of water bottles regardless - and if you have a Camelback, I'd bring it. Night time will be pretty comfortable outdoors.

Those who choose to go down to Vegas and Lake Mead during the day will find the heat to be up there, and while it's not unbearable, it can be uncomfortable if you're not used to dry desert type heat. I can't speak from experience, but I've heard good reviews from those who use the hydration vests. Maybe someone who's used one can chime it.
 
#13 ·
I'm glad someone brought this up... I have all the "Cold" weather gear you could imagine. Never thought about the heat and gearing for that. Funny part is, my folks live in Lake Havasu City, AZ., I know hot... I've been dehydrated, you would have thought I would have thought about the heat in St. George... Didn't even cross my mind until I saw this thread. Thank you OP. :D
 
#14 ·
I have an HD "switchback technology" textile jacket that I can zip-off the front, back and half of the sleeve, to expose a mesh inner. Armor is still present when un-zipped: shoulders, elbows, etc... Great jacket for spring, summer and fall. When you get cold in higher elevations, just zip the panels back on. Get hot again, zip the panels off. They make pants the same way, although i haven't tried them.
Keeping hydrated, I throw a couple water and/or gatorade bottles in my glove boxes in my lower fairings. Thinking about getting a camelback, for my ride to/from shark week.


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#16 · (Edited)
Hot Weather

I live in Houston and it can get pretty friggin hot. Last summer the hottest I rode in was 107. Felt like a furnice blowing in my face on the concrete.

I like to wear a Colorado Cool Vest. Just wet it at stops with room temp water. Supposed to last 8 hours but I don;t believe that. However it does cool you down for a few hours. $45 http://coloradocoolwear.com/

I also like a Kool Tie or Arctic Tie (I think it is called. soak in water and wrap around your neck. buy it a Walmart...$4. I soak my in ice water. last an hour or so.

gonna take a 2 liter hydration bladder in my Rapid Transit Recon 19 tank bag also. I may try 1/2 water 1/2 Gatorade like others have suggested
 
#17 ·
The cool vests work really well.

You all are pretty worried about the heat. I get it. But keep in mind that a lot of these rides are high up in elevation. In The 9000 ft elevation range. I've never been so cold in my life as one ride I did in May over cedar mountain where we are going. The snow drifts were still out. We will be riding right past Brian Head ski resort, which by the way still has a 51" base.

It's in the middle of the summer that we locals do the rides that we are planning.....so that we can get out of the heat. You will need jackets, and you will need some cool gear. Bring them both. The worst part of the day will be when we drop off the mountain and boogie back to the hotel. Gonna be an hour or so in 100 degree heat. Other than that, cedar mountain averages in the 70's as does the north rim of the Grand Canyon. You can expect to be riding in the 60's in the morning when we head uphill.

You WILL enjoy the rides.
 
#18 ·
When it gets hot I wear a Olympia Airglide jacket and pants. I bought the evaporating vest from Cycle Gear along with their Heat Out pants and shirt which work pretty good along with a Camlebak. The Heat Out stuff you wear under the pants and jacket and you don't need to wear pants or a shirt with them. I generally wear a tee shirt over the top but not over the pants. They're like bicycle shorts so they're really light weight and comfortable. Sometimes I just wear shorts under the pants since they provide good protection.
 
#19 · (Edited)
It's not so much the riding when I get there, it's the getting there. Looking at 2200-2400, give or take, miles to get to St. George from Florida. That's through some pretty hot states like Texas, New Mexico and Arizona on the souther route. A little better on the northern route. And doing it in 3 days or so.

Southern Route
Northern Route
 
#23 ·
Do not forget however that even if it's 100* during the day, because there is no humidity it will drop into the 60's at night. Dry air is cold air, and it will be cold out in the desert at night and in the morning.
We went to Alb NM in July 2005, last leg of the trip we left Ouray Colorado early in the morning, couldn't find enough clothes to keep warm, though were gonna freeze before we got to Durango, from Durango south it just got hotter and hotter, was 105* when we got to Alb that afternoon. I did some night riding around Alb, 65* with no humidty is COLD.

Our trip to SWIII is mapped out to stay north as far as possible till Monday and then drop south to St George. Hopefully we'll stay cooler that way.
I intend to be WAY more comfortable in the desert heat than we were at SWII.
 
#24 ·
Very good point regarding the night time. Even here in Colorado, dead of summer on a 100* day, at night, I'll still throw my leather on. Without the humidity to somewhat keep the air warm, it cools off really well at night. And as mentioned above, once you start climbing in altitude, the temperature drops suprisingly fast. Also keep in mind, for those of you from lower altitudes, even though you aren't physically hot, at altitude your skin WILL BURN! Our UV is killer. The advice of SPF +50 isn't a joke, my fair skinned friends always learn the hardway! :D
 
#25 ·
Cooling vests work in the desert heat. I have one that holds 2 quarts of water. I also have the one from Cycle Gear that holds less. They both work; one lasts longer.

I rode the Central Valley of CA and LA to Vegas to Page and in eastern Colorado. It was 105 in each of those places and the cool vest made a big difference. On I-5 I stopped at every rest area and soaked my jeans. They were bone dry in 20 minutes. Riding in that heat feels just like the guy said - it's like standing in front of an open oven with a fan blowing the heat into every gap in your clothing.

Cool vests work best under a mesh jacket. The jacket keeps the cool air from running down the road behind you.

Tip: Get the largest size ziploc bag. Put the vest and water in the bag. You'll get a better soak and will keep the vest from getting other things in your luggage wet. Also, I don't like sticking the vest in a dirty, gas station sink. Put the vest in the bag then add water to the bag.

I'm also taking my cool weather gear for the mountains. The Florida heat has thinned my blood and I feel cold before others. Nothing is as toasty warm as a Gerbing jacket in cold weather.

Sports underwear, shirts, and pants that wick away moisture are better than cotton, which won't dry out as well. Wear riding pants and jacket over the sports wear to protect yourself from the sun.

You'll need rain gear if you are coming from the East or Midwest.

I recommend all the other tips: sun block, hydration (I use a camelback in my tank bag), cover up to keep the sun off your skin, use lotion at night. Remember, sun stroke will knock you out for a day. You'll feel like you were hit by a train and hung over, so prepare and equip yourself to avoid it.

One more thing - stay comfortable and let's have fun.
 
#26 ·
All good info. You MUST hydrate before the rides.Two weeks before. I force down as much water as possible preparing for the blast furnace. This is supposed to be fun and there is a reason desert dwellers have a Siesta in the heat of the day. Cover your arms and neck. I like the bead filled bandana which lasts about an hour. Large ziplock bags hold these in water til needed.
Riding through the desert at night will be cold. I remember riding from Phoenix to Wickenburg and the road had dips that were cold and crests were cool. In August! Carry a water bottle around at all times.
 
#27 ·
a lot of great information

Thanks for all the great information on heat. For me, and maybe NASCAR fans, I am usually concerned about the heat coming off that asphalt. My transmission oil is 4 inches from that stuff, and it is hot. Luckily MoCo has designed the oil cooler to be close to the ground?

I have found, that if I take care of my drive train by stopping often, parking in the shade when I find it, get a bottle of water while the bike is taking a breather, I can keep moving all day. When my oil pressure starts to drop, I stop.
 
#30 · (Edited)
In the summer I'll wear thin wicking hikers socks in layers as well and change my inner pair at lunch .... FYI leather doesn't breath so breathable boots may help... flip flops will dry out your feet and in the sun they'll burn crispy ... Not fun

Being a desert rat .... I'll probably show up in my moses sandles :D and river shorts with my favorite Hawaiian shirt!!!!
 
#32 ·
I did a marathon ride through all 48 states two years ago and hit a variety of blistering heat types in many different places. In Sacramento, I experienced 110 degree temperatures that made riding feel like I was enclosed in my own personal moving sauna. In Panama City it was not only hot, but it was so humid that my chrome, my riding glasses, and my iphone all fogged up the minute is stepped out the door on my air-conditioned room. In Oklahoma I rode through 108 degree heat with wind blowing hard enough to blow the cattle truck trailers (fully loaded) into the next lane - and don't get me started about the "fun" of following cattle trucks. Last year, coming back from SW II, Nibbles and I saw our temp gauges peg when going through Needles, CA, meaning that it was somewhere north of 125 degrees. All of these, BTW, without the benefit of any cool vests, Camelbacks, or Greek goddesses fanning me and feeding me grapes. By far the worst of those, IMO, was Panama City, which was the lowest of the miserable temperatures (low 100's). If you are traveling from the humidity of the summer South, I'm pretty sure that the rest of the temperatures that you'll experience on the way to and from SW III will be tolerable. Still, you wouldn't look terribly out of place riding with oven mitts on in Vegas.
 
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