LDRiding in hot weather

[tj189]

As the new OzSTOC jacket nears completion and that there have been a number of riders worried about the lack of mesh I thought it might be a good time to provide some information  regarding LDRiding in hot conditions.  In the paper it uses the magic number of 93 degrees Fahrenheit or in rounded up terms we use here, 34 celcuis. This number suggests, that below this, then riding fast enough to get wind against your skin with a mesh jacket would feel great.  Unfortunately when we are out riding we can normally expect a wide variance in temperature, so it is now a matter of deciding what suits your style of riding as to what jacket you use and how you use it.

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

[Biggles]

That is an excellent article that dispels quite a few misconceptions.

One strategy LDRs use in the States in extreme temps (over 100^oF) is to pour ice cubes down their jackets and stuff the pockets with them.   

[Poppy Dave]

I don't do any long distance riding but living in WA even short rides can get uncomfortable in the summer months.

I bought some LDComfort clothing ( I know we've posted about this product before but some riders may have missed it ) some time ago and can't recommend it enough. It really DOES keep you a lot cooler.

Poppy Dave                                         

[Couch]

LD riding in HOT weather in Tassie ............nup, don't hafta worry about it........ha!

[Williamson]

LD riding in HOT weather in Tassie ............nup, don't hafta worry about it........ha!

Not sure about that, as HOT is a relative term. 

On the Two Weeks in Tassie, we took some "warmer" type riding gear, not the "full on cold" gear we use in VIC during our winter months.  Anyway we weren't equipped with the correct "weight" of gear for the "Indian Summer" weather we experienced in the first two weeks of March. 

Phil on the GSX1400 with side car toured in T-shirt, shirt (with sleeves rolled up) and a leather vest.

I, on the ST1300, was wearing by 600D cordura DriRider jacket, sans liner but with T-shirt - and I was HOT, some days uncomfortably so.  I wished I had taken my Draggin (Kevlar lined) jacket.  Next time I will.

Next time?   There's the Ulysses AGM 29 February to 6 March 2016, another weeks earlier than Two Weeks in Tassie, I'll be taking some light riding gear for Tassies' Hot Weather.
 

[saaz]

The hot weather advice is pretty well what I have learnt from experience.  In hotter weather getting out of the hot air blast is a must, as the drying effect is really debilitating.  Slowing down the body's cooling mechanism to what it would be without the wind blast is a must.

Around town perhaps mesh and minimal covering might work, but on extended distance rides it just dries you out and makes you start feeling bad. Some coverage and controlling the cooling effect of natural skin processes is best.

[Wild Rose]

I bought some LDComfort clothing ( I know we've posted about this product before but some riders may have missed it ) some time ago and can't recommend it enough. It really DOES keep you a lot cooler.

Poppy Dave                                         

  Just wet your LDComfort clothing on a Hot day and open the vents on your jacket and it's just as good as a air conditioner 

[HunterTodd]

Somewhere back in my dim past I got and air conditioning and refrigeration engineering certificate and what that guy says tallies pretty much with what I learned.  I was at QME recently and saw a guy selling a thing called an Arctic Vest. Has anyone used one of those. It looked the goods. He reckons it would drop your temp by ten degrees for two hours before you need to wet it again.

[StinkyPete]

I don't know about the Arctic Vest, but I've got one of these for very hot weather.  http://www.coolweave.com.au/vests.htm   Soak it in water and wear it under a mesh style vest, and it keeps me cool for a couple of hours.  If you leave it dry, it will keep you warm in the cold weather.

[HunterTodd]

I don't know about the Arctic Vest, but I've got one of these for very hot weather.  http://www.coolweave.com.au/vests.htm   Soak it in water and wear it under a mesh style vest, and it keeps me cool for a couple of hours.  If you leave it dry, it will keep you warm in the cold weather.

These one were similar but they had a special gel material which gets cool when it absorbs water.

[tj189]

maybe we could use one of these   
http://www.coretemperaturecontrols.com/index.html

[Wombattle]

Excellent article that one.  I ride summer and winter with LD comfort long sleeves an tights under the Waterproof KLIM Latitude suit.  The bit of air up the sleeves and vented out the back strategy works a treat for me into the high 40's. I've never opened all the vents, only just enough to get the air flow where it's needed. Bedouin tactics. Thanks for the link TJ.

[Couch]

Ha ha! Williamson, my comment was just

Yes, we do have some very hot days here, and in summer I ride with a short RJays mesh jacket with just a T shirt underneath and I find that perfect for the really hot days, the jacket has a waterproof liner that I drop in if it gets a little cooler, and I find that works for me, I also have a short Dri rider Comfort Control jacket with liner that I wear in the colder months, and a really good short Teknic leather jacket that I paid top dollar for eight years ago, that I don't wear all that often anymore...not sure why!  All my jackets have shoulder, elbow, and back armour, and I never ride without a jacket, no matter how hot it is!

[curious1]

Thanks guys for sharing your experiences in hot weather riding. Most of my riding was in europe and heat was the last problem I had. Cold was the major thing.
I have not ridden yet in very hot weather in australia but thanks to the warning I will prepare.

[ST2UP]

Thanks again for posting that article TJ  was a very informative read again 

[WendyL]

I missed this first time round, but basically it supports what I've already learned works for me.  White mesh jacket is for around town, where I'm likely to get stuck at traffic lights and radiation becomes a much greater factor.  OzSTOC jacket for longer trips.  I also wear compression garments from Shark Leathers, long legs and sleeves and fill my 2.5L Camelbak with powerade/water combo at every fuel stop.  Great read though 

[Brian]

The hot weather advice is pretty well what I have learnt from experience.  In hotter weather getting out of the hot air blast is a must, as the drying effect is really debilitating.  Slowing down the body's cooling mechanism to what it would be without the wind blast is a must.

Around town perhaps mesh and minimal covering might work, but on extended distance rides it just dries you out and makes you start feeling bad. Some coverage and controlling the cooling effect of natural skin processes is best.

It saddens me to read these older poSTs and come across one of the many informative injection of information from John..........he left a legacy of wisdom .......gone but not forgotten