Hot weather riding

[entropic]

So it has been like 90*+,  extremely humid and muggy the last week and was wondering for those that experience similar weather how do you make riding more pleasurable ? I mean I'm going 50mph and it feels like i just opened a hot oven and that's not including anytime i stop. I love riding but lately i have been saying screw it and just driving. I like being safe and hate to ride around with just sunglasses and a sleeveless shirt to beat the heat.

[MVent03]

What type of gear do you have? Is it well ventilated?

I have a mesh jacket that I take the wind breaker out of and I'm good. Well ventilated gloves help. Been about 90-92 here lately. I also wear sunglasses or clear safety glasses under my visor so can pop the visor wide open too.

I used this set-up last year for when we were hitting 100, some days got up to 107-108. You get used to it. But expect to show up sweaty.

[vinny]

I open all the vents and pockets on my jacket, (Obviously dont keep anything in the pockets - i use a tank bag)
Open the vents on the helmet, keep the visor open just a crack
Wear sunglasses
If its really hot, take a drink of water and stop for a sip every now and then
Try to avoid traffic, going too slow means a lot of heat!
And, the most important thing to do.. MAN UP 

[NesquikNinja]

I wear a perf'd leather jacket, gloves, SMX+ boots, and jeans all the time, no exceptions.

I dont let the heat bother me too much, its actually never stopped me from riding, but- if its too hot to wear your gear, it is too hot for you to be riding.

Check out cold-ease bandanas.  Soak it in ice water, throw it around your neck, works awesome. when it stops feeling cold, move it- shoulder, wrist, anyway. It helps

[BaltimoreGS]

I have an armored mesh jacket for really hot days.  Not as good of protection as leather but better than nothing.  If I'm touring I will wear an old T-shirt and carry a better looking one if I plan to stop anywhere.  I soak the old shirt in water before I put it on and the evaporative cooling effect keeps me comfortable.  If I stop at a rest area or a gas station I will wet the shirt again.

-Jessie

[dougdoberman]

I have a convertible with well-charged air conditioning.     

For my commuting, if it's gonna be 85 - 90 degrees plus and I'm likely to get stuck in traffic I leave the bike at home.  There is little in life more miserable than sitting in bumper to bumper traffic on the highway sweating your ass off.  (No lane splitting here.    )


For weekend fun riding, all of the suggestions already posted here are things I do.  Mesh jacket, ventilated gloves & boots are a must.  I prefer riding jeans rather than leather or textile pants in the heat.  (My textile pants are not ventilated though.)  Some sort of moisture wicking shirt.  The tighter the better actually, as that helps pull the sweat away from your body and boosts evaporative cooling. 

If it's really sweltering, some sort of additional evaporative cooling can make all the difference.   As described by Nesquick & Baltimore, wetting a bandana around your neck or even your entire shirt is pretty much the best way to keep yourself cool.


When temps are up in the 90's, I never let my group rides go more than an hour & a halfish without a stop.  That's usually about time that someone will need gas and people will need to pee from what they drank at the last stop anyways.     

Don't just stop for a sip of water now and then.  Stop REGULARLY and drink a copious amount.  If you feel thirsty, you're already past the point where you needed a drink.  If you're drinking a bunch but not needing to pee, you're not drinking enough.  Even mild dehydration can slow your reactions and cloud your judgement.

[comradeiggy]

I sometimes wear no shirt under my jacket and freeball it under my jeans when it's really hot.

[MVent03]

I'm looking to get some mesh riding pant for this summer so i can wear shorts under them. Wearing jeans all summer long was really a drag. I needed them during the ride but at work it was miserable.