FEELING HOT HOT HOT!

Hot weather seems to be something we are all going to have to get used to whether we like it or not, so are there any tips you can offer to deal with it when riding your motorcycle?

We have a few suggestions to start you off...
* It may seem obvious but try to keep your body temperature down and your fluids up!
If your body is getting low on fluids it is not as easily able to cool itself down through the evaporation of sweat and this means it tries alternative means, one of which is called vasodilation. This is a clever process whereby the blood vessels nearer to the surface of your skin enlarge to allow some of the heat to dissipate. This does work and will cool you down but it also affects your blood flow and causes a decrease in blood flow to other parts of the body like your muscles and your brain. One of the symptoms of this is heat exhaustion so if you start to feel very tired in hot weather this is probably why and it is advisable to get to somewhere air- conditioned, drink cold water and just generally get yourself cool as fast as possible.
If you are experiencing extreme heat, like the heatwave we had recently here in the UK, then there are things you can do to keep your cool. Wearing a mesh jacket will allow cooling airflow to reach your body while still protecting your skin, should you be unlucky enough to come off your bike. You can dampen the shirt you are wearing underneath too for maximum evaporation, cooling you as you ride or wear a wet bandana round your neck which can really reduce your body heat significantly. There are also purpose-made cooling vests designed for motorcyclists which you wear under your jacket to keep you cool, you can even insert ice packs into some of them in specially designed pockets for that extra chill factor.

* Stay hydrated and take in as much water as you are losing!
Dehydration can lead to headaches, heat exhaustion, dizziness and muscle cramps, none of which you want while you are riding. It is good practice to drink around 250 ml of water per hour if you are riding in hot weather, and a full pint is even better. Just plain water is the best thing really but sports drinks containing electrolytes can be good if it is exceptionally hot and you are sweating profusely. If drinking plenty means that you have to stop more often at the services so be it, it's better to stop and have a rest anyway rather than get hot, bothered and dehydrated from riding for too long without adequate liquids. If you are on a really long ride in very high temperatures then electrolytes may be a good idea to replace salts and minerals that you have lost.
An easy way to stay hydrated on a long ride is to use a bladder pack designed for motorcyclists to drink from, sometimes you can freeze them the night before so that they stay cooler for longer. This is safer than buying bottled water along the way in case it is a long way between services and means you won't be stuck for any time without access to drinks. The only thing to consider with this is how much weight you want to add so be aware of how much water you are carrying and choose a water pack which is simple without too many weighty extras.

* Stay protected, wear the appropriate clothing.
However hot it is don't be tempted to ditch the jacket and trousers for shorts and a vest, they won't serve you well if you hit the road. Also your clothes will protect you from the sun, getting burnt and dehydrated as you ride.
There's a lot of vented clothing for hot weather out there which has built-in protection as well as ventilation and is technically designed to keep you cool and wick away moisture.

* Beware of leg burns from boiling engines in hot weather.
Sometimes the engine can get so hot that you can get your legs burned from the heat if you touch them. Make sure that your jeans or riding trousers have protection against the heat built in to keep your limbs safe, don't be tempted to ride wearing shorts with your legs exposed, as this gives you no protection from hot pipes or road rash in the event of a fall.

These are just a few rudimentary ideas for hot weather riding, do you have any bespoke methods you use to make your sun scorched summer rides more comfortable and safe? We'd love to hear them and share them if so - let us know by [email protected] or drop us a message on Facebook