Hot hot hot .....

[midnightrider1300]

Weather is heating up in the deep south, ALABAMA ..... for 3rd day in a row the heat index will be in triple digits....be careful out riding, drink plenty of water, if you don't wear a mesh riding jacket be sure to use sunscreen..

 

Temp is suppose to be 93 with a heat index of 101, for those that don't have to deal with humidity be THANKFUL....

 

be careful out and keep the rubber side down .....

[GAWildKat]

Over here in Middle Georgia will be the same. Was walking around the mall yesterday (it's an outdoor mall) and actually got mildly sunburned. Even my feet got a bit of sun. Hopefully will get an evening ride in after dinner.

[midnightrider1300]

saw this thought I"d share for any newbies ....

 

Symptoms of trouble

 

The human body won't take much of an increase in core temperature without complaining. The symptoms of overheating are leg cramps, tired muscles, headaches, dizziness, and even fainting. The various symptoms are trying to tell you how overcooked you're getting.

Muscle cramps caused by heat usually effect the legs and lower abdomen first, then the arms. Heat cramps are a symptom that the body's electrolytes are running low. It's not smart to ignore muscle cramps. Find some shade and take a break. Sip water or an "exercise" drink Exert firm pressure or massage the cramped muscles to relieve the spasms. If you're still in pain, the recommended first aid dose is 1/2 teaspoon of table salt per half glass of water every 15 minutes.

 

1. Headaches, dizziness, nausea, momentary fainting

2. Cramps

3. Tiredness, weakness

4. Profuse sweating

5. Pale, clammy skin

6. Approximately normal body temperature

If you begin to feel these symptoms during a desert ride, take immediate action before you pass out. 1. Get into some shade, preferably into an air-conditioned room.

2. Loosen clothing and wet down skin or undershirt to increase evaporative cooling.

3. Slowly sip water, or salt water solution, same dose as for heat cramps. Avoid alcohol or caffeine.

4. If you feel faint, lie down and get feet raised above head level.

5. If you can't keep the salt water down, get emergency medical aid. You may need an intravenous salt solution.

6. Even after you begin to feel normal again, consider staying out of the heat for a day or two. Your body needs some time to recuperate. If you are on a long trip, consider a 24 hour layover in the next air-conditioned motel.

 

If you experience heat exhaustion and just try to "tough out" the heat without getting cooled down and rehydrated, the body thermostats will begin to fail. Core temperature continues to rise (may go as high as 106 or 107 degrees F.), sweating stops, the heart beats even faster, and you may pass out. If you are coherent enough to recognize the symptoms, immediately get medical aid while you are still mobile. And watch your riding buddies for any of the following heat stroke symptoms.

1. Victim incoherent, staring vacantly, blanking out, or unresponsive

2. Skin hot, red, dry (no perspiration)

3. Rapid pulse

4. Body temperature elevated

Yes, heat stroke is life threatening. It's a medical emergency. Don't be bashful about calling 911 for assistance. In the meanwhile,

1. Get the victim into some shade, out of riding gear, and cooled down by any means available. If possible, get the victim into an air-conditioned room, or use fans to help provide evaporative cooling.

2. Repeatedly sponge skin with cool water or rubbing alcohol. Apply cold packs or ice cubes if you can get them. The goal is to get body temperature below 102 degrees F.

3. Don't give the victim any stimulants, especially not any alcoholic beverages.

4. If the victim's temperature begins to rise again, repeat the cooling process.

5. As soon as possible, get the victim to emergency treatment.

 

Avoiding the Ugliness

 

Even after a heat stroke victim has been cooled down and rested, the ugliness isn't over. It's not uncommon to have intestinal upset for a week or so, with food coming out both ends of the pipe. I know you'd rather avoid that sort of ugliness.

People from cooler climates often react to hot weather by removing clothing. That helps cool the skin--providing air temperature is less than body temperature. Heat transfers from a hot object to a cold object. Pick up an ice cube, and it feels cold. What's happening is that the ice is rapidly absorbing heat from your skin. Even if the air is 89F, the air will absorb heat from your skin (assuming your body is around 99F). Now, consider what happens when you curl your fingers around a hot cup of coffee. Your skin rapidly absorbs heat from the cup, because the cup is hotter than your hand. The same thing occurs when the air temperature is hotter than your body temperature.

You may think your body is hot at 99 F, but it's "cold" compared to air at 118 F. If you expose your skin to air that's hotter than you are, your body just soaks up more heat.

The lesson here is that if air temperature is in the 80s or 90s, it helps to open up the jacket vents, or wear a mesh jacket. But once air temperature climbs above 99 F, the best way to keep from getting cooked is to keep your insulation on, and the vents closed. Desert nomads wear long, loose wool garments, both to keep the sweating skin in the shade, and to insulate the body from the hot air.

With the temperature in triple digits, I wear my leather gloves and insulated riding. My feet are down in the air stream that's first been heated up by the pavement, and then heated some more by the engine. Are my feet hot? Sure, but not as hot as if I were wearing thin boots or shoes that exposed my ankles.

Same for the helmet. Wouldn't it make sense to crack my visor when it's really hot, or at least open up the helmet vents? Nope. Any hot air allowed to reach my skin will heat up the skin, not cool it down. Inside my helmet at 118F, I'm sweltering, but the temperature is probably under 100 F. That crushable helmet liner inside the shell is there to cushion my brain against impacts, but it's the same expanded polystyrene foam they use to make insulated picnic coolers. So, the helmet actually provides insulation against the hot air.

One additional concern about exposed skin is sun and wind burn. Even if you wear heavy duty sunscreen to protect against a nasty sunburn, the wind at motorcycling speeds can also irritate the skin. If you're riding more than a few miles, it's best to keep your skin covered.

Evaporative Cooling

 

More physics now. When water evaporates, it cools down. Blow hot air through a wet bandana, and the bandana cools down. Cooling the skin cools the blood, which cools down the whole body. Evaporative cooling works best on areas of the body where there are large blood vessels close to the skin: the groin and the neck. A motorcyclist's groin is too close to the engine and too far out of the air stream. That's why wearing something wet around your neck is so important.

The bad news is that evaporative cooling only works well in dry climates. When the humidity is already high, (you're 99/99 in Missouri in August--99 degrees and 99 percent) neither perspiration nor the water in your neckband evaporate very well. Limited evaporation; limited cooling. But of course there is shade in Missouri, so the best tactic may be to simply take more breaks in humid climates. Or, you can ride early in the morning when it's cool, and rest in the shade in the afternoon.

For those of us riding in the deserts of Washington, Oregon, and California, the air is relatively dry, so evaporative cooling works very well. A wet bandana around your chin will cool you for a few minutes, but the hot wind blast will quickly evaporate all the water. You need to keep replenishing the water every few minutes. Better yet, wear thicker fabric that holds a lot more water.

For instance, Aerostich makes an "Evapodanna" made of the same fuzzy material used in camp towels. ("evaporative bandana", get it?) You just saturate it with water, and wrap it around your neck. Occasionally dribble some water on it and it will continue to cool all day. There are also some tubular neckties containing special polymer crystals that soak up a huge quantity of water. They are an advantage for slow speed activities such as golf, but the crystals release the water very slowly, and can't give off enough water at motorcycling speeds to provide much evaporative cooling.

Keep Your Tummy Tank Full

 

The other important tactic for hot weather is to drink lots of water, to replenish your electrolytes and refill your sweat glands. We're talking at least a pint per hour. Exercise drinks containing "electrolytes" (salts) are acceptable, unless you have high blood pressure. And flavored drinks may be very high in sugar, too. Carbonated soft drinks are better than nothing, although it would be best to get the water without large doses of salt, sugar and chemicals. Almost all grocery stores and convenience markets have chilled filtered water in plastic bottles, handy for both drinking and wetting down your bandana.

More than a few riders carry a water bladder, such as a "Platypus" carried on the back in a fabric holster, or in a jacket pocket. Some water bladders can be pressurized with small pumps, and evaporative cooling wrappers are available to help chill the bladder. Aerostich is a good source of serious hot weather hydration devices. Aerostich: (800) 222-1994 or www.aerostich.com. You can also find water bladders at sporting goods stores such as REI in Seattle.

In hot weather, avoid alcoholic drinks. Obviously, alcohol reduces judgment. What's not so obvious is that alcohol stimulates abnormal heartbeats, depresses the pump function of the heart, and actually dehydrates the body. Alcohol does all the wrong things for a motorcyclist in the desert.

So, when it's really hot, keep your jacket on, and soak down your T-shirt. Wear a wet neck cooler, and keep dribbling water on it. If you're getting too hot, or start feeling any hints of muscle cramps or heat exhaustion, don't just keep riding. Take steps to cool down while you're still thinking clearly. Take a break in the shade, or stop at a convenience store and buy a bag of crushed ice to stuff inside your jacket. The melting ice water will soak your gear and provide evaporative cooling even after the ice is gone.

Route Planning

 

In general, higher elevations are cooler. If it's really hot down on the valley floor, consider an alternate road with a higher (cooler) elevation. Sometimes you don't have any alternative other than crossing a desert. But you can adjust your schedule. One tactic is to hibernate at a cool motel during the heat of the day, and head out after dark, when the temperature is lower.

Adjust your thinking

 

If you live in a temperate area where the thermometer seldom rises above 90F, you need to readjust your thinking for those forays into hotter territory. Remember, insulate your skin from the sun and hot air, use evaporative cooling around your neck, and drink lots of water. Oh yeah, learn to ignore the stares of other motorists and dehydrated bikers who think you're crazy to wear heavy gear on a hot day.

Edited June 16, 2015 by midnightrider1300

[YamahaLarry]

Weather is heating up in the deep south, ALABAMA ..... for 3rd day in a row the heat index will be in triple digits....be careful out riding, drink plenty of water, if you don't wear a mesh riding jacket be sure to use sunscreen..

 

Temp is suppose to be 93 with a heat index of 101, for those that don't have to deal with humidity be THANKFUL....

 

be careful out and keep the rubber side down .....

 

My ride into work this morning at 9 AM down I-20 and I-45 from Moody to Birmingham (Hoover) was like being in a hair dryer. Even at 80 mph, it was HOT and sticky. Just glad that I only have a total of 3 traffic lights to deal with.

[videoarizona]

Midnight...you got it all in one post. Good work. Thanks!

[cowpuc]

And dont forget to be thankful that Fool's White Wash Machine is FINALLY tucked away for the summer!!

[Flyinfool]

This is all great info.

Unfortunately I learned most of this the hard way many years ago.

I have had heat stroke and heat exhaustion many times, I now get heat issues very easily, BUT I am also now very well attuned to the earliest symptoms and now know and understand what MUST be done immediately.

Heat is nothing to mess with.

 

I understand all to well the mentality of us northerners that to control heat you just keep taking more clothes off until you get arrested. The only thing that I learned different from the above info is the critical temperatures.

99°F is mentioned. Yes body core temp is 98.6°F BUT your skin temperature is typically around 86°F. Skin temperature does vary considerably depending on situation, any time the air temperature is above the skin temperature is where you start to gain heat from the air.

 

 

 

And dont forget to be thankful that Fool's White Wash Machine is FINALLY tucked away for the summer!!

 

But I know where it is..........

I'll be off work the rest of this week and probably totally bored...........

Now what can I do with that time...........

 

Did I ever mention that I do not like hot weather.........

[Max]

Weather is heating up in the deep south, ALABAMA ..... for 3rd day in a row the heat index will be in triple digits....be careful out riding, drink plenty of water, if you don't wear a mesh riding jacket be sure to use sunscreen..

 

Temp is suppose to be 93 with a heat index of 101, for those that don't have to deal with humidity be THANKFUL....

 

be careful out and keep the rubber side down .....

 

Good advice mr, just ran Panama City FL to Biloxi (via Alabama I-10) this morning. It was unbelievably hot. Lots of sunscreen and water onboard. It's actually been unbearably hot for a week along the panhandle. The Gulf shore is around 85f. That wasn't too hard to take.

I also apologize for not taking the southern guys seriously who suggested A/C as a touring option. Now I get it.

[djh3]

Long sleeve t-shirt and you can wet it and it helps considerably. I like my weather wicker type shirts too. I have a long sleeve one of those also.

[midnightrider1300]

I've lived in the south my whole life. I always thought to get cool you had to wear as little as u could w/o going to jail... Always wondered why Saudi's wore those big long bulky garments in the desert....you would think desert dwellers would know a little more than us....not saying i'm going to wear a THOBE: a loose, long-sleeved, ankle-length garment. Thobes worn in summer are generally white and made of cotton.

[eagleeye]

Well, I'm not a newby, but that was an amazing article to read. Thanks!

[Eck]

I burned up two and a half tanks of gas yesterday riding with 4 other guys. (Turned over 114,000 miles)

Highest part of the day was 97 degrees according to the temp gage on my wing.

Dang it was HOT................

Edited June 17, 2015 by Eck

[BlueSky]

It was 98 the last two days here.

[Wrench]

Ain't nothing like that summer heat in 'bama to make you appreciate the humidity here at home. It's like that red clay just soaks up the heat and holds on to it. I've got a couple of hunting buddies that live a little farther south/east of you guys, Childersburg & Sylacauga. I love it down there.

[djh3]

Was over in Daytona @ the speedway yesterday. 106 or something heat index and we were sitting in alum bleachers watching some races. MAN when you would get off the bleachers it seemed 10 deg cooler.

[mrsteve]

It's been over 100 degrees here in Las Vegas for a week. Today it was 90 riding on the freeway past the strip, that was at 4:45am! Going home at 3:00pm wearing full gear at 108 degrees it doesn't matter how much you sweat it is still FREAKIN HOT!!! and you don't cool down. I have to put my gear in front of a fan all night and spray with lots of Fabreeze to get it dry for the ride in at 4:00am. At least the humidity here doesn't get above 15% in the summer. I love it when someone says "It must be nice riding in that cool breeze". I just ask them if they have ever been in a convection oven.

[djh3]

It's been over 100 degrees here in Las Vegas for a week. Today it was 90 riding on the freeway past the strip, that was at 4:45am! Going home at 3:00pm wearing full gear at 108 degrees it doesn't matter how much you sweat it is still FREAKIN HOT!!! and you don't cool down. I have to put my gear in front of a fan all night and spray with lots of Fabreeze to get it dry for the ride in at 4:00am. At least the humidity here doesn't get above 15% in the summer. I love it when someone says "It must be nice riding in that cool breeze". I just ask them if they have ever been in a convection oven.

Yup thats what I remember about my years in Oklahoma. Riding those years in the "dry heat". LOL Hot is hot. Oven or steamer you still cook, so pick your poison I guess.

[Yammer Dan]

Hot?? My A/C is working fine......

[Flyinfool]

My AC at the office is broken.

I am getting steamed and broiled.

[videoarizona]

Early morning and late at night are the only times I can ride down here. This ole bod's AC isn't as efficient as it used to be. In 1969, I was riding my bike in Phoenix during one of the hottest summers ever. It was warm...but I rode a bike and drove my Austin Healey Bugeye...all summer long. My nickname today should be "Wimpy".