Staying cool

Itchy · Super Spammer Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Karma :

Hello

I'd like to ask how do you guys stay cool when riding? , its sort of cooled down a bit and the humidity has decreased somewhat but to go to some twisty NSL roads I have to go through quite a bit of city roads and get stuck in traffic at junctions etc and start burning up , though I do have a fairly decent vented jacket its hot hot hot , esp with the heat from the engine rising up at me , so other than doing what some people do (ie ride mostly naked ie a few blokes I passed the other day wore just shorts and trainers) , or when I accidentally sort of forgot my gloves that gave a nice wind up my jacket.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

paulthewitt · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 May 2004 Karma :

grin and bear it.

i was tootling to work last summer when it was 25 degrees plus, when i got knocked of. i was wearing jacket gloves helmet and boots. all of whidch took a hit or two. i was cooking before and had considered opening the jacket, thankfully i hadnt. only minor injuries were sustained.

of course it is your choice and shorts and t-shirt isnt illegal. it is your skin after all. but i personally wouldnt.

intersting fact the ambulance told me to aid your decisions:

"bone grinds down at a rate of an inch a secong on tarmac at 30mph"

Paul

tintin · Traffic Copper Joined: 23 Jun 2004 Karma :

Ride NAKED!!!

As long as you have a black visor you will be OK Cool

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scottiel · Trackday Trickster Joined: 07 Feb 2005 Karma :

Buy a little desktop fan, the 12v type and stick it your tank. Cool

Kirmit · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Karma :

Get a good Helmet. My Arai has head/eyebrow and chin vents - keeps head nice and cool, as with just the visor open your heads still going to get hot.

Get some ice packs and stick them in your pockets.
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colin1 · Captain Safety Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Karma :

i have an old one piece leather that i got off ebay(£35) that has lots of perforations in it and two big zips at the back you can unzip.

its also designed for a 6ft2 bloke when i am just 5ft9 so its very baggy so its easy for the air to flow through it.

I also have a new(ish) 2 piece jacket and trousers which is the right size and i cook in that.

So the answer is perforations ( little holes make em yourself if necessary) and get cheap leathers a few sizes too big.

Oh and dont forget your gloves i reckon they are more important than your jacket

take a look at this if you think jeans are ok

id wear em to the shops but not when out for a ride

https://www.125ccsportsbikes.com/forums//index.php?showtopic=13354
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ginguar · Traffic Copper Joined: 19 Feb 2005 Karma :

I went shopping yesterday due to fear of the heat killing me. I bought shorter boots that come to just above the ankle, summer gloves and a pair of trousers which are armoured but have large strips on them which let in a lot of air, and they only cost me £39 https://www.bifax.co.uk/mistral_jeans.html made a lot of difference when I was riding home as I no longer felt like passing out.

EDBANGER · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 May 2005 Karma :

Japanese baseball players put frozen lettuce leaves under their caps!! Might be worth a try.

ginguar · Traffic Copper Joined: 19 Feb 2005 Karma :

Mmm I bet warm lettuce leaves smell lovely Wink

CBRnick · Borekit Bruiser Joined: 12 Oct 2004 Karma :

Go to any outdoor sports shop or accessory shop and get a set of full length thermal underwear or if you prefer a one piece, then get an thermal undersuit.

Seriously, Im not pulling your dick.

It doesnt stop you sweating, nothing is going to do that, but it does wick all the moisture away from your skin, which in turn makes you feel cooler.

In addition to that you dont stick to your leathers, meaning they dont soak up all the sweat, and they are a pice of piss to put on and get off. They just slide off when you are all sweaty and dont stick at all.
I cant put into words how much the comfort factor increases when you wear a decent undersuit.

Dont get a cheap thick one as they will make you hot. Expect to pay around 40 notes for a decent one piece.
I have two, one made by Peter Storm which I got in a climbing shop, and the other is made by (I think) EDZ or EZD which I got from Hiene Gerricke in Purley.

The day before yesterday I took the afternoon off work and went for a ride with my gf on the back. She doesnt have an undersuit and she complained like anything about the discomfort and the effort it took to get undressed when we got back. I was as comfy as a comfy thing and just changed out of my nice dry leathers with no fuss. I was in the garden with a cold beer while she was still trying to shrug off her leathers Smile

iCraig · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 Jun 2004 Karma :

Exerpt taken from UBG August 2004:

What do you to reduce the risk of heat exhaust?

Wear loose clothing. Losse billowing clothing allows air to circulate, keeping you cool and you skin protected. Don't ride with your jacket open though, this looses circulating air.
Undo the buttons and undo the wind/storm flaps but zip up the jacket.
This will hold the air in but allow more to get in at the same time.

Gloves are must, but wear them with the cuffs open and with the jacket over the top of them to let the air in. Wear leather jeans but over the boots for the same reason.

Drink plenty of fluids, like water but not fizzy cola, as this is contains caffiene and can take a while to be absorbed. Also avoid tea/coffee cos they contain caffiene aswell which is a duretic which causes you to loose water. Best thing is water, or those still sports drinks the isotonic ones are best as hey replace fluids quickly.

Take proper breaks from riding in the heat. Get out of the sun and drink more water, best place is an air conditioned shop or stand next to the drinks cooler in said shop.

In extreme temperatures, you could soak your helmet with water, and wet your hair. As you head heats up, the water will evaporate, drawing the heat from your head.
Also you could do the same to your t-shirt and with a bandana and wrap it round your neck.

Some sound advise there I reckon, and it works too cos I did it last year.

Suzuki · Roger Joined: 03 May 2005 Karma :

You soaked your helmet in water? Shocked

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iCraig · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 Jun 2004 Karma :

Biker-Kev · Brolly Dolly Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Karma :

If your jacket has got a zip and velcro on top, pull the zip down and fasten it up with the velcro.

Helps cool me down

Thumbs Up

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Suzuki · Roger Joined: 03 May 2005 Karma :

Because as we all know, velcro will not come undone when sliding down the road... Rolling Eyes

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<Simple> no I'm shaven Jon Razz

<Simple> it is a big enough hole.. I'll leave it now
Ride: 1999 Suzuki GSXR600 (yellow/black) IRC: Stats - Relationship Map

paulthewitt · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 May 2004 Karma :

^^^^listen to this man, hes going places Confused

no seriously, ont do that,velcro aint as strong as it would need to be. undersuits sound good. keeping fluids up is essential. never tried soaking my helmet tho Confused

even if it is hot, id expect it'd be wet for quite some time.

heres a good suggestion......ride faster!!! Thumbs Up

Paul

Vespa · Traffic Copper Joined: 12 Feb 2005 Karma :

Wave2k · G's Stalker Joined: 06 Apr 2004 Karma :

ride in t-shirt
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gimpy limp · Nearly there... Joined: 19 Mar 2005 Karma :

let down the fly on your trousers and spread umm
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mr.z · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Feb 2004 Karma :

hugo-a-gogo · Trackday Trickster Joined: 13 Feb 2004 Karma :

i saw a guy riding yesterday in thick gloves, full face lid, big armored textile jacket and skimpy little 70's style football shorts and sandals
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paulthewitt · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 May 2004 Karma :

probably because he rates his upper body as the most vital. as do i. hence why i wont go out without jacket gloves and lid.

Itchy · Super Spammer Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Karma :

CBRnick · Borekit Bruiser Joined: 12 Oct 2004 Karma :

Caberg are tacky and nasty lids. If you want one with a flip front and/or a drop down visor, spend the extra and get a Schuberth.

The bloke in Infinity in Purley says he stocks Caberg because they are told to by the head office, but will not sell them to any customers because of the quality, and he doesnt believe in ripping people off.

bandit250 · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 24 Jun 2005 Karma :

oh god its been 30 degrees here. keep your jacket open, visor UP if u can bear the flys lol. and sleeve zips on ur jacket, get the air flowing. that or jst wear short n shirt, bt that seems to make u a non-biker...
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