Dealing With The Heat

Riding and living in Southern California can really be difficult sometimes, specially when the heat gets to 100 degrees or hotter. Many different problems present themselves when you’re enduring the hot temperatures. Whether you’re making a desert ride out to Palm Springs or just trying to commute to work, heat dehydration is a very serious matter at hand. After prolonged time in the heat you can start to feel symptoms like shortness of breath, blurry vision, loss of strength, nausea & vomiting, headaches and other signs that are serious causes for concern. The biggest concern is that you aren’t able to properly ride a motorcycle when these types of symptoms hit you. We’re writing this blog post right as many riders all over the nation gear up to make the epic journey to Sturgis. While this might not apply to those who plan to trailer their bike the whole way there (cheap shot! haha), its still certainly useful for everyone.

You don’t want to ride for prolonged periods when the heat is as deadly as it is. We believe its important to get the proper amount of rest out of the sun before you continue on your ride. We know that not everyone lives in a place where the heat can get in excess of 100 degrees. Some might argue that they don’t get to enjoy these types of problems because of the shorter riding season in their state, but it’s great knowledge to have either way.

Use common sense, taking occasional rests from riding in the shade will go a long way. Keep in mind to stay properly hydrated and use sunscreen to avoid additional discomfort down the line. Wearing gear that also maximizes air flow is one of the basic things you need to plan for first. If, at all possible, avoid wearing dark colors like black because it’ll simply attract lots of heat to you. Here are some of our personal tips to keep you comfortable while riding.

Now, the best remedies are often the simplest and easiest. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to get quick relief from the heat. This is an age old technique to beat the heat. It’s really as simple as having a wet bandana over your face. It’ll work as a natural A/C and the cool air will help soothe you. You can even do a damp shirt over your body if that’s the worse spot of you. We understand that this solution might be too messy for most people, so another alternative is using evaporative vests. These cooling vests are sometimes expensive, but they also work just like a wet bandana over your body. There are many different variations of the evaporative vests for your legs and neck to help cool down areas of concern.

The next tip we have for you, is to stay properly hydrated. Drink lots of water and make sure that you don’t end up dehydrated. We recommend purchasing a camel back hydrating pack in order to properly stay hydrated for the long rides. Having one of these can help reduce stops and allow you to stay hydrated while riding.

This sums up our PSA for this week, If you have any suggestions or advice… feel free to share. Ride safe guys!