How to Stay Cool Riding in Warm Weather
British Columbia isn’t exactly the middle of the desert, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t get hot. And for riders who still want to head out on the hottest days, you’ll need to know how to respond the heat. While riding in the rain can be hard for your bike to deal with, warm weather riding is hard for the rider’s body to deal with. By following these tips, you’ll be able to stay cooler, which will help you stay safe. If you’re looking for Harley-Davidson riding gear or motorcycles, stop by Barnes Harley-Davidson, located in Langley, British Columbia. We proudly serve the areas of Surrey, Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Chilliwack, and Abbotsford, British Columbia.
Insulation
Your first instinct on a hot day might be to strip off your shirt and ride with sandals and shorts to help you stay cool. But on really hot days, that’s about as bad of a strategy for staying cool as you’ll find. On truly hot days when the mercury rises above 38 degrees, you’ll want to shield yourself from the hot air and sunlight. For this reason, it’s important to wear full riding pants, boots, a jacket and a helmet. The wind and sun can damage your skin when it gets too hot, and if you’re not protected, you’ll be painfully burnt. While it may seem hotter to keep yourself zipped up and insulated, you’ll stay cooler than the outside air.
Evaporative Cooling
Besides protecting yourself from heat, you’ll want to figure out how to actively cool yourself down. There are few better ways than evaporation when you’re on a bike. Keeping something cool around your neck will help cool down your blood because a large quantity of water flows through your neck near the skin. Simply wrap a bandana or scarf around your neck and douse it with water every few minutes, once the water on the bandana has evaporated. If the temperature is hot but not quite 38 degrees hot, you can use the ventilation in your riding gear to purge some of that extra heat.
Hydration Principles
Water is what keeps us alive in hot weather. Make sure to always keep yourself hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day before your ride and during the ride itself. Remember that during really hot weather, you will lose a significant amount of bodily electrolytes to sweating and these need to be replaced for proper organ and muscle function. Supplement your water intake with a sports drink or other source of electrolytes. It’s helpful to sip water constantly so your body has time to absorb it and use, but make sure that when you pull over after not having water for a while that you don’t immediately start chugging water. This can lead to vomiting which is extremely hard for the body during hot weather.
Itinerary Planning
A big part of staying cool centers on choosing when to ride and how long to ride for. Sometimes a trip during hot weather is unavoidable, but as much as possible you should try to avoid riding in the afternoon when you know it’s going to be above 38 degrees or so. Instead, try hiding out somewhere with air conditioning until it’s night and the heat cools off before you start riding. You can also plan to ride around the hotter days, choosing to ride on the days that aren’t forecasted to be quite so scorching. If you’re planning a trip with a pretty tight schedule, make sure to account for all the breaks you will have to take during hot weather. You might be stopping every half hour or hour if it gets really hot, and that time will add up.
Hot weather riding can be hard on the body, but there are things you can do to mitigate the hazards. Stay hydrated, protect your body from the heat, and choose your riding schedule wisely. If you’re in the market for a new bike, stop by Barnes Harley-Davidson. We carry the latest from Harley and we offer test rides! Located in Barnes, British Columbia, our customers come from places like Langley, Surrey, Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Chilliwack, and Abbotsford, British Columbia.