mid 90's today

[kenporider]

Takes every bit of my atgatt will power to stay the course in this heat! I can't wait for the thunderstorms later today! It'll make the ride home a little cooler today! Does every one still wear the jackets and gloves in heat like this. Or am I the only asshat wearing a black kiliminjaro in the heat?

I was out that day, commuting from New Haven to Springfield. I had on gloves, mesh jacket and helmet. I don't have mesh pants so I just wore jeans...mistake! When I got home I realized that I'd burned my thighs on the tank. Getting mesh pants today.

 

[BwanaDik]

ATGATT. 12 year old 'Stitch, Shoei full face, elkskin gloves and those damned hot BMW touring boots. I generally stop riding from mid June to mid September, with the occational run to work in the early morning (come back and get the truck at lunch) just to be sure I keep the bike in good shape. How can you ride when it's uncomfortable to just stand outside in the shade?

Until I stumbled on one of these.

Coolvest

I just bought it on Thursday but only had time for a 1/2 hour ride. Saw 99F on the meter on the freeway. Still evaluating it. It's not like a cool blast from the A/C, you're still really hot but it's different. Seems like I didn't sweat like a pig like I usually do (no, not heat stroke, I felt fine and fullly hydrated). And when I got home, I just parked the bike and hung up my gear. Normally I fling off my gear and fall in the pool, just on the verge of heat stroke. Not this time. And they're supposed to work better when not exposed to wind so zipping it up inside my 'Stitch works great.

It does not depend on evaporation to work. It has frozen bars of some miracle fluid in it. The fluid changes phase at 65F. (The phase change is the point at which the most heat is being removed). It takes about 2 hours in the fridge to freeze them back to solid. If I remember my thermodynamics (jeez, that was a while ago), putting them in the freezer doesn't improve the heat removal situation much because there isn't nearly the amount of heat removed from 0F to 65F frozen as there is from solid 65F to liquid 65F. So the fridge (or anything below 65F for that matter, just takes longer) is fine.

They're supposed to work for about 2 hours when is about 95F out and it seems pretty close to this. If you ride longer than 2 hours, you can buy spare fluid packets, freeze them, and then put them in some sort of cooler in your trunk. Just change them out. A friend of mine is considering getting one for fishing on Corpus Christi bay. Get a couple of extra sets of fluid packets and keep them in the beer cooler. Should work all day.

I was considering inventing some sort of vest to put ice water in but after wearing this thing, the ice water would bave been ways too cold. It's weird how 65F can feel so cold. And the ice would not have lasted as long.

The guy that invented them sells a bunch to the guys in Iraq. Also road crews and some oil workers in Indoneasia.

This looks really promising. Won't have to arrive at work with a complete change of clothes in the bags or looking like steamed vegtables.

Off to work Monday, 80 miles round trip. I'll report back

 

[Wolfhound]

Wish it was only mid 90's here . . . .

 

[SacramentoMike]

Took off out of Sacramento late afternoon Friday to meet a guy in San Jose who had a seat I wanted to test--Sergeant, which I bought. The butt felt better on the ride back. Better and cooler, since the sun had gone down. But I got my first use of my "Colorado Cool Vest" on that ride, and it was VERY nice--for about an hour. Then it was dry enough it didn't do much at all. I soaked it for a few minutes in San Jose and it was good again for about the same time. A quick resoaking in a gallon baggie of water would take care of the nastiest heat the central California valley can toss your way. Maybe even dumping the water right down my front for that matter. And a little more poured all over the sleeves and pantlegs of my mesh jacket and pants, which I did yesterday, was just about as good as the special-purpose vest. Wasn't much problem getting it to dry. We don't share your humidity problems out here too much.

 

[Checkswrecks]

I'm in the DC area and commuted in a black Kilimanjaro until getting the 'Sttch a couple of years ago. The Kili is hotter than the Stitch and I abandon even that for a mesh jacket when we get to the 80s.

 

[donaldb]

I just bought the Olympia Stealth suit for summer heat. Had it a few weeks now and am liking it so far, pretty decent ventilation. A mix of mesh and cordura, double plated in critical areas along w/CE armor.

Now..........I've been concerned a bit about my NAFO route being late July. I suppose I'll be wearing some wick away shorts and shirt under the Stealth. My trip north to SD takes me right up the country's gut of heat, Through west AR delta, up through MO, IW and West across SD. Then after NAFO I must return to MS and there is no mild temp region anywhere inbetween....just summer heat and humidity........mini soft side cooler packed w/ice and water, big enough to carry 3 bottles of water.........suck it up and deal with it. Either that or not do it at all...and thats not an option I'm willing to consider at the moment.

Probably loose 20 lbs on the trip.....but that would be a good thing...I think :blink: