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Copyright © 2000 by M. Hilton Taylor. All Rights Reserved by T.A.M.S. It ain’t rocket science . . . is it. |
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Hot Weather Riding
It is a nice sun shiny day that just beckons you climb aboard that motorcycle and go riding. The temperature is in the 90’s and you are ready for the wind in your face. What a great combination motorcycles and a sunny day! Right? About 15 miles later you will get the answer, especially if you have to stop at a few traffic lights. This is when our tendency is to break out those muscle shirts and halter tops. Makes you feel great knowing you are showing off your physique and getting a tan to boot, until you start to feel like a boiled lobster. The sun is great but can quickly become your enemy if you do not take the proper precautions. At this point you should take out a mirror and ask the face you see “What are you thinking?” Hot weather riding is not the opposite of cold weather riding as some of the same principles apply. One is the principle of insulation. If it keeps the cold out then would it not stand to reason it will keep out the heat? This is especially important when the outside temperature is above the core body temperature or above 98 degrees. When the outside temperature is above your body temperature you want to keep out the heat and work on keeping you body cool, not “kool”. If you are riding in the heat with your skin exposed the perspiration is quickly taken away by the wind. While this may feel good to have that dry feeling, you are actually increasing the rate of dehydration. Your body is now fighting the elements and loosing! You are sucking the moisture from your body and getting too much sun on your skin. Since the body is already at a temperature of 98 degrees, why would you put 100 degree heat on it? This causes your body to work overtime and nobody likes overtime. When the outside temperature starts to exceed the body temperature you need to begin to insulate your body from the heat. If you are outside and it is hot you go to the shade or inside where it is cooler. That is exactly what you need to do when riding. Get inside of some insulated clothes so when your body sweats it retains the water to keep you cooler and inside the clothes it is 98 degrees . . . not 100! I know it sounds contrary to reason but trust me your body will like it. You should understand how the body cools. It cools when you sweat which is water leaving your body and lies on the skin to cool it. This liquid needs to be replaced so it is important that you consume lots of liquids on hot days as you can lose water quickly. The more you lose the more you have to replace. Replacing the water your body loses requires more time than it does while losing it, so consume plenty of water before you need it. Your body does a great job of keeping it balanced as long as to pour in plenty of water. Now this is important! I know beer, cokes, coffee, and tea are all liquids but they are not all created equally. Caffeine acts like a diuretic and can actually work to speed up dehydration. The best liquids are water or a good sports drink as you need to replace the electrolytes along with the liquids. Years ago I rode across the desert out west with another rider. They decided it was too hot for a long sleeve shirt or long pants so their choice was shorts and a muscle shirt. I rode in a t-shirt, a long sleeve shirt and jeans. About half way across they started having heat cramps and signs of heat exhaustion. Luckily we found a place to get in the shade and they were able to get back to normal after drinking a lot of water and resting in the shade. They also made some different clothing choices for the balance of the ride. I was hot but never felt dehydrated. If you ever watch motorcycle racers they are in the hot sun for hours dressed in leathers, full-face helmets, boots and gloves. They are much more active than the average rider and they very seldom suffer from heat related issues. Maybe they know something? It is also important to keep the blood going to the brain cool, unless you wear one of those novelty helmets indicating a brain is missing. Using a cool collar or neck wrap filled with ice or wet with water will help considerably. Wetting down you clothing will also help provided it is protected from the sun. The most important thing is to keep the body hydrated by drinking lots of water.
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