How do you keep yourself cold?

[bonne]

I am just back from a holiday to one of our local islands. It started great with perfect MC weather. 22-23 degrees Celsius, almost no wind, no rain only great sun. The kind of weather that we would like to be when we drive MC.

But on the way home the thermometer passed 30 degrees. Even though I wear a perforated MC-jacket, yellow helmet MC-jeans and goretex boots, I was sweating like hell.

Now next month I expect to drive to Southern Europe. From previous years, I know the temperature can reach 40 degrees. I would prefer not to do like most locals do (drive with sandals, shorts and t-shirt, but just in order to survive the temperature, I might do as well.

How do you keep yourself cold riding these days?

Regards, Lars

[Rusty Nuts]

Start your daily rides early, and depending on where you want to be, head for the mountains. Bosnjo in Portugal should know how to cope, he did tell us what he wears. MX gear and separate body armour from what I can remember, but that's all extra outlay. I have a Camelback type of water bag which can be useful, a quick sip while riding helps with hydration. Doesn't do much for the heat, though.

[bonne]

Never thought of that, but obvious. You wear the separate body armour outside?

[Tusker]

could this transfer to tarmac ??????   

[bonne]

Hahahaha... I would definately look close to that

[Jamieboy]

I spent a couple of months riding in the USA a few years ago, it was insanely hot. Don't know in C but was 110F on a few days and only below 100 when altitude. On the hottest days it felt like riding into a giant hairdryer. No amount of vemting would make it comfortable as it's just more hot air.

I wore a revit airwave jacket and cargo pants. Was obviously still hot in such temps but that jacket made it bearable.

Just googled it and they're now on the airwave 3. Closest thing I can find to those trousers on a brief google look like the Klim Switchback.

I wore a neck buff and stopped to wet it through every 30 mins or so.

Ultimately once the temp gets much into the mid to high 30s there's only so much you can do, you're going to be hot.

[p47]

Hi Bonne,
believe it or not we've had a mini heatwave in the uk. the revit eclipse jacket which I bought for my 3 week France/spain trip ,now cancelled, has been fantastic plus my summer short gloves and kelvar jeans spot on. although I couldn't go any lower on protection . always makes me cringe when I see people on zx10r's etc with shorts and t -shirts.

[Barbel Mick]

The first thing I would say is don't go in July or August!
However, if you have no choice then good ventilation is a must. personally I wouldn't wear cotton T shirt or similar, I wear something like this...............
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TCA-Mens-Boys-Pro-Performance-Base-Layer-Compression-Top-Long-Short-Sleeve/322150508098?hash=item4b01aaa642:g:fScAAOSwLVZV1asw
you can get the pants in the same material.
They wick the sweat and help cooling.
Drink plenty of water, always have a few bottles in the top box or tank bag or as Rusty Nuts has, a Camelback.
We also use the water to wet our neck tubes and pour some onto the above vests, the evaporation helps in cooling.
This sort of thing is also available but I have never tried it so can't comment on how good they may be.................
https://www.fc-moto.de/en/Revit-Cooling-Vest-Liquid
I hate being too hot but unfortunately it is something we have to accept if we ride in the hotter climates!

[Hugo Magnus]

The "wet neck tube" is particularly useful in keeping your brain coooooooooool

[bonne]

Unfortunately... I need to drive both in Juli and August

[Hugo Magnus]

Then you'll need to keep wetting it!

[bonne]

Some people apparently suggest to wear merino wool as baselayer as this will not only keep you warm at winter but also cold on summer. As I ride MC during winter, I actually have some merino sets, and I tried them today. The weather is almost as hot as yesterday, but I was not sweating the same way as yesterday.

It feels wired to put on wool when it is hot, and in the beginning without moving, just wearing the merino baselayer I started to feel to warm. But I put on my perforated MC-jacket and went for a ride. As soon as you drive and the airflow begins to refresh the merino wool, you start to feel refreshed. 30 degrees does no longer seem to be a problem. Curios as to how hot it can get while this solution will still work.

[mr_diver]

I've got a Lindstrands STR jacket and trousers. Big mess panels on the legs and chest.
Removable waterproof liner that on hot days gets stashed in the panniers and make 30+ degrees bearable.

Klim do some fantastic waterproof and well vented kit, but with the optional armour inserts it costs a pretty penny.
I've always bought jackets and trousers that are slightly on the large side as they allow the air to flow around you and tend to not stick to you so much.
Also gives you the room the layer up in the winter.

Kevlar jeans are excellent on the move, but the extra layers become the issue when you stop.
Also sod all use when it suddenly rains.
I use mine mainly for days out, where I carry my textiles in an otherwise empty pannier and the weather forecast is very little chance of rain.

What people don't tend to look at is helmets.
People want quiet, but quiet often mean very little ventilation.
Look for large vent openings and larger areas of mesh rather than fluffy stuff on the liner.
I like my Shark Evoline S3. Not the quietest lid out there, but well vented and full up and over flip front that becomes an open face with clear and sun visors.

I've used the damp necktube a few times and it works a treat.

Hydration packs are great in hot weather, drink on the move, don't have to stop and get even warmer.
But get one with insulated hose... I don't have one and the first mouthful is warm if you haven't taken a drink for a while with the tube in the sun.

I've recently bought a Kappa Alpha handlebar bag, mainly for my sunglasses, camera and visor wipes.
Far easier than routing around amongst you other kit in the top box.
Plus no keys required to quickly grab the sunglasses if your only stopping a few minutes and don't want to disturb the topbox contents.

[mr_diver]

Oh and a sheep skin seat cover.

No more burnt but when the bike has been parked in the sun.
And it'll allow the air to flow around your legs/arse and makes the seat comfier too.

Decent baselayers, not cotton t-shirts.
Wear shorts under the textile trousers. When you stop for a while, take the textiles off and prance around in the shorts. (Pack flip flops on the top in your top box)

[Barbel Mick]

I'll agree with mr-diver about the sheepskin cover. We've used it it 30*+ temperatures and it does work. However we bought one of these last year and had to take it off and put the sheepskin back on when it cooled down later in the year. It's back on now and I think it's cooler around the 'seated area' than the sheepskin.
Unfortunately if you though you might get one it's from China & might not be delivered before your trip!!
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cooling-Protector-Cushion-Motorcycle-Net-Seat-Cover-Electric-Bike-3D-Mesh-/303569302268?var=&hash=item46ae23f2fc

[bonne]

It can't reach me in time. How does it actually cool?

[bonne]

Actually, I do not have much problem with my helmet. As I wrote, it is ugly hi viz yellow as well as with good airflow. It is also modular, so when driving slow, I flip the front up

[Barbel Mick]

It's a 3D mesh. It puts a bit of air flow between you and the seat.

[Ianmc]

   +1 for the mesh seat cover.I’ve had mine for about two and a half years now.It is much cooler in the summer and I keep it on in the winter also as I think it keeps a little insulating air layer in place.Its definitely a little warmer in the winter as I have tried it both on and off.
   I got mine from Ravetech. From memory only about US$35.
     👍👍
 

[bonne]

Apparently I cannot email Ravetech: "550 No Such User Here"

Can it be bought elsewhere?