Too hot to ryde!

[SportsterDoc]

I do not mind the heat, but ride mostly AM this time of year...sometimes PM for local errands.

Use a helmet (not required in New Mexico) mainly to keep sun off my head
A long sleeve light colored T shirt keeps sun off my arms.
Not as much issue with long traffic signals in central New Mexico as there was in Las Vegas, NV.

Attached photo is of my 2016 Moto Guzzi V7II, 4 PM, 21 June 2017 in Las Vegas.
The LCD display in the tach indicates 116 F (display while riding, not parked in sun)
I was only 70 then, but heat seems no different at age 76.

6b-116 F on V7II 21 Jun 2017 Las Vegas, NV.jpg

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

One of my slowest rides ever was last summer when I was coming home from eastern Iowa and riding through southern Idaho. Temp was well into the 90's. I stopped about every 30 minutes to drink water and cool down, and this while wearing a cool vest. The memory of that discomfort is what keeps my Spyder parked during these hot days now.

[EdMat]

Have you tried something like this?

https://www.batteryheatedclothing.co...-chest-cooler/

This link is to the company that actually make the chilled vest for various companies. This is the one I meant to post the first time. Have talked with a few folks that have used them and they were all happy. Should have ordered one last year, could sure use it about now.
https://www.compcooler.shop/

[Bfromla]

Another heat pic

9A585DF1-4CB3-4394-A12F-6E38B6860131.jpg

For laughs

[SLICE]

I must be dumb or just too stoopid, last Sunday I rode 657? miles in 90+ degree heat with gear on.
Yep, it was hot, but I drank constantly.

So, my answer to the OP's question, NO it's not too hot to ride.

Not that I'm in New England it might be too wet or too deep to ride.

[Mikey]

Should I plan on renting a jet ski when I get to Vermont

No, just ride between the drops! Row,row,row your boat!

[old Timer]

Two days ago, was on on my new to Me beautiful, thanks again Russ, Spyder for about 4 hours, air temp was mostly 102 F, really enjoyed it due to the very low Humidity's in the 10 to 20% range. If one dresses properly not a problem at all. You must utilize the Human Body's ability to be an evaporative cooler. I always wear a Duluth Trading long sleeve Tee shirt, bandana around my neck, Mesh Jacket, boots and long pants and Gauntlet Gloves. And of course a helmet. None of those stupid wan-a-be beanie helmets.

It was 102 when I took this pic and later when down into the White Sands basin heading to Home in Alamogordo 104 F had a great ride, stayed well hydrated. BTW, the Spyder doesn't seem to mind the heat at all.

[ES44AC]

50-85 is my sweet spot, but I'd rather ride colder that hotter . I work out in the heat, but I truly HATE hot weather. I'll ride to work on a day it's going to be 93 because I have 12 hours before the ride home will likely be about 83 .

[oldguyinTX]

Yep, it's hot.
6 straight days @ 111 degrees.
Now 5 straight days @ 112.
I ride early, around 6am when it's only 85 or so. No midday, afternoon, or evening riding, as even at 9pm it's still 95-98.
Yep, it's hot.

[UtahPete]

I must be dumb or just too stoopid, last Sunday I rode 657? miles in 90+ degree heat with gear on.
Yep, it was hot, but I drank constantly. So, my answer to the OP's question, NO it's not too hot to ride. Not that I'm in New England it might be too wet or too deep to ride.

Every body is different.

[canamjhb]

The overnight "LOW" last night in Phoenix was 97 degrees..... There is no comfortable time to ride.

[PaladinLV]

Don't use cooling vests and I'm here in Southern NV.
I do use Under Armor desert Tees in summer and their cold weather Tees in Winter.

AJ

[grumpyoldretiredcop]

It's been in the high 90's/low 100's here all week. I could really use some wind therapy, thinking about an evening ride when it's a refreshing 80 or so!

[Mikey]

All kidding aside, I would take a 100 degree day out west than a 85-95 degree day on the east coast! I could do that and have done it a little! Keeping the hydration going is the important thing out there, you don't realize your sweating, here in Maine right now your swimming in water dripping in places that aren't much fun! I have often said, I would take a foot of snow anytime!!!

[Gwolf]

80 would be close to the nightly low here. 06:00 now and it is 75. I will go out and work for 4 or 5 hours when it gets light enough to see.
The heat index for today is 108. Got up to 107 heat index yeasterday afternoon. I ride when I want to. It doesn't get too hot to ride. I try not to ride where there is stop and go traffic when it is hot. Gets just as hot every year from June until August. Tomorrow is the longest day of the year, then it will begin to cool down some. I slow down some when it is really hot, but I don't stop doing the things I always do. Life is too short to sit around in front of an air conditioner.

[bigbadbrucie]

80 would be close to the nightly low here. 06:00 now and it is 75. I will go out and work for 4 or 5 hours when it gets light enough to see.
The heat index for today is 108. Got up to 107 heat index yeasterday afternoon. I ride when I want to. It doesn't get too hot to ride. I try not to ride where there is stop and go traffic when it is hot. Gets just as hot every year from June until August. Tomorrow is the longest day of the year, then it will begin to cool down some. I slow down some when it is really hot, but I don't stop doing the things I always do. Life is too short to sit around in front of an air conditioner.

Really curious about the term “heat index”. That’s a term that does not get used much ho here....what we hear quite often is “feels like”. It may be 33°C on the thermometer but it “feels like” 37° because of the humidity. Is that the same as your heat index? curious minds want to know!

[Gwolf]

Really curious about the term “heat index”. That’s a term that does not get used much ho here....what we hear quite often is “feels like”. It may be 33°C on the thermometer but it “feels like” 37° because of the humidity. Is that the same as your heat index? curious minds want to know!

Yeah, same thing.Look in the lower, left corner of the weather report, and you will see the humidity is 96%. The heat index don't go up much until the temperature gets above 90 degrees. After that, the humidity sends it higher fast. Just another way to figure out when the heat starts to affect your body. In the winter it is the wind chill factor that determines when you will get frostbite.

I quit mowing for the day about 10:00 AM. The temperature was only 86 degrees, but the humidity was 75%. The weather reports here also call it "Feels Like". I don't check the temperature and humidity constantly when I work outside. Been living in this area all my life, and I can feel it when it starts getting too hot. I won't go back out until the sun gets lower in the sky. Used to work all day in the sun when I was younger. 73 years old now, and can't do it no more. If I am working in the shop in June, July, or August, I sometimes work at night and sleep during the days.

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

I must be dumb or just too stoopid, last Sunday I rode 657? miles in 90+ degree heat with gear on.
Yep, it was hot, but I drank constantly.

So, my answer to the OP's question, NO it's not too hot to ride.

Not that I'm in New England it might be too wet or too deep to ride.

You are a good example of how each body can handle heat differently. What works best for me isn't the best for you, and vice versa.

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Based on my one experience of suffering real heat stress I will caution everyone to not assume the heat affects your body right away. Several years ago I was at a GWRRA rally in Pendleton, OR. On Friday I participated in the Advanced Rider Course which was held at Wildhorse Casino. The day was hot, in the 90's on a hot asphalt parking lot. On Sunday I headed for home. About an hour from Pendleton I felt like I was suffering the flu with chills and being tired. I stopped at a rest area but couldn't sleep, so got back on the Goldwing and headed out. Twice in a matter of minutes I lost control of the bike and ran into the gravel and dropped the bike while exiting the rest area. Fortunately an Oregon State Trooper came by and helped me get going. Later I realized what had happened was I had suffered the effects of heat stress, two days after the heat exposure! That was the first time in my life I had suffered heat stress and did not recognize what it was.

So, I will say that just because you don't feel like you are succumbing to the effects of heat while you're in it, don't bet against the fact you may actually be being affected by it.

[canamjhb]

Based on my one experience of suffering real heat stress I will caution everyone to not assume the heat affects your body right away. Several years ago I was at a GWRRA rally in Pendleton, OR. On Friday I participated in the Advanced Rider Course which was held at Wildhorse Casino. The day was hot, in the 90's on a hot asphalt parking lot. On Sunday I headed for home. About an hour from Pendleton I felt like I was suffering the flu with chills and being tired. I stopped at a rest area but couldn't sleep, so got back on the Goldwing and headed out. Twice in a matter of minutes I lost control of the bike and ran into the gravel and dropped the bike while exiting the rest area. Fortunately an Oregon State Trooper came by and helped me get going. Later I realized what had happened was I had suffered the effects of heat stress, two days after the heat exposure! That was the first time in my life I had suffered heat stress and did not recognize what it was.

So, I will say that just because you don't feel like you are succumbing to the effects of heat while you're in it, don't bet against the fact you may actually be being affected by it.

Good advice! We have been in the Extreme Danger part of the chart posted by Gwolf for the last 3 weeks now. People are literally dying in this heat. Yesterday it was 119, today about the same. Humidity or no humidity, that heat will kill you if you do not take proper precautions. Stay safe..... Jim

[RideOn]

Here in CA's Central Valley, we are a little bit cooler than Phoenix but just as dry. The worst thing in the afternoon is the extreme sun intensity. That radiant heat makes "hot" even more intense.

For me, as long as I get out by 8 AM, with temps in the low 80s, and back by 11, I'm pretty much okay. I wear a mesh jacket, and as long as I'm moving it helps keep me cool. Just as important, it provides some extra "shade" compared to bare skin.

After being baked all day in the sun, evenings are still in the 90s and 100s, so an evening ride isn't a great option.

Take care of yourself,
Rob

[FrogmanDave]

So how many of you have been like me the past several days, very reluctant to get out and ride because of the heat? For several days now, and quite a few more to come, the temp in SW Idaho has been around 95° to 100°. Above 95° I find it's just takes too much effort to keep cool and avoid heat stress. A cooling vest really helps but it's a bit of a pain to use. I think my reluctance to ride is about 1/3 laziness, 1/3 fear, and 1/3 prudence. Anyone agree?

It is never too hot to ride. But that doesn't mean it is any fun either. I ride for pleasure and hot air blasting me at 100+ is not pleasurable.

[Spyderman2018]

80 would be close to the nightly low here. 06:00 now and it is 75. I will go out and work for 4 or 5 hours when it gets light enough to see.
The heat index for today is 108. Got up to 107 heat index yeasterday afternoon. I ride when I want to. It doesn't get too hot to ride. I try not to ride where there is stop and go traffic when it is hot. Gets just as hot every year from June until August. Tomorrow is the longest day of the year, then it will begin to cool down some. I slow down some when it is really hot, but I don't stop doing the things I always do. Life is too short to sit around in front of an air conditioner.

I think JUNE 21st was supposed to be the longest day??

[Gwolf]

I think JUNE 21st was supposed to be the longest day??

Yeah, you are correct. I had July as the middle of the year on my mind, instead of the dates the seasons change.

[KAMJAM]

We are lucky in southern Nevada where we have temps almost always over 100. It is only get to 114-115 this coming weekend. The good thing is: It's a dry heat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah, we lived in Vegas and Henderson, NV for several years, even spent time in Pahrump as part of our territory, we did tactical training at Front Sight, which was really great. After living in and working in Fresno, CA the Intense dry heat was a bit too much after a while. We moved to Tullahoma, TN for spell, the humidity was brutal and almost unbearable.

Now we reside in WA State, stupid expensive but one of the coolest and most beautiful states