June Trip to California- Staying Cool

[Dudley]

For those of you who are planning on riding to California for the June event, this post is meant to help you enjoy your ride. The temperatures in the desert at that time of year will probably be around 110F. The asphalt will probably be sending up 150F or more. These conditions can cause dehydration quickly. One of the first symptoms of dehydration is tiredness and skin feeling a bit cool. Other symptoms are dizzyness, spots before your eyes, vagueness, being disoriented, nausea. If you start feeling this way, pull over and stop under the nearest shade. If you don't, you risk passing out while driving, or when you get off too late, you will pass out and hit the ground. Next step is the ambulance, etc. Dehydration is not relative to distance traveled. Four years ago Jennifer dehydrated in 20 minutes! She had never dehydrated before, so she just felt tired and asked me to stop at the next exit with a gas station. After we stopped and went inside the Mart, she told me she felt like throwing up. That's when I realized she was in trouble. It took us 45 minutes to stabilize her with water and PowerAde. We were both wearing T-shirts, the temperature was 104F (I knew better, I was just stupid!). Lucky for us we had a beach towel and at the next Rest Area I soaked it and draped it over her shoulders and used my belt to secure it to her waist. We were 200 miles from home...the longest 200 miles we have ever ridden.
Recommendations for your safety:
DO NOT ride with only a T-shirt. Ride with a cotton, long sleave, light colored or white shirt. The light color reflects the sun and helps keep you cooler and also reduces the body liquid loss through your pores. For those of you who wear a jacket when you ride, and it works for you, that's good. ALWAYS carry water or GatorAde. Stop at every Rest Area and rest. Riding in the desert in the Summer is not the time to try and set a distance/speed record. You may have to ride slower than you are used to. I have found that riding fast in the heat drains me a lot faster. The heat takes a lot out of you and your body needs your help. When you stop, throw water on your face, maybe even dampen your shirt. DRINK, DRINK, DRINK! Keep you body tanked up with fluids.
Enjoy you ride to California! Happy Trails and Ryde Safe!

 

[Lamonster]

Good advice. :thumbup:

 

[SpyderGirl]

Great advice. :2thumbs:

The wind hitting your skin will cause you to dehydrate faster. Consider getting a Camelbak (or something similar) for the ride. They also have cooling vests which are good to wear over a light colored long sleeved shirt or under a lightweight long sleeved jacket.

http://ridecool.com

http://www.forestry-suppliers.com/product_pages/View_Catalog_Page.asp?ID=3471

http://store.mm411.com/catalog/index.cfm?fuseaction=product&theParentId=178&id=848

It's so tempting to ride in a t-shirt when it's hot, but don't do it!

 

[Questions]

Great Info!!

Thank you, Dudley, for sharing this critical advice. We may not be riding much while we are there, but it is important information to have. I always harp about sunscreen to everyone, but WATER is even more important. Hey, Docdoru, maybe one of those bladders in the saddlebag for H2O too??

 

[Lamonster]

Great advice. :2thumbs:

The wind hitting your skin will cause you to dehydrate faster. Consider getting a Camelbak (or something similar) for the ride. They also have cooling vests which are good to wear over a light colored long sleeved shirt or under a lightweight long sleeved jacket.

http://ridecool.com

http://www.forestry-suppliers.com/product_pages/View_Catalog_Page.asp?ID=3471

http://store.mm411.com/catalog/index.cfm?fuseaction=product&theParentId=178&id=848

It's so tempting to ride in a t-shirt when it's hot, but don't do it!

I had a vest that had a ton of pockets in it front and back and I would fill the pockets full of ice when I would make a fuel stop. Back then they didn't have those cool vest like you just posted. :thumbup:

 

[dltang]

Thanks Dudley, I do have a new cup holder for my Ram Mount and I am in the process of getting a 32oz bottle with a long hard straw or a camelback cup so that I can have water while I ride. Also, planning on keeping extra liquid in the trailer as well.

 

[docdoru]

Thank you, Dudley, for sharing this critical advice. We may not be riding much while we are there, but it is important information to have. I always harp about sunscreen to everyone, but WATER is even more important. Hey, Docdoru, maybe one of those bladders in the saddlebag for H2O too??

One is for Gatorade (orange) the second one for Jolt (blue) :joke:

 

[docdoru]

Enjoy you ride to California! Happy Trails and Ryde Safe!

I had a vest that had a ton of pockets in it front and back and I would fill the pockets full of ice when I would make a fuel stop. Back then they didn't have those cool vest like you just posted. :thumbup:

Should we cross the desert overnight?

 

[Lamonster]

Should we cross the desert overnight?

Yes if you can. The heat will eat your tires.

 

[smokster]

Thanks Dudley, I do have a new cup holder for my Ram Mount and I am in the process of getting a 32oz bottle with a long hard straw or a camelback cup so that I can have water while I ride. Also, planning on keeping extra liquid in the trailer as well.

These are the ones I use. The far one is a Ram mount which is real stable.
The closest one is from barefoot willies http://barefootwillies.com/
Barefoot willies works ok, but is better for putting cell phone, keys and such for easy access. Both take bigger bottles than shown, just none around for demo. The hose is from a camelback pack.

 

[MSGTDOC]

IN THE FIRST GULF WAR MY RULE FOR MY FOLKS WAS A QUART OF WATER AN HOUR. DOING THAT I NEVER HAD A PERSON DROP.WORKED FOR US. HOPE THIS WILL HELP:chill:

 

[StarTraveler649]

Caffeinated beverages and alcoholic beverages are definitely not for hot riding conditions (coffee, beer, carbonated beverages). Both will dehydrate you faster. I have been a paramedic for 22 years and have seen all the ways some knucklehead can drink himself into dehydration while sitting in his back yard with a cooler of beer !

At 80F+ / 70% humidity with moderate activity, you should consume 1 Liter per hour minimum. Add anything (more heat, more humidity, less humidity, more activity, etc) that dehydrates you faster and you will need to increase the intake.

More humidity and you lose the cooling ability of sweating / less humidity and you lose water through your skin (and breathing) from sweat evaporating faster.

When drinking Gatorade or Gatorade type drinks, it is a good idea to cut them 50/50 with water so you don't get too many electrolytes over time. Do not take salt / electrolyte tablets, you don't get the fluid. When dehydrated, drinking Gatorade type drinks full strength can easily cause nausea.

New drink on the market called Max Hydration, tests as one of the best. Found it at a local store in south Louisiana. Has magnesium (which the others don't, you need that to move electrolytes correctly) and has the lowest osmolality, so you get absorbtion very quickly. I drink it all the time, bottles for at home, the little powder packs you add to a water bottle for riding. Great stuff.


And no, I don't sell or own the stuff. :lecturef_smilie: I just drink it !

 

[Desert Spyder]

I hope to be supplying the forum with some helpful information as we close in on our special dates together. This info might be helpful now though: if you take the southern route on the I-10, it will be at least 10 degrees hotter than if you cross on the 40. Some areas along the corridors will not have any services for over 100 miles. Desert winds with gusts over 70 mph can make riding a bike hazardous. Some winds will carry sand that can approach white out conditions. Do not plan on an ironbutt drive in the summer. And please ride with a buddy if possible. Thats one of the great things about this forum.

How many are planning to come to Calif. from either the 15 or 40?

 

[docdoru]

I-10, 6.21-6.23 attempt IronButt 50CC :shocked:
http://roadtrip.apehangers.org/maps/c2c.php Copyright © apehangers.org

 

[0228lisa]

One is for Gatorade (orange) the second one for Jolt (blue) :joke:

You be careful!!:lecturef_smilie: I like you now...alot...and now after seeing this post, I am even more worried about you.ray::shocked:

 

[Roaddog2]

I-10, 6.21-6.23 attempt IronButt 50CC :shocked:
http://roadtrip.apehangers.org/maps/c2c.php Copyright © apehangers.org

:2thumbs: