Too hot to ryde!

[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. :yikes:

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

 

[SLICE]

Just in time for me to come home from Maine and the entire eastern side of the country will be in the 90's for 5 + days.

Looks like it will be 4am start times.

 

[Spyderman2018]

Be safe brother!!

 

[ARtraveler]

We ride when it is hot. We do stay out of the town traffic where one slowly bakes in the sun whilst sitting in a "parking lot" waiting for the light to change. We are in the midst of motorcycle riding paradise. Many twisties and deserted roads. We like to cruise at 40 mph or so and enjoy the "breezes" as we go. We usually wear long sleeve shirts, no under garments (as in t shirt), jeans, fingerless gloves, and helmets. Long sleeve because we don't want to get sunburned on the arms.

When we get to the "deep woods" areas, it actually cools down about 10 degrees. Makes it feel like the AC has been turned on. I am also a "cold weather" rider. Not as much as I used to, but still do from time to time. I think it is neat to go for a 50 mile ride on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, etc. I won't ride on ice covered roads or snow...but the snow here has been happening once or twice a year, and is usually gone in a couple days. :thumbup: