TOO hot to Ride ??

[Rusty]

Ok ... just back from the family holiday to Turkey .. very nice etc.
Turkey is a massive country and when you look on the maps you can see how very far it stretches ... boarders with Syria, Iran and Iraq.
We had a few days out going on trips etc and generally once you get on the main roads, if they havn't melted, they would be good to ride. So, where am I going with this ?
Well, as I am standing up in the Jeep ( impossible to cool down out there ) and watching all the moped riders go by in shorts and not much else I'm thinking how great it would be to ride out here .... but with all your kit on ? I don't think so. It was constantly 36/38 out there which although is just a few degrees more than France a few weeks ago it was a massive step up !
So .... have you ever ridden somewhere like this on a big bike ?
Have you ever thought .... " Sod this, off with my jacket, no one will ever know ! " ..." and while I'm at it on with the flip flops too ! "
I just can't imagine putting my kit on , trust me , you would be dripping by the time you sat on the bike , and riding through such heat !
It was SO hot !
I think I shall stick to Jeeps   ;D

[fatharry]

I got to Florida every year, and its very humid out there, along with 34 degrees.......plus you cant really speed!! as the local police are hot on that (yes me and the missus have been fined once)..anyway, in years gone by when the exchange rates favoured the pound, i used to buy most of my biking kit out there as it worked out much cheaper!!.....when perusing the shops you find that almost everything they sold was the vented bike kit (although almost everyone rides around on in shorts and t-shirt). I dont think i'd ever ride without the proper kit...the risks are just toooo high (when i was t-boned last year both the paramedics and consultant agree that it was only my kit that saved my life...nothing more, nothing less), however i would use the vented stuff ...wind chill will keep you cool, in in stifling temperatures...but sadly there is no cure for keeping cool whilst stuck at lights and in traffic!!

[Kevin]

<snip>So .... have you ever ridden somewhere like this on a big bike ?
Have you ever thought .... " Sod this, off with my jacket, no one will ever know ! " ..." and while I'm at it on with the flip flops too ! "

We were down that way in the summer of 2008 and it was hot. We used Richa vented gear which wasn't too bad in the heat but was as waterproof as a t-bag and fell apart during our trip. Wicking undergarments are a must.

We are normally ATGATT but we did succumb on at least one occasion when we were only riding a couple of miles down the road from Kalambaka to Meteora - lid, gloves, shorts, t-shirts and trainers - which we were somewhat uncomfortable about but at least we didn't melt or struggle to stow our gear somewhere while looking round the monasteries.

Kevin

[2kwacks]

when we where in france last year. we started with leathers on, but they soon got replaced with a tee shirt and a pair of jeans. your right its to dam hot for leathers never mind textiles? but it allways on the back of your mind, if you depart from your bike. your going to loose a considerable amount of skin :'(

[Kevin]

<snip> your right its to dam hot for leathers never mind textiles? <snip>

I'm confused by that comment and may be misconstruing it so please feel free to correct me if I have.

You seem to be implying that textiles are hotter than textiles and while I agree some may be - our Rukkas are unbearable in the summer for example - a decent set of all-season textiles will still provide protection while being a lot cooler than leathers ever will be IME.

I'm really pleased with my Rev'it GTX Defender 2-piece suit which keeps me warm when it's cold but is reasonably cool when it's hot and the liners are out. I'd be even more pleased if both the waterproof pockets were, the fastener on the trouser lining zip hadn't broken first time I used it and the white panel jacket I chose because I thought it would reflect the heat remained anything other than filthy grey. To be fair Get Geared are going to replace it and I'm probably going for a replacement black jacket (although I definitely didn't want a black jacket) just so it doesn't look as if it hasn't been washed for ten years.

Kevin

[2kwacks]

kevin? will try to unconfuse you! it obvously depends on the textiles or leathers you have. mine are wolf textiles, the body warmer can be removed but the water membrane cannot, so you could call them in the summer " the boil in the bag suit! my leathers are also wolf and have all the air vents "here there and everwhere" but still found them to be unberable in the south of france. now am not saying wolf are the best, because we all have our favorites. but I dont skimp when buying leathers or textiles, so I consider wolf about the best you can buy. I did have a pair of light textiles which I did use on another europe trip, but found them also to be unbearable in the hot weather. but where all made different. what I consider hot, you may find to be just quite warm. however, have now bought my self a few pair of those red route kevlar jeans, they have the knee armour and have stronger, but breathable material. recently I did a 4 day tour of cornwall, and it was quite hot. one mate had his wolf leathers on, the other had his wolf textiles on, and both at to peel them off after a long days ride.  I had my wolf leather jacket on and found the kelvar jeans to be excellent. but in the south of france 30 plus? well we will just have to wait and see! sorry if I did confuse you, but it was only my opinion. but I am a firm believer in the saying, "if things dont change, they will stay the same" ;)

[Rusty]

Kevin .... Rukka too hot in the summer .... are you taking the liners out ??   ;D ;D ;D Only joking !