According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in the last twenty years, more people have died from heat than from earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, and lightning combined. And, it’s no fun to ride when you’re too hot. Here are five ways to fight the heat:
Keeping safely cool in hot weather doesn’t begin with shorts and tank tops. On the contrary, exposed skin quickly dries even when you sweat, and then you absorb heat. You’re also vulnerable to sunburn and windburn. Instead, cover up with safe gear from head to toe and use good sunscreen on any skin that’s left exposed.
Remember that evaporation cools. So use the cooling power of water and soak your helmet liner, your headwrap, your T-shirt—it will help cool you under a jacket. Wrap a wet bandana around your neck or use a Cooldanna like this one to cool the blood that’s going to your brain via your carotid artery.
Try cooling those blue gel packs and putting them in your inside jacket pockets—or save a dime and put ice in a baggie that you’ve perforated. The perforations let the cool water out, and the more and bigger the holes, the faster the water leaks.
Keep a pressurized water mister in your bag and spray your face and neck at stops.
Remember that it takes a pint or two of cool water to stay hydrated in hot weather. And no, beer doesn’t count. You can use a water bottle or a backpack drinking system as shown here on a cooling vest, but drink, and then sip some more.
Yet, there’s no denying it: Unless you plan to ride exclusively around the Southern United States, you’ll face some chilly winters. And even before it...
