10 Hot Weather
Riding Myths - BUSTED
 Myth #1: When it's really
hot it's too uncomfortable to ride
Initially this myth holds some truth. If you're not up to speed on ways to
cool your body down you may be thinking that there is reality to this.
Especially if you're one of those people whose on-board thermostat (the
thyroid) just does do well in the hot sun. But as you read on you may learn a
tip or two that will actually make hot summer riding fun for you.
Myth #2: Mesh
gear will keep you cooler
To a degree, or should we say a few degrees, mesh gear will provide some
relief from the heat. Up into the 80's for most people. But keep in mind that
your thyroid is attempting to regulate your body temperature at 98.6 degrees.
Riding into a wall of 90 degree plus air won't provide any cool options with
which your thyroid can work with. At about 90 degrees or higher you'll need
some skin surface moisture and some air. Lots of air and no skin surface
moisture is a recipe for dehydration and sun stroke. But as you ride with
mesh gear on your body, the air is quickly wicking away any moisture coming
to the surface of the skin which will leave you dry and hot. Read on.
Myth #3: When
it's really hot strip down to shorts and a sleeveless t-shirt
You see it all the time, but this is a faster route to dehydration and sun
stroke than number three, not to mention sun damage to your skin which you
may have to deal with later in life at the skin cancer center. Keep as much
of your skin covered when you ride to reduce sun damage, road rash and stay
cooler. Some may ask - "How can that be?" Keep reading.
Myth #4: Full
textile and leather gear is too hot on hot days
Well built textile and leather gear with good venting provides the right
amount of airflow to pass over your perspiring skin and offers some natural
evaporative cooling. Moisture is released through the surface of your skin
and transfers excess heat away via the airflow. That's the way mother nature
built the human body. With full coverage gear you won't wick all that
moisture away like you would in shorts, a t-shirt or mesh gear. But there's
another way to increase your evaporative cooling ability which we will
discuss in #6.
 Myth #5: Textile over-pants
were made to be worn over - PANTS
Most riders that wear textile over-pants do so with a pair of pants
underneath. The stuffy pair of blue jeans or otherwise can make wearing
over-pants a little uncomfortable and provide too much insulation at a time
when you don't want it. To remedy this simply wear nothing but a pair of
wicking skins and over-the-calf socks and notice how much more mobility you
have and how much better you feel when the heat comes on.
 Myth #6: A wet neck tie does wonders to cool me down
The hottest part of your body is your core. From there main arteries head
for your arms, legs and brain. Wearing a cool tie or otherwise only partially
cools down the arteries going to your brain. If your core is overheated then
the blood moving to all your extremities is overheated. You need relief at
the core, not the neck. An evaporative cooling vest with a nominal amount of
airflow will assist your thyroid and body with keeping your blood at a far
more acceptable temperature than a wet neck tie and your whole body will love
you for it.
Myth #7: You can
never drink enough water
While it's true you need to keep water intake steady through the day it is
indeed possible to drink too much. If every time you pee your urine is clear
like water, you may have peed out all your electrolytes and you're now on the
verge of the same symptoms as sun stroke bundled with organ damage. Keep the
water flowing through out the day in reasonable amounts, but refrain from
drinking a few liters of water every hour.
 Myth #8: A baseball cap is
all I need on my head when I take off my helmet
Imagine you're riding through Death Valley. It's 116 degrees and you get a
flat tire. You have the tools on board to fix it but it's going to take 20-30
minutes to do so. With just a baseball cap you still have your ears and neck
exposed to the sun. They little a little fogy-like but it's best to carry a
full brimmed hat that was designed to be worn in hot sun.
 Myth #9: Gatorade and energy drinks provide the proper
hydration and electrolytes my body needs to ride in the hot sun. The sport
drink commercials said so.
Gatorade and energy drinks are loaded with sugar and caffeine, which is
essentially an oxymoronic recipe that backfires when it comes to hydration
since these two ingredients promote dehydration. If you're looking to
increase your intake of electrolytes us an electrolyte additive and mix it
with your water, juice, diet soda or any other beverage you like.
 Myth #10: I can't use sunscreen when I ride because it burns
my eyes
There are various types of sunscreen on the market today. Many utilize all
sorts of chemicals to block the sun's UV rays and keep the product affixed to
your skin. And amidst all this chemistry lie certain ingredients that burn
the eyes if they get in there via sweating or just using your finger to try
and clear your eye of dirt. Look for sunscreens that have few ingredients yet
yield a high SPF rating and then test a few out.
|
