Too Hot

[DIGGER]

Been several weeks since I rode my Valkyrie.   Left the house this morning around 7:30 am.   Rode 60 miles to Sealy to my favorite breakfast place for a lot of coffee and a good breakfast.  There a while as i had to take care of some phone business.     Left there and meanderrd along my usual route that takes me a little over 200 miles thru the countryside to back home.   Half way thru it started getting really hot.  Then a while later it got unbearably hot.   I kept thinking "this is not fun".   I noticed that in 145 miles i had not seen but 3 Harleys in a group.  Not 1 more motorcycle anywhere.  Not on the roads....at service stations I passed....not in parking lots of restaurants or stores.   Not another motorcycle anywhere.....only 1 explanation fits the bill.....its just too frigging hot to be out riding.   If you do....make sure you got a couple of bottled waters with you just in case.

[Jess from VA]

I just can't take that heat.  Riding in it for long makes me feel poorly and potentially unsafe.  A few years ago, high heat and some (dental) antibiotics had me riding in a ditch next to the road.  I pulled out of that (with skill and luck), rode up a half mile, pulled off drank water and laid down for awhile and went right home.  Scared the crap out of myself too. 

I'm getting back in shape now for about 6 weeks (diet and exercise and physical work every day), but I will no longer ride (or walk or work) in high heat.  It's nice at my house at 4-8 am, most of the time.  Hot summer, I will ride out at the crack of dawn and be home at 11 or noon.

I'm sorry to say I have not done a 6-9 hour day in three years now.  I still have all my good skills as a 50 year rider.  I used to be invincible.  Not anymore.     

[f-Stop]

Yeah, it's too hot when closing the shield on the helmet feels cooler than when the shield is open!

Rode on Saturday and Sunday this past weekend.  Made it home by around 3:00pm on Saturday and 1:30pm on Sunday.  It was dang hot by 3:00 and I was covered in sweat.  1:30 was not too bad, but I was till covered in sweat.  The mornings are really nice.

I always carry waters in an insulated bag in my saddlebag.  Without the insulated bag the water gets mighty hot, mighty quick while inside the black leather saddlebags.  I don't use ice because iced water is nearly un-drinkable after being in real heat for a while.

Anyway, the key to riding (or working, or doing anything) in the heat is to stay hydrated.  That means pre-hydrating before heading out into the heat.  If you fall behind on hydration, you will not be able to catch up.

Ride safe, stay cool y'all! 

[rocketray]

SOME 2-3 YEARS HERE IN DALLAS IT WAS WELL OVER 100 AND  I HAD USUAL FULL GEAR ON--I MADE 2 FULL ON STUPID MOVES PULLING OUT IN FRONT OF CARS KNOWING NOT TO DO IT BUT DID ANYWAY...THEY BRAKED HEAVILY AND SAVED MY LIFE..I WAS JUST AWOL FOR THE HEAT..I'LL NEVER RIDE  AGAIN  MUCH OVER 95...GOD LOVES ME..