Las Vegas in August

[jdp]

I have to ride from Maryland to Las Vegas in August, with the heat factor which route should I take? I was thinking interstate 70 might not be as hot as the southern way. I don't want to go to far north because I'm headed to Yellowstone and the Dakotas on the way back home.

[DirtyDan]

My first rule now a days is Plan to be flexible. Adjust route as needed for rain and temp

dan

[MP]

I-70 will be cooler.  It will be HOT anywhere near Vegas.  What we do when riding in those areas, is start out EARLY, maybe 4 or 5 AM.  Usually one can go til noon or so.  Then, we stop, get a motel, and cool off.

[Valkorado]

In a dry heat, those evaporative cooling vests work pretty well for about an hour per wetting.  I use one on my summertime trips to the desert.  You'll know when that hour is winding down, and will look forward to the next soaking.

[Pete]

In August even I-70 can be hot so plan on it.
I have done I-70 several times in August and it was hot in the plains states every time.
So much so that we did about half of it at night several times.

[bassman]

I use to use two of this type of product......wear one and carry other in a baggie filled with ice....rotate every 60-90 minutes and top off bag of ice as needed.  Not perfect but it did provide me with some relief and cheap.

http://www.amazon.com/Hot-Headz-Varied-Colors-Prints/dp/B000HARK4W/ref=pd_srecs_cs_200_2?ie=UTF8&dpID=61E9kl74cAL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL225_SR153%2C225_&refRID=1334DB07HJJCZ1G9RK3G

Good luck in August ! Stay hydrated too.

[Jess from VA]

If the temps are way up, and you are simply making distance on the freeways, ride at night and sleep in the day. 

If riding days, have an old fashioned drink cooler on the rear seat full of ice and water with a cut up lemon, with a drink hose clipped over your shoulder.

[RDAbull]

I try to avoid Interstates when it is hot.  The last time I ran west in the summer I took Highway 36 from Indiana to Denver.  More open space less concrete to hold heat and it's a good road.  The I/S from Denver to Vegas, not much choice.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I try to avoid Interstates when it is hot.  The last time I ran west in the summer I took Highway 36 from Indiana to Denver.  More open space less concrete to hold heat and it's a good road.  The I/S from Denver to Vegas, not much choice.

Actually from Denver to Vegas there are a couple of good choices. But they will be hot. Arches and Monument Valley is pretty neat. Million Dollar Hiway is also. I ride year round here but there is no getting around it ITS FREAKING HOT. I have been using a sweat shirt soaking wet under a full mesh jacket. A big ice tea in a styrofoam cup is a must also.

[..]

How long do you have for the trip?

[Oss]

50 across colorado can be cooler than 70   Think Monarch pass is the one on 50.  It is cooler at 10000ft

From Montrose turn left and enjoy 550 its one of the best rides in the USA  I am pretty sure 160 will take you into 15 which goes to Vegas

As for I 70 in Colorado, the desert west say half an hour from Vail to Grand Junction and down to Montrose will get triple digits on you  You will bake from the road heat for sure. Now there is a cool diner in Rifle if you are a gun guy, but the heat to me is not worth the detour

I put ice in gallon zip lock bag inside a small collapsable  cooler and my doo rag is in there as well as my evaporative vest. At gas stops I put the zip lock ice bag inside my helmet for the 5 minutes it takes to gas up and use the bathroom.

My motto is you never get un tired once you are dehydrated. So plan accordingly  Start riding early as you can see safely.

[..]

Small frequent drinks rather than occasional big gulps. If you are drinking and not peeing you need to drink more. Pee should be a pale straw color. A dark color can be an indicator of dehydration.

Keep away from coffee and tea. Caffeine will dehydrate you.

[Slvrvalk1]

I have ridden through the Vegas area in high heat several times.  I put a Camelback bladder in a tank bag  and pull out the hose to drink so that I can drink frequently while riding.  You can slide the hose back into the tank bag very easily while riding.  When you stop for gas, drink Gatorade (or I eat salted peanuts) occasionally in addition to the water to make sure you maintain your electrolytes.

Dave

[The emperor has no clothes]

I have ridden through the Vegas area in high heat several times.  I put a Camelback bladder in a tank bag  and pull out the hose to drink so that I can drink frequently while riding.  You can slide the hose back into the tank bag very easily while riding.  When you stop for gas, drink Gatorade (or I eat salted peanuts) occasionally in addition to the water to make sure you maintain your electrolytes.

Dave

One of our members from Phoenix (Ron) uses one all the time. I think he clips the hose to his jacket. I had one for a while but didn't really like it, it got warm really quick. I think I'll check into an insulated bag for it.

[Red Diamond]

I use a Camelbak in hot weather riding, fill with cold water and ice the first time, just add if after that, always had cold water. Mine is 52 ounce size, keeps it cold for quite a while.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I use a Camelbak in hot weather riding, fill with cold water and ice the first time, just add if after that, always had cold water. Mine is 52 ounce size, keeps it cold for quite a while.

Eli, I don't remember the size I have. But I was commuting about an hour each way to work. Didn't need it in the morning, would drink coffee on the way in. But coming home at 120* plus it was warm half way home. I found the big styrofoam cups would stay cold all the way. I'm going to check on insulating it some way. 

[Black Pearl's Captain]

Go whichever way you want to see the most. High pressure sets up every August right about the Oklahoma panhandle. The temp's won't vary 5 degrees from Houston to Sioux City. You already know the rockies will be cool but that only last 300 miles any route.

Across Utah to Vegas will be 100-110. Seligman to Vegas will be the same.

If you're just trying to get to Vegas I'd choose the route you want to see the most and know it will be hot west of the Rockies. If you're trying to site see a bit I'd ride I90-I80 to Denver and then across CO and Utah.

[sandy]

Wear a mesh jacket to keep the sun off your skin. I use a 100 oz Camelback and drink every 1- 20 miles. Big gulps, not little sips. The color of pee test is a good idea. If you develop a headache, it's too late. Rest and drink electrolytes and stay cool for a while.

OH and friendly waitresses at lunch will add ice and water to the Camelback. An extra $ is a nice way of saying thanks.

[jdp]

Thanks for the information on different roads and hot weather gear, I just picked up one of those vest that you soak in water, maybe I should get two, also picked up a camel back pack, I'll get a mesh jacket too, I have until August to get all this stuff together, I have all the time I need getting out to Vegas and after I pick up my wife we will have 2 weeks to get back out to the east coast, planing to leave Vegas and go north to the Tetons,Yellowstone,then all the places going threw sturgis, depending on how it goes I would like to hit that motorcycle me used in Iowa then AMA hall of fame in Ohio, well thanks guys and I'll let you know how it goes with the heat and everything, I have a feeling I'll be dropping my wife off at an airport somewhere along the way, hope the old girl makes it all the way.

[scooperhsd]

Riding out there in the summer is an EXERCISE in HOT ! However, riding at least gets you in a breeze (try driving in a car that the airconditioner has failed for another exercise in heat exhaustion (BTDT)).

All these posts are good information, especially the one about not peeing enough - KEEP HYDRATED ! However - avoid intoxicating beverages - they just dehydrate you even more.

Riding day or night - personal preference. You might find it advantageous to ride early in the morning and late in the evening, and find something cool to do  during the hottest part of the afternoon.

You also need to be concerned about sunburn. It may look funky to be wearing long sleeves - but your skin will thank you (skin moisturizer might be a good idea also).

[The emperor has no clothes]

Riding out there in the summer is an EXERCISE in HOT ! However, riding at least gets you in a breeze (try driving in a car that the airconditioner has failed for another exercise in heat exhaustion (BTDT)).

All these posts are good information, especially the one about not peeing enough - KEEP HYDRATED ! However - avoid intoxicating beverages - they just dehydrate you even more.

Riding day or night - personal preference. You might find it advantageous to ride early in the morning and late in the evening, and find something cool to do  during the hottest part of the afternoon.

You also need to be concerned about sunburn. It may look funky to be wearing long sleeves - but your skin will thank you (skin moisturizer might be a good idea also).

When we do trips here in the summer we always leave here at 3 or 4 AM. Usually that gets us to the mountains or the coast before the brutal temps come out. Don't really have to worry too much about animals at night like other places. Might have a few rabbits or a coyote, that's about it.

[RP#62]

Riding out there in the summer is an EXERCISE in HOT ! However, riding at least gets you in a breeze (try driving in a car that the airconditioner has failed for another exercise in heat exhaustion (BTDT)).

All these posts are good information, especially the one about not peeing enough - KEEP HYDRATED ! However - avoid intoxicating beverages - they just dehydrate you even more.

Riding day or night - personal preference. You might find it advantageous to ride early in the morning and late in the evening, and find something cool to do  during the hottest part of the afternoon.

You also need to be concerned about sunburn. It may look funky to be wearing long sleeves - but your skin will thank you (skin moisturizer might be a good idea also).

I've found that above 108°, you're cooler if you're not moving.  It's like riding into a blow dryer.  My wife, Sandy, Michael K and I were coming back to Phoenix from a Colorado InZane one year and it was 95° up on the rim.  When we dropped down into the valley, it went to 116° in about 10 minutes.  I stopped a couple of times at fast food places and soaked my T shirt in water and walked out with it dripping wet.  Ten minutes on the road and it was bone dry again.  The last 20 minutes of the ride seemed like it took all day.

-RP

[scooperhsd]

I grew up out in the middle of Kansas - It's hot and dry in August. Even riding from Hutchinson to Lawrence (3.5 hours at that time) was a chore - I'd usually stop in Emporia for fluids.

My car trip - The wife and me took a trip to KC / Hutchinson to see family, then we had a get together on the western coast of Lower Michigan with friends. Stayed overnight with my brother in Bloomington - next day - we discovered the A/C had died (and worse - they couldn't repair it that day) - so we drove on to the get together, then when that was finished - we drove to Dayton OH to stay with one of her aunt and uncle, then back to NC. I'd say we drove over 700 miles without A/C over that Labor Day weekend...

[The emperor has no clothes]

We are starting to sound like a bunch of little cats. It wasn't that long ago that nobody had air conditioning. And those poor bastards going west on horses would be rolling with laughter at us. 

[desertrefugee]

I'm guessing that they had the good sense not to do serious traveling during Summer months.

...at least I hope they did.  (They might have been tough, but they were still human).

[hubcapsc]

I'm guessing that they had the good sense not to do serious traveling during Summer months.

...at least I hope they did.  (They might have been tough, but they were still human).

And I think great gobs of them died... 

-Mike

[john]

"  it was 95° up on the rim.  When we dropped down into the valley, it went to 116° in about 10 minutes." .... he ain't lying ... wet yer self down at these tempatures ....       ???          

[jdp]

I know it's going to be hot but I took everyone's advise and bought a camel back, cool vest to soak in water, a mesh jacket, and plan on riding early in the AM, this in not until August but I can't wait, it's going to be a blast, thanks for the advise.