Modern Vespa

Time for the annual (heck, more like three times per year) question about heat. It is about 100 here in the Midwest U.S.A., including the Heat Index, which is heat plus humidity. Looking at the U.S. map, it is about 100 degrees everywhere. Are you peeps still riding? What precautions do you take so as not to burn your behinds and sweat your heads off?

My office is in the middle of the Negev Desert. 40-45C (98-115F) is typical here all summer (but it's a dry heat!).

I make sure to take roads that are wide open and the wind keeps me from cooking inside my gear.

If I was doing city driving with lots of lights and stop-and-go traffic, I'd have to reconsider it.

It's between 25 and 30 degrees C in the UK at the moment and that's plenty warm enough for me. No problems at all on a free flowing road, but if you get stuck in traffic things soon warm up.

Never had a problem riding in the city in very high temperatures. I try to park my scooter in the shade, to the extent that it's possible, but I've never thought it was too hot to ride.

Brendan

I find that mid afternoon country rides (with sheepskin on the seat) can be cooler than staying home.
Just try to avoid intersections with long traffic lights and make sure to have lots of frozen water bottles along.

I like to take morning rides,,,between 6 and 9am.
The coolness of the morning before oppressive heat.

Yes. I still ride. And a Frogg Togg Chilly Pad makes all the difference 8)

One solution is the "Veskimo" system. It has a vest through which ice water is pumped; one can get chills while riding in 106°F while wearing a thin jacket, which is required to keep the heat out.

The "Iron Butt Association" has an excellent article posted on their website, dealing with riding in extreme heat.

I still ride. But I wont ride someplace where I need to look somewhat decent. I rode down do some shopping at Nordstroms and as soon as I got inside the sweat just started pouring off me. Within 15 minutes I was as wet as if I had jumped in a pool. It was embarrassing.

It is usually blistering hot with 100% humidity at this time of year in Southern Ontario, but lately I have been thinking of building an Ark.

Toronto just got hit with some fairly serious flooding last night, and more rain is expected today and tomorrow. Rain gear is the clothing of the day for me.

Utah is in the high 90s and triple digits depending on the clouds and possible rain chances. Humidity is not even a word in our Utah vocabulary. Even on a heavy rain!

We still ride our Vespa, and our bicycles. With movement you don't seem to notice it. Stopping you do. We try to head out a little earlier. Sunscreen is a must! Even on faces that are covered with clear visors.

It was 118° in Phoenix last week, thank the gods I had my evaporative vest. They work well here until the monsoons start.

Trepp, do you wear any cooling gear in the summertime? I don't know how well I would do at 110° on as long a commute as you seem to have.

I did ride in the heat in west Texas, on longer rides I took an evaporative necklace and a camelbak. Worked for me!

For part of our trip to AmeriaVespa were rode in the extreme heat in central and souther CA (up to 113 degrees). We used Blu Bandoos that soak up with water, expanding and wrap around your neck. http://blubandoo.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=72&osCsid=v68i31bqed6841alulbml06fp1

Worked very well for us.

For my iron butt I bought one of those vests and bandanas that can be soaked in what and the little gel beads inside hold onto a lot of it and the evaporation is supposed to cool you as you ride.

I didn't notice any such effect. They did lighten my wallet considerably, so there's that.

All I use for my commute in the summer is my Corazzo jacket which has a mesh stripe that goes all the way around the upper chest and back. As I ride, a solid stream of air is forced inside the jacket and is very effective in cooling me off.

Like I said, if any of my commute required me to sit in traffic or wait at lights, I'd probably reconsider it.