Fighting Extreme Heat while You Ride

With the arrival of clearer skies, every rider's been taking advantage of the warmer weather by hitting the road and enjoying the sun. There's no better time than a moderately warm day to take your motorcycle out for a nice cruise, but sometimes, especially here in Florida, the heat can get pretty unbearable. Many of us ride through it anyway, but as it gets extremely hot, the risk of injury gets higher and higher. If you don't drink water, dehydration will set in, and not taking care of yourself can lead to heat exhaustion and even heat stroke. All of these could have detrimental consequences, so it's very important to prepare properly so you stay safe while riding in hot weather. We'll talk about a few tips here, and our experts at Cycles Of Jacksonville are always here to talk if you have any further questions. We also sell motorcycle gear that helps keep you cool, so stop by our dealership anytime in Jacksonville, near St. Augustine and Orlando, Florida.

Dressing for the Heat

In everyday street clothes, you probably wear shorts and a t-shirt to keep cool. While this works just fine on foot, there are several issues with this type of apparel when riding a motorcycle. First of all, if you wind up laying your bike down at any point, you'll have almost no protection from road rash or other injury when wearing short sleeves. Also, when your skin's directly exposed to the sunlight, it can actually heat your body up much faster. Not to mention, you're just asking for a sunburn when you leave your skin exposed. Instead, you should opt for a long sleeve shirt and pants. It seems counterintuitive, but the extra cover blocks sun from reaching your body directly, which helps keep you a little cooler. Basic apparel can work for this, but we recommend getting specific riding gear, especially for the warmer months. You can choose a riding jacket that's designed for optimal ventilation, and the extra padding in these clothes helps prevent road rash in case of an accident. Riding pants are also good, as they'll keep your legs from getting burnt by the exhaust, which obviously gets very hot.

Increase Your Fluid Intake

One of the leading causes of heat exhaustion and heat stroke is dehydration. This applies everywhere, but especially when you're on a bike, it's extremely important to keep your fluid intake up. Riding, after all, is a very physical activity, and depending on the length of your trip, it puts you in contact with the sun for long periods of time. We suggest bringing along several bottles of water and taking a break at least every half an hour to get a drink. Remember that, when you start feeling thirsty, you're already getting dehydrated. This means that you need to drink your fluids before you start feeling thirsty in the first place. You should also bring along something to replenish your electrolytes, such as sport drinks, but avoid soda or anything with too much sugar.

Pay Attention to Warning Signs

Finally, even when you dress right and stay hydrated, you still need to pay attention to your body while riding a motorcycle in hot weather. If you start feeling really overheated, make sure to take a break and get some fresh, cold liquid to drink. Overall, we recommend taking a break at least every hour, and more if you need to. This is good for both you and your bike, as motorcycles can get overheated when you ride them for too long in the hot weather too. Finally, if you ever notice yourself getting dizzy, nauseous, or have any other signs of heat exhaustion, pull over immediately so you can get cooled off. Heat stroke is too dangerous to mess around with, so make sure you're always paying attention to the warning signs and resolving them before they become a problem.

We want every rider to keep cool and safe during the warmer months, so use these tips to make yourself more comfortable the next time you hit the road. If you have any additional questions, don't hesitate to come ask us at Cycles Of Jacksonville in Jacksonville, near St. Augustine and Orlando, Florida.