After a daytrip last summer with my daughter when the temps were about 104 with very high humidity, I realized that at my age I was flirting with trouble and I needed to finds ways to protect myself while riding in summer heat. I think I have found the combination that works for me.
Back during the winter, I took the recommendation of a bunch of you and bought some LD Comfort riding underwear. I figured two sets would do it for a multi-day ride as they wash up easily in a motel sink and take up little space. Later, I also bought their helmet liner. (More on that later.)
The LD Comfort synthetic base layer is everything other owners have bragged on. They’re great. I sweat a lot and the LD stuff wicks away the moisture very well. Let me add my recommendation to that of others.
Next was a Macna cooling vest. I just updated my review thread on the Macna . Bottom line is that though the vest won’t keep you as cool as an air-conditioned cage, it will keep you a little cooler even in high humidity and help lower your core temperature. I recommend it.
I also needed a better way to stay hydrated. I’ve resisted having a tank bag for some time, but now that I have one (the Bags-Connection Day Pack from Twisted Throttle ) I keep a bottle of drinking water in it, as well as a smaller bottle of water for the cooling vest. I can pull out the drinking water while riding (though I usually stop to drink) and the system works well. I find I am much better hydrated than only drinking at fueling stops. This may be TMI, but I used to pee bright orange after a trip – that’s a bad sign that I wasn’t drinking enough water. That’s no longer the case.
Above, I mentioned the LD Comfort helmet liner – and I love it. But, I also purchased a new helmet and I can’t tell if the improvement is because of the helmet or the helmet liner or both.
I used to have a totally soaked head when I got home from any summer ride – even a commute home. The LD liner is nothing more than a do-rag made from the same synthetic material as the LD Comfort underwear. It works – and works well. My helmet liner is no longer soaked – in fact, even after a 6 ? hour ride yesterday in mid to high 90 temps with high humidity, it was no more than damp when I got home.
But, I had an unexpected benefit from my new helmet. I used to wear a Nolan N90 and have been very happy with it, but it was getting a big long in the tooth and showing its age. I bought a Shoei Neotech as my new lid – and was very surprised at the huge difference in ventilation. Wow! I can actually feel the difference when I open/close the vent. Between the Neotech and the LD Comfort do-rag, my head is much cooler.
It used to be that I was very tired after a long ride in the south Texas summer heat, but last night after returning from Houston, I enjoyed dinner with the wife and watched a couple more episodes of Breaking Bad on the tube. Nice way to end the day.
Back during the winter, I took the recommendation of a bunch of you and bought some LD Comfort riding underwear. I figured two sets would do it for a multi-day ride as they wash up easily in a motel sink and take up little space. Later, I also bought their helmet liner. (More on that later.)
The LD Comfort synthetic base layer is everything other owners have bragged on. They’re great. I sweat a lot and the LD stuff wicks away the moisture very well. Let me add my recommendation to that of others.
Next was a Macna cooling vest. I just updated my review thread on the Macna . Bottom line is that though the vest won’t keep you as cool as an air-conditioned cage, it will keep you a little cooler even in high humidity and help lower your core temperature. I recommend it.
I also needed a better way to stay hydrated. I’ve resisted having a tank bag for some time, but now that I have one (the Bags-Connection Day Pack from Twisted Throttle ) I keep a bottle of drinking water in it, as well as a smaller bottle of water for the cooling vest. I can pull out the drinking water while riding (though I usually stop to drink) and the system works well. I find I am much better hydrated than only drinking at fueling stops. This may be TMI, but I used to pee bright orange after a trip – that’s a bad sign that I wasn’t drinking enough water. That’s no longer the case.
Above, I mentioned the LD Comfort helmet liner – and I love it. But, I also purchased a new helmet and I can’t tell if the improvement is because of the helmet or the helmet liner or both.
I used to have a totally soaked head when I got home from any summer ride – even a commute home. The LD liner is nothing more than a do-rag made from the same synthetic material as the LD Comfort underwear. It works – and works well. My helmet liner is no longer soaked – in fact, even after a 6 ? hour ride yesterday in mid to high 90 temps with high humidity, it was no more than damp when I got home.
But, I had an unexpected benefit from my new helmet. I used to wear a Nolan N90 and have been very happy with it, but it was getting a big long in the tooth and showing its age. I bought a Shoei Neotech as my new lid – and was very surprised at the huge difference in ventilation. Wow! I can actually feel the difference when I open/close the vent. Between the Neotech and the LD Comfort do-rag, my head is much cooler.
It used to be that I was very tired after a long ride in the south Texas summer heat, but last night after returning from Houston, I enjoyed dinner with the wife and watched a couple more episodes of Breaking Bad on the tube. Nice way to end the day.
