Hot Weather Riding

[530ktm]

I left this morning and it was about 83 but I knew it would be hotter as the day moved on. I started with my mesh jacket and all my LD riding gear. I moved along and ended up in the Arrowhead area and stopped for a cold one and the entire ride was very comfortable. When I got down the hill it was hot so I pulled over and put on my Tourmaster Textile Jacket and wet my sleeves on my LD shirt and closed up the vents as I have learned about from Bubba and others. This is the first time for me to try this method and it worked, sort of. The problem I had was the velcro on my gloves keeps catching the sleeve of the jacket and prevents it from staying open. I did not wet the sleeves to the soaking point but I was fairly comfortable for a good 45 minutes until I got home and it was 95 in my back yard so I am sure it was warmer on the freeway. I have in the past completely drenched my shirt and put it on under my mesh jacket and that works great too except it dries up rather quickly when it is 100. I am going to try and use my dirt bike gloves next time as they are a lot less bulky and no velcro to interfere. Anyone have any thoughts or experience with this?

[Hammer]

I also use the tourmaster zipped up but have all the vents open. I soak the ld and also use a scarf that is full of beads that absorb water and stay wet for a couple of hours around my neck even though they are exposed to the wind, at a stop i soak the scarf in ice water till ready to go... Nice ..the forestry fire fighters all use them in Canada Occasionally I unzip and pour water from my cup down the jacket front and zip up .. This works for me

[530ktm]

I also use the tourmaster zipped up but have all the vents open. I soak the ld and also use a scarf that is full of beads that absorb water and stay wet for a couple of hours around my neck even though they are exposed to the wind, at a stop i soak the scarf in ice water till ready to go... Nice ..the forestry fire fighters all use them in Canada Occasionally I unzip and pour water from my cup down the jacket front and zip up .. This works for me

I need to give that a try as I was told to close all vents. I think if I open the back it may help let air go up the sleeves. Thanks for the tip.

[Cruiseman]

If it is really hot, I use my Veskimo Personal Cooling System, nothing beats the ice water running through the vest. However, I love my new Twisted Core long-sleeve t-shirt and under garments. The LDComfort helmet liner is a must. I like the LDComfort t-shirt, but it causes chafing under my arms.

[glarson3]

I need to give that a try as I was told to close all vents. I think if I open the back it may help let air go up the sleeves. Thanks for the tip.

You don't want to close all of the vents on your jacket. You want to open a little so that air can get in, and get out a little bit. I find I can open up the sleeves, and open up the upper vents on the jacket near the shoulders, and adjust it until I get the right amount of air flow. Last time I had a chance to use my LDComfort, it was 106 going to Mesquite, NV, and I was almost chilled while riding like that for about 2 hours.

[USNRider]

If it is really hot, I use my Veskimo Personal Cooling System, nothing beats the ice water running through the vest. However, I love my new Twisted Core long-sleeve t-shirt and under garments. The LDComfort helmet liner is a must. I like the LDComfort t-shirt, but it causes chafing under my arms.

I've never had a chafing problem, is your LDcomfort shirt the short sleeve version? I only ask since I have the long sleeve. If I've ever had a complaint about the LDcomfort stuff its that the water soaks in, but it doesn't hold it like a sponge per se. So when I walk out of the gas station restroom and go to the bike I'm usually dripping water out of my sleeves. I recently tried a friends cooling vest and it was a great addition on top of the LD shirt. The cooling vest holds water great but still allows it to seep onto your shirt so its a much longer soak time when you combine the two in really hot weather.

[Rick S]

I have the LD sleeves and bought my wife some. I use a textile jacket and open the sleeves and then control the flow by how much I put my hands into,the wind. I do not open any vents and can control the flow by how tight the neck is closed. It really makes ridding better in Oklahoma. I got my wife some and she was resistant at first but she now believes in them.