Keeping cool while riding.... What do you use?

FGR01
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FGR01 6/25/2012 10:06pm
6/25/2012 10:06pm
There is nothing like racing in Arizona in the summer. At a race in Tucson this past Saturday night it was 106 when we started practice at 5pm and it was still 98 when I loaded up at 10:30 pm. But it's a dry heat...... like an oven!!!!!
CR250Rider
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CR250Rider 6/25/2012 10:33pm
6/25/2012 10:33pm Edited Date/Time 6/25/2012 10:35pm
Shorts with knee pads on looks goofy, but when it's really hot the difference is night and day

Take your helmet off as soon as you stop, put it back on last..... a ton of heat get trapped in there !
Keep moving
find shade

lastly, get used to it
Bulldog Racing 6/25/2012 10:50pm
6/25/2012 10:50pm
Just got my August Racer X in and there is a good article in the "Motocross Fitness handbook" section written by
Charles Dao.

He say's drink 17-20oz of water two hour prior to your race, then another 16oz 30 minutes prior to the gate drop.

Weigh yourself before and after you ride and consume 2 cups of fluid for every pound lost. (Never heard that one)

He recomends getting acclimated to the environment 2 weeks prior to the race if possible.

Using a tube of ice to lower your core temp.
mxjeff575
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mxjeff575 6/26/2012 6:22pm
6/26/2012 6:22pm
I second the Klim F-4 suggestion. I was amazed how much cooler I stay with that helmet. Anything above 85F, my Shoei stays on the shelf and I wear the Klim. It is amazing how much heat your head holds in, and that helmet vents so much better than any other helmet I have tried.

The Shop

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E-man811
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E-man811 6/26/2012 6:55pm
6/26/2012 6:55pm
neverwas wrote:
This helmet flows lots of air over your head.they also make the most durable riding gear available.
http://www.klim.com/en-us/shop/moto/3206-182
Thank you so much for the Klim recommendation. I spent 3-4 hours since last night researching Klim's gear and this F4 Helmet specifically. Huge upgrades for 2012 including an improved fit. the older ones were a bit round.

I bought one today. It's so weird looking inside a helmet and seeing daylight come through the top of it. I can't wait to ride with it. It's DOT and Snell 2010 and weighs that same as the other top brands. I also bought the Shoei VFX-W for when the temps are below 80.

I also bought a pair of Klim Baja vented pants. Unbelievable how much air they will flow.
TeamGrnRacer99 6/27/2012 11:05am
6/27/2012 11:05am
Pedialyte !!!! the stuff works awesome i go through 2 bottles on a race day . drinking lots of water 2 or 3 days b4 a race is useless. it just makes u piss more.
i have friends that climb in a garbage can full of ice water prior to their moto. apparently one of them saw Allessi do it ???
keeps your core temp down. i tried the EVS warm weather under jersey and the Alpinestar version that u soke in cold water. it worked while i was in staging but by the time i was on the gate it didn't do shit. i keep my lid off till we fire up the bikes.
then drink my last gulp of H2o when the 2 minute card is up. and light colored hear helps as well.
Cajun Kamakazee
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Cajun Kamakazee 6/27/2012 11:20am
6/27/2012 11:20am Edited Date/Time 6/27/2012 11:24am
FGR01 wrote:
There is nothing like racing in Arizona in the summer. At a race in Tucson this past Saturday night it was 106 when we started practice...
There is nothing like racing in Arizona in the summer. At a race in Tucson this past Saturday night it was 106 when we started practice at 5pm and it was still 98 when I loaded up at 10:30 pm. But it's a dry heat...... like an oven!!!!!
And Pima has goose eggs for shade if that is where you are talking about... practicing during the day is ridiculous out there in the summer
Moto_Geek
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Moto_Geek 6/27/2012 11:20am
6/27/2012 11:20am Edited Date/Time 6/27/2012 11:21am
There is alot of technology out now.. Best I've seen so far is the cooling vest. This technology was originally developed for our troops in the hot gulf war.

here is the guarments
http://www.texascoolvest.com


hybrid

http://www.veskimo.com/liquid-cooled-microclimate-vest.html?source=goog…
RbR
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RbR 6/27/2012 11:58am
6/27/2012 11:58am
DDub8 wrote:
I tried one of the cool vests that has the gel inserts that get to about 60 degrees when you put them in an ice chest...
I tried one of the cool vests that has the gel inserts that get to about 60 degrees when you put them in an ice chest. It's certainly heavier and bulkier but it worked great and they're designed to lose their "charge" over a period of 2 hours or so. It kept me relatively cool during a 1 hour hare scramble race when it was 98 degrees with humidity around 50%.

They're not cheap but a good option if you're doing longer rides.
I have a couple of these vest as well and I agree that they work pretty good. Bought them at LLs last year. Not sure what the gel is made of, but it 'freezes' solid at about 50 degrees. I leave them in a bin in the garage and am amazed to see these things frozed solid each morning during the spring and fall months. They cool for about two hours once they are properly chilled.
Titan1
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Titan1 6/27/2012 1:04pm
6/27/2012 1:04pm
I'm not sure how to keep "coo" while riding...other than not riding in hot weather. But on the staying hydrated topic, I'll second the pedialite recommendation!

For the hot desert races out here (mid summer races are always high 90's, low 100's) I put a pedialite/gatorade mix in my camelback....when I start feeling myself "bonk", I'll start sucking that stuff down, and I can literally feel myself return to normal. Way way way way way better than just water. (though I do drink water before and after races...usually a gatorade right after a race though).

Otherwise, it's hydrating before the race...keeping the helmet off until its time to go...vented gear is helpful (especially out here where its not humid, if you can keep air moving over your body you don't overheat)...and just plain getting used to riding in hot temps (this makes a huge difference-likely mental).
peelout
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peelout 6/27/2012 1:18pm
6/27/2012 1:18pm
this is what i use mainly, the cool thing is it interchanges from my yz250 to my quad and mountain bikes

that way i can carry just under a 12 case on ice and get a nice buzz on the trails

neverwas
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neverwas 6/27/2012 1:28pm
6/27/2012 1:28pm
neverwas wrote:
This helmet flows lots of air over your head.they also make the most durable riding gear available.
http://www.klim.com/en-us/shop/moto/3206-182
E-man811 wrote:
Thank you so much for the Klim recommendation. I spent 3-4 hours since last night researching Klim's gear and this F4 Helmet specifically. Huge upgrades for...
Thank you so much for the Klim recommendation. I spent 3-4 hours since last night researching Klim's gear and this F4 Helmet specifically. Huge upgrades for 2012 including an improved fit. the older ones were a bit round.

I bought one today. It's so weird looking inside a helmet and seeing daylight come through the top of it. I can't wait to ride with it. It's DOT and Snell 2010 and weighs that same as the other top brands. I also bought the Shoei VFX-W for when the temps are below 80.

I also bought a pair of Klim Baja vented pants. Unbelievable how much air they will flow.
Your more than welcome.
You are going to be amazed at the amount of air that helmet flows and the pants are top notch and as cool as any you can buy.
And as FGR01 knows AZ heat this time of year can be brutal and cool riding gear along with some of the suggestions in this thread
will serve you well.
gotwings
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gotwings 6/27/2012 1:42pm
6/27/2012 1:42pm Edited Date/Time 6/27/2012 1:49pm
jamma10 wrote:
[img]http://photos.imageevent.com/motorbiker/newspics/NakedMotocross.jpg[/img]
^Rare shot of the "Two strokes Taliban", at their to secret riding spot!!!^

But seriously, the 661 evap core cooler really works, and keeps the sun from beating on your shoulders while waiting at the gate!
orangecrush
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orangecrush 6/27/2012 4:08pm
6/27/2012 4:08pm
E-man811 wrote:
I need to research everything possible to help me with keeping my core temperature down while riding and between motos. I've heat exhausted myself enough times...
I need to research everything possible to help me with keeping my core temperature down while riding and between motos.
I've heat exhausted myself enough times that my temperature regulation system is just about kaput.

I use a separate ice chest for cold towels.
I take my boots off after every moto and put my feet on bags of ice
Stay in the shade
Wear a vented Jersey
I have tried evaporative vests while riding but they seem to hold more heat in than cool

I'm looking into replacing my old Shoei VFX-R with a new VFX-W for it's venting

What do you use?

What are the best vented pants, gloves, helmet, chest protector?
Any cooling vests that work?

Thanks.
You need to get a camel back and freeze it, then tape the hose to your helmet so that you can easily get your mouth to it. When you suck in that ice cold water, you'll swear that you'll just landed in heaven.

I've used this method in 110 heat of the desert and it's probably the best thing you can use when riding as it's always available to you. Everything won't be working after 10 minutes in the heat.

Allessi used to ride the Nationals with one on for a few years.
machine
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machine 6/27/2012 7:04pm
6/27/2012 7:04pm
peelout wrote:
this is what i use mainly, the cool thing is it interchanges from my yz250 to my quad and mountain bikes that way i can carry...
this is what i use mainly, the cool thing is it interchanges from my yz250 to my quad and mountain bikes

that way i can carry just under a 12 case on ice and get a nice buzz on the trails

Some say a few beers makes them ride more "relaxed". Same with the weed smokers..lol

Pit Row

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