Top recommendations for staying “chill”
There’s no doubt that summer and motorcycles go hand in hand! In periods of intense heat, however, riders need to adjust their behaviour to the temperature to get the most out of their outings. Here are a few tips:
- Tweak your equipment and garments. In Québec, one single motorcycling outfit won’t be enough to see you through the season! In other words, while a black leather jacket and pants are great for the start and end of the biking season, they get mighty uncomfortable mighty quickly under the hot July sun!And while it may be tempting to head out in a short-sleeved shirt, nyet! Not a good idea. Not only will you injure yourself in the event of a fall, but you’re likely to get plummeted by flying gravel, insects and other debris. There are, luckily, pants and jackets made out of synthetic fabric - and lined in Kevlar - that offer adequate protection as well as ventilation for hot summer days.
- Preventing dehydration . On sweltering days, stop often along your route to rehydrate! Better to plan ahead than to wait until you have a headache or a heat stroke! And while riding in these conditions, avoid coffee, tea, soft drinks and of course, alcohol! Turn towards water or drinks with electrolytes, especially if you’ve been sweating a lot.If the temperature is truly unbearable, placing a wet hand towel on your neck can go a long way towards helping your body cool down.
- Choose the time and location of your ride . We recommend avoiding high-traffic areas and not hearing out during the hottest periods of the day. The last thing you want is getting stuck in a traffic jam, under a broiling sun and straddling a machine that’s also on the point of overheating!You may want to head out earlier in the morning, even if it means parking your bike for a few hours midday, to saddle up and start heading home in late afternoon. You can also fully take advantage of such pauses to discover new places or try your hand at new activities.
Good drivers know how to adapt to various conditions. The same is true for people riding a motorcycle. Putting the above advice into practice can help you further enjoy your motorcycle outings while staying safe at all times.
Happy biking season!
