This may be a dumb question, but is it feasible to ride across Nevada (Hwy 50, from Ely to Reno) in late June, or will it simply be too hot to be safe? I'm assuming an early start (dawn), with the intention of arriving in Reno in early afternoon.

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The earlier the better and cooling vests are very much worth the money.
Mike

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2007 Blue DL650 V-Strom - running out of farkle's to do so bought the VEE
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2007 Suzuki M-50 (wifes)
Las Vegas, NV

Would a wet t-shirt and bandana inside my vented [and uninsulated] Aerostich jacket be adequate?

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2012 Suzuki GSX-R750, "Shoot to Thrill"
2007 Suzuki V-Strom 650, "The Grey Mule"
Silver Strom Club Member #35

BLOG "Two-wheeled Astronaut": http://twowheeledastronaut.blogspot.com/

It will be adequate if you want to stop to wet them a lot.

The amount of water absorbed and, subsequently, evaporated out of the vest is several times more than a cotton t-shirt can.

They are not expensive and worth the $$.

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L2V -- she's a stocker!

You get get a decent 10 dollar sweat shirt and wet that. With a mesh jacket I dried out a wet vest in 80-100 miles in 90-100 degree temps. That's about the distance between communities on Hwy50. Do slow down coming into those little towns, they love to give tickets for 26 in the 25 zone.
It's an interesting ride across 50. Mountain passes and long narrow valleys. I've enjoyed it several times.
The west end near Fallon is a bit of a bore and dirty. But by then you'll be near Reno and the end will be in sight! Seems to be 319 miles across and the speed limit is 70, I think, if not 75. I've done it in July driving a sidecar rig and it was still good.

Thanks for the suggestion and perspective on the route. I discovered the same thing about cops in small towns in Montana; according to some locals I spoke with, cops more or less ignore your speed on highways (within reason) but can get really aggressive in town.

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2012 Suzuki GSX-R750, "Shoot to Thrill"
2007 Suzuki V-Strom 650, "The Grey Mule"
Silver Strom Club Member #35

BLOG "Two-wheeled Astronaut": http://twowheeledastronaut.blogspot.com/

Certainly doable. You might be surprised to see how many others are out there. The "loneliest road" isn't all that lonely anymore.
Enjoy the miles!

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1942 Brick Bungalow
1968 Dream Wife
2007 Retirement Certificate

You can do it, I have a couple times (Arizona, West Texas, Nevada in August). Just stay hydrated and wear sun block.

You can wet your shirt with your canteen as you ride, it will feel terrific... for about 45 seconds, then it will be bone dry.

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2008 Suzuki V-Strom 650: 54,000 miles as of Jan 2013
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Smoke 'em if you got 'em.

I've done it many times in all kinds of weather. Take water and use the old wet T-shirt trick if it gets too hot.

Once you get to Ely after going across Utah, most of the rest of the route is above 6000 ft elevation until you get to Fallon, then it's still above 5000 ft, so it really isn't as hot as southern Nevada.

Get an early start from Ely and you'll be in Carson City or Reno before about 3 in the afternoon. Watch out for deer and elk in the twisty parts.

The NHP is in fact devoting a lot more patrol effort to US50 in the last year or two. I crossed it last week twice and saw plenty of patrol activity from both NHP and the county sheriffs along the way. Just keep to the speed limits religiously through towns, and keep it under 10% over the speed limit the rest of the time and you'll be ok. The speed limits go down through the many mountain passes and NHP loves to ticket in those areas, especially.

Anyone who thinks Nevada is a wide-open state for speeding isn't very well informed. Nevada actually ranks number 3 in the nation in per-capita speeding ticket writing.

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Don F.
Smith, Nevada, In view of the High Sierra
DL650 K4
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Thanks for the feedback, especially about the elevation and NHP strategy. I seldom go more than 8 mph over the limit on highways as a habit anyway, so I'm not too worried. I'll stay at, or even below, the speed limits in towns, based on your response and another poster's.

__________________
2012 Suzuki GSX-R750, "Shoot to Thrill"
2007 Suzuki V-Strom 650, "The Grey Mule"
Silver Strom Club Member #35

BLOG "Two-wheeled Astronaut": http://twowheeledastronaut.blogspot.com/