[agrippa1]

ATGATT is important, what I need is information on lightweight protection that can be worn in the hellish summer heat/humidity of the deep South--specifically the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

I ride to work every day, but have to wear slacks, shirt, and tie to work (school principal). Is there any advice you can give me?

The "massive heat wave" many of you are enduring are normal summer temps down here.

 

[TK-421]

I have a Joe Rocket jacket that has an outer water resistant shell and the inner mesh jacket has all the armor in it. It's remarkably cool as long as you are not in stop & go traffic for long periods of time. My TourMaster pants with the liners out are quite cool as well.

Pick the road less traveled to work that will keep you moving and you should be able to mitigate the heat. Maybe lower your windshield to let more air hit you lower on the body. Gonna be a rougher ride, but at least you get airflow.

 

[falmike]

I got one of the Suzuki Euro Windshields in the Group Buy that Blair set up and in the low mount position I ahve wind hitting me square in the chest.

 

[TOScootz]

Teiz Motorsports has a mesh one piece outfit that might fit the bill for you. They are the sponsors of this discussion. I've been following a very long thread about their stuff on ADV Rider, and it looks interesting.

 

[larry0071]

It is upper 90s right now in Pa., Im also suffering through the all the gear thing.

Im using a Shift mesh jacket and First Gear HT Air Overpants and a Scorpion EXO-500 that vents at least 100 times better than the POS Fullmer ADV helmet that it replaced. I shot the Fullmer with my AR-15 after realized how miserably terrible that thing was!

In the end, once it is in the 90s or above and like you and me... Have to wear business casual along with gear.... There is no such thing as being cool and comfortable. You just do the best you can and deal with it. Tomorrow, our heat index is supposed to be near 128 degrees. I'm going to gear up with my air conditioned Ford Superduty!

 

[garandman]

I got a Hanson Vent Max 3 on closout. The Vent Max 4 may already be out. It's like wearing a tshirt without the flapping or sunburn.
http3.htm]Vanson Leathers Motorcycle Jacket - NEW VENT MAX

 

[Improperly Torqued]

Lots of good suggestions already, but I'll mention what worked for me in Texas in July: First Gear mesh jacket and HT Air pants. That and don't stop unless you absolutely have to.

 

[agrippa1]

I've looked at First Gear--they can fit my big ass. I think I'm confused by the mesh/textile designation they use.

To me mesh implies netlike (airflow!!) while textile implies cloth--less airflow.

?????

 

[Ahnold Stromzenegger]

Olympia stealth...

I'd go with the Olympia stealth one-piece suit. Costs approx $300. Easy to get on and off. High visibility version available. Flows a lot of air. Reasonable commuter protection. Slips right on over business clothes. High quality product.

 

[seuadr]

you may find the most reliable cooling to come from a wet tee shirt and just hauling a garment bag with you to change into "respectable" clothes.

 

[biker128pedal]

It was 97 F here today with very high humidity near the Bay. Mesh is your friend. It will be hotter tomorrow. :headbang:

At then end of the day take off the tie and roll it up.

 

[agrippa1]

Actually I have ridden with my shirt unbuttoned to just above my waist and put my tie on when I got to work (t-shirt of course). I'd just like to have protection--ATGATT is easy to practice unless it's 102 (yesterday) with our normal high humidity (read you could use scuba gear to walk around).

I can stay reasonably cool, but the trade off is no protection.

You end up trading protection for rolling the dice of no protection and being able to ride your bike.

I remember being astounded when we went to the Chicago area in August for a wedding. The morning after we arrived was like a cool autumn day in Mississippi. We were shocked at how cool it was--and by the lack of air conditioning in the very nice house we stayed in. One big window unit for the whole place. We suddenly understood how hundreds of folks die during "heat waves" in that part of the country.

 

[DaSwede]

The other day I found a great article about hot weather riding. The title of it is "IronButt_1002_62-66_Hot.pdf" and the full URL is
http://www.ironbutt.com/ibmagazine/IronButt_1002_62-66_Hot.pdf. Seems there is a big difference in riding in temps below vs. over 93F.

 

[p38arover]

you may find the most reliable cooling to come from a wet tee shirt and just hauling a garment bag with you to change into "respectable" clothes.

Yep. I used to keep a suit, shirts, and shoes in my office and changed at work.

I think the school kids would like a principal that came to work in biker gear.

 

[agrippa1]

You're right, my high schoolers thought my Vee was way cool.

Wait until they see the C14!

I suggest that everybody read the article sourced above. It is eye opening for those of us who routinely ride in above 903 temps. I came home today and told my wife that it was like riding in a convection oven. Turns out my clever turn of phrase was precisely on the money!

 

[PTRider]

The article is excellent. The importance of cooling the head is often forgotten (and keeping the head warm in cold weather.) One thing...why not wear cotton next to the skin? It wicks the sweat and holds it there next to the skin for evaporative cooling. Synthetics wick the moisture away from the skin. The same feature that makes cotton bad in cold, wet weather should make it good in hot weather.

 

[DaSwede]

PTrider - I feel the same way. Cotton should be better to cool you down, at least for motorcycling. I have searched trying to find something that supports this theory. Most articles seem to concentrate on keeping the skin dry, which I guess the synthetics do well.

I have found that wetting a bandana and tying around my neck helps a lot. When it dries out you just wet it down again.

 

[D57]

Cool vest

iMHO, you might also consider getting a cool vest to wear under your mesh jacket. I use one when above 93F in the Memphis area and it definitely helps. I have one of the paraffin ones that you put in the freezer before riding and it works well for 1-2 hours.

 

[Justdrew]

Cool collar

There is a gel filled collar available from sports stores. The gel swells when wet and you tie it around your neck, i used one for playing goal keeper at hockey in the tropics, definitally good, of course you could refridgerate it as well.

 

[Scorch]

you may find the most reliable cooling to come from a wet tee shirt and just hauling a garment bag with you to change into "respectable" clothes.

Actually, if you are the principal, then you must have an office. Do like me, I'm a hotel manager, I wear my First Gear mesh jacket and a cycling shirt, MC boots, and jeans, and I keep 4 suits in my office and a pair of Rockports--just change in your office.

The only problem with many mesh jackets, including my FG, is they have generously large front pockets, and for some awful design reason, the pockets are constructed of solid nylon. :jawdrop: The jacket allows great airflow and is a pleasure even in Texas 100 degree/90% humidity, but the area behind the pockets gets really warm in comparison. I'm thinking of having the pockets cut out and replaced with "mesh" pockets...