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7 Dec 2010
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500/kms a day in Africa, what to wear?
In January 2012 I will be riding from Tanger in Marocco, to Bamako in Mali, covering an average of 500 - 600 kms a day for two weeks straight... on classic Vespa scooters, which translate into veeeeery long days.
I would very much like some advice as on what to wear on this trip. Comfort is absolutely key (chaffing, heat, etc).
My last Africa-trip on Vespas went from Cape Town to Nairobi and was covered in three weeks. That time I wore Draggin Jeans, a cordura jacket and light weight hiking boots. I ended up dropping all the pads in the pants as they were very uncomfortable and cumbersome. I also found the pants quite hot. However, they did double up as street wear and I did not have to change clothing upon arrival or pack more clothes than absolutely necessary.
On this trip however, I am a bit uncertain. I feel that the Draggin jeans option provide poor protection - but quite good comfort.
I am looking for an alternative that gives both good comfort and good protection. What would you wear?
-Footwear
-Jacket
-Pants
-Protective gear
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7 Dec 2010
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Location: Aussie expat in Switzerland half way RTW
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wheelie
on classic Vespa scooters...veeeeery long days.
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If you want to do 500kms per day on scooters through Africa, then you are the king of understatements. You will be riding yourself to an early grave.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wheelie
What would you wear?
-Footwear
-Jacket
-Pants
-Protective gear
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It doesn't really matter what you wear because you'll be dead (tired) in a week.  Take plenty of water.
Why not slow down and enjoy the trip. Sounds like you need some air flow gear or Ixon summer gear or something like rev'it dakar jackets. Will you be going fast enough to get good air flow to help cool you down?
If not some people recommend in hot climates merino wool with soaked in water next to the skin. I say, look at what the locals wear, they live in the climate so are arguably the best prepared for it.
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8 Dec 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TurboCharger
If you want to do 500kms per day on scooters through Africa, then you are the king of understatements. You will be riding yourself to an early grave.
It doesn't really matter what you wear because you'll be dead (tired) in a week. Take plenty of water.
Why not slow down and enjoy the trip. Sounds like you need some air flow gear or Ixon summer gear or something like rev'it dakar jackets. Will you be going fast enough to get good air flow to help cool you down?
If not some people recommend in hot climates merino wool with soaked in water next to the skin. I say, look at what the locals wear, they live in the climate so are arguably the best prepared for it. |
The reason I will be going so fast is that two friends and myself will participate in the Budapest to Bamako rally, a 9000 km race in 16 days or so. You can read more about our adventure here: Bamako by Vespa
As for being dead tired - of this I am very aware  , and this is part of the physical and mental challenge that I am seeking. There are far many more enjoyable and practical ways to do this trip... But because of the dangers tied to mental and physical exhaustion, I think it is important to invest some time in trying to find ways to increase both comfort and protection.
As for cooling - the Vespa scooter has a leg shield that takes off much of the wind to the legs. Also, being a Vespa, the speeds will be slow with the need to stop to refuel every second hour or so - so not much cooling from the wind.
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8 Dec 2010
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airflow or ixon mesh gear
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wheelie
The reason I will be going so fast is that two friends and myself will participate in the Budapest to Bamako rally, a 9000 km race in 16 days or so. You can read more about our adventure here: Bamako by Vespa
As for being dead tired - of this I am very aware , and this is part of the physical and mental challenge that I am seeking. There are far many more enjoyable and practical ways to do this trip... But because of the dangers tied to mental and physical exhaustion, I think it is important to invest some time in trying to find ways to increase both comfort and protection.
As for cooling - the Vespa scooter has a leg shield that takes off much of the wind to the legs. Also, being a Vespa, the speeds will be slow with the need to stop to refuel every second hour or so - so not much cooling from the wind. |
Is that your Vespa and side car in your avatar? Nice ride, shame to trash it on a race through Africa...
Anyway, given wind flow is an issue and stop-start nature of your travel you probably would want full mesh gear with minimal body armor that will give you protection from sun and any falls but won't keep the heat and sweat near your body. I think that even Draggin Jeans would be too hot.
Try searching for airflow it's a US brand I think.
Sounds like a great race.
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8 Dec 2010
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The German company Held do some well ventilated clothes that I've been looking at. We're doing a similar trip in Nov 2011.......but not on Vespas!
I've had a couple over the years  but now prefer something with slightly larger wheels and more hp 
Back to the Held clothing......the most ventilated jacket appears to be the Tropic but it still has elbow, back and shoulder protection the trousers that go with it are the Sakai which have mesh panels in the thigh and zip off legs but again have protection.
__________________
Kev
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8 Dec 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TurboCharger
Is that your Vespa and side car in your avatar? Nice ride, shame to trash it on a race through Africa...
Anyway, given wind flow is an issue and stop-start nature of your travel you probably would want full mesh gear with minimal body armor that will give you protection from sun and any falls but won't keep the heat and sweat near your body. I think that even Draggin Jeans would be too hot.
Try searching for airflow it's a US brand I think.
Sounds like a great race.
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That's my scoot, but it is not the one I will trash in Africa. For this I will be using a Vespa PX 200 EFL topped up with a flight crate and plenty of jerry cans.
I'm also thinking something with a mesh, and maybe a fleece windstopper underneath on the cold stretches. I bet the Atlas mountains at 07:30 in the morning in the mid of January can be a bit cold? Also, would you recomend strap on body armour or built-in into the pants and jacket? I'm worried that the strap on armour would end up chaffing or become very uncomfortable after spending 12 hours a day in the saddle, for two weeks straight...
Further still, if the outside temperature exceeds the body temperature, then excessive ventilation may be counterproductive as the evaporation of sweat cools the body, and the wind would work much like a hair blower - pounding the body with heat while removing all cooling capabilities of sweat by blowing away the cooling vapor sweat that the body produces. How hot is Western Sahara in January for instance??? How about a gel cooling vest dipped in water - how do they hold up to a regular t-shirt drenched in water?
Also, what about footwear? I was hoping to bring something that could double as street wear.
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8 Dec 2010
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Hi,
I crossed Africa with normal clothes: Jeans, TShirt, Warm Shirt and a normal Jacket which no protector stuff so i could wear it while im sleeping in the cold atlas mountains as well. When it was raining i was wearing a plastic garbage bag underneath.
As you have said in the other thread
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...ont-need-54186
one realy don't need much stuff to travel...but if you have a vehicle, you need experience and tools to repair it anywhere. For example i had two broken bearings while traveling around africa:
Riding the rough west coast through Africa
I found it hard to make 500km a day. On some days i did not even make 50 km in 10 hours "riding".
If you really have done Capetown to Nairobi within 3 Weeks it must have been a nightmare. I think Capetown to Nairobi is the nicest and easiest trip you can do in Africa, but i think you need at least 3 Weeks to experience nice country's like Malawi on the way....
In Mauretania you will find only very view Petrol stations but a lot of potholes if you dont go through senegal with all the corrupt officials. In Mali the roads are better but still you will lose a lot of time at the borders.
Have fun, Tobi
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8 Dec 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wheelie
Further still, if the outside temperature exceeds the body temperature, then excessive ventilation may be counterproductive as the evaporation of sweat cools the body, and the wind would work much like a hair blower - pounding the body with heat while removing all cooling capabilities of sweat by blowing away the cooling vapor sweat that the body produces. How hot is Western Sahara in January for instance??? How about a gel cooling vest dipped in water - how do they hold up to a regular t-shirt drenched in water?
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You're misunderstanding the way sweat cools. Evaporation is what carries heat away. No evaporation, no heat loss. A breeze on a wet surface (sweat-soaked clothing or skin) will cool until the sweat is gone....then, if over body temperature it'll start heating you up. So if you're trying to cool off the idea is to stay wet and ventilated. Those cooling vests and scarves do work better than drenched t-shirts only because they hold more water--a *lot* more water.
But.....a lot of your trip won't be that hot, really. In the Atlas you'll probably be freezing, and January's not too hot in the Sahel either. In Morocco there might be rain (and snow in the mountains). I think you'll want to devote at least as much attention to staying warm as to staying cool. I've worn full touring gear with motocross boots in Morocco and not felt out of place, and I've been cold in the Sahel during harmattan winds and murk.
Hope that helps.
Mark
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