Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB - All the kit, or what?

Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB (https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/)

- The HUBB PUB (https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/the-hubb-pub/)

- - All the kit, or what? (https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/the-hubb-pub/all-the-kit-or-what-79631)

Quote:

Originally Posted by mollydog (Post 488994)

Hopefully wearing appropriate riding gear for Thailand? ... not UK Winterized gear? Good HOT weather gear exists. No need for flip flops and shorts. Many Farang end up in emergency there. Nasty. (seen it in person!)

We see a few RTW travelers come through California & run into them in Mexico wearing gear suited for N. EU and UK climes. Thick, heavy WP jackets/ pants, don't vent well. Good down to below freezing but over 27C (80F) they are miserable.

ALL W R O N G for Summer or the Tropical South! Heat stroke is real. Dehydration, exhaustion ... misery.

Why not do what racers do? I'm sure our Oz brothers know about this too.
In my racing days I rode a few Enduros in Hot weather, did Desert racing in the Mojave too.

You had to have protection ... but needed to stay cool. Used those tips from back then in current hot weather riding kit. Not perfect, but much better than flip/flops and shorts.

Part of this kit includes mesh dirt bike riding pants. Very strong, yet flow a TON of air, even moving 15 mph. If it turns cold ... you MUST stop, change, or ...slip rain pants OVER the dirt riding pants for warmth.

I always wear my independent KNEE and HIP guard armor under the dirt pants.

Up top it's a compromise ... risky.
No armored riding jacket (w/built in back protector). But there are now so many GOOD Fully armored FULL mesh jackets out there that work very well in heat and humidity. Light colors helps too. That is my recommendation ... perfect for Thailand.

But when going without Mesh jacket I wear long sleeved dirt bike Jersey but with independent Elbow/forearm strap-on guards. So ... NO back protector. But one could wear one.:innocent: ... or get a Mesh jacket ... many for under $100 USD.

ALWAYS wear Boots & Gloves ... no matter temps. (unless just popping out for dinner, short distance) Almost always wear my Flip-Up helmet (UP position in slow going) but ride with it down at speed.
In SUPER-HOT heat, it's cooler to run shield DOWN. (IE: Death Valley in 118F/47C)

Toughest heat, IMO, is places like Asia/India where you've got 95F/35C with 90% humidity. Very tough, no matter what you wear. After time and acclimation, you may be able to ZEN your way through this ... like the locals do. Takes practice. Most fight it ... and end up hating life and whinging.

If you can avoid super hot weather, do it. If not, try to ride smart. Ride EARLY AM or at night. Knock off early, get drunk! bier Not much fun riding a bike, stuck in traffic, going 10 mph, sat at traffic lights in mid day Sun.

I am wearing off road gear, meshed off road trousers and thin off road top, vented gloves, got the knee protection, meshed body armour, off road boots and an off road helmet with goggles as is let's a bit more air on to the face.

Wayne

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

After a slide down the road wearing boardies & T shirt, I had the gravel scrubbed out of what was left of my raw bleeding skin with a nylon brush under a saline shower :eek3:

Answer's easy, or what? doh

similar experience but dropped it twice, icy side of the mountain-dry on the other-inner side of the knee cap had no skin or flesh ,right past those protective denim jeans .

I think my internal thermostat must be broken. I love warmth, once it gets to 30-35C I start to become really alive. Above 45C I have to take things quietly.

To see me you would think I always wear the same gear, but not so. The outer layer is usually the same except when very cold or wet on go the windproof waterproofs. It is what’s underneath that changes. and also how things are arranged, For instance in hot weather have the cuffs and trouser bottoms open. not many layers.

A week ago I went for a little bimble about in 2-3C after 24 miles I was feeling a bit chilly. another 10 and I would have been chilled. That is about my limit for cold weather.

In hot weather you do really need to drink often because riding then is very drying from both sweat and breathing. Stop often ideally to sit in the shade, drink a little even take a rest. My chair is off with just two bungees, and water can be slid up out of my luggage.

Quote:

Originally Posted by backofbeyond (Post 488992)

Either way, HE or HS, it laid me up for three days and it's probably why I don't over dress in hot climate rides.

The other factor that's relevent is acclimatisation. From a UK perspective it's going from a cold and wet July into the full heat of a Med summer virtually overnight. On a flight no one would get off the plane still wearing an overcoat, scarf, gloves etc and keep them on in the midday heat but that's what bikers are doing and then riding for hours without a drink. Give it a week or two and your body adjusts but by then many are heading for home.

Yes, certainly it was your experience so I am not bothered how the cut line is defined between the symptoms.
The whole lot is hyperthermia.
Hyperthermia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
and it is ignored at our peril.

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldbmw (Post 489159)

I think my internal thermostat must be broken.

Yes, it is a function of aging and we are more susceptible, as are those who carry less fat on their body.
So, you were a potential case of hypothermia.
Hypothermia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

All the gear, all the time. Open all vents in summer, liners and warm gloves in winter. Each to his own.

I'm from Australia and currently in SEAsia.
The off road pants are awesome for airflow and I wear bike shorts or nicks underneath. I have a full mesh high vis light colored jacket. Take lots of breaks. Wet your shirt underneath and drink, drink, drink. Make shade stops. Start at sunrise and finish at lunch time.

I'm am ATGATT advocate. And I've ridden and lived in mountainous, tropical and desert climates.

With the variety of vented and mesh gear options, I don't believe it makes sense to risk road rash or more serious injury regardless of temperature or comfort. But that does require good gear and perhaps multiple jackets for summer vs winter vs rain vs desert. I resolve this by buying good but used gear. I've found most of my kit on ADV RIDER.

But I'm also not going to bash those who choose to rider with lighter or less gear. I did the same when I was a teenager and was lucky enough to survive a few minor bang ups and avoid and serious injury. Everyone must make their own decisions and deal with the results of their choices. But I vote for and encourage ATGATT!

Putting a myth to bed

Vented jackets and trousers make you feel the breeze and increase your perceived comfort but, in reality, they allow your sweat to escape.
Stating the obvious -sweat is precious water being used to cool down your body. Allowing it to escape in high heat conditions where replacement water may be scarce is very unwise. Keeping hydrated at all times is critical.

Want to feel great as you are baking? as you refuel, find a hosepipe/tap/water can and drench your jacket, trousers and helmet and keep those vents closed.
Fabulous

Bertrand I have to strongly disagree with you.

Sweat cools you by evaporating, hence keeping your vents open is the best way to evaporate that thin layer of water on your skin and making you cooler. When humidity is really high, heat becomes unbearable because sweat accumulates and evaporates slowly. Opening the vents on your jackets and pants, allowing the maximum flow of air to pass on your body to accelerate the evaporation of water is the best way to cool you down.

Suggesting to keep your vents closed during extreme heat is IMHO a very bad advice.

Google the physics of sweats and evaporative cooling.

Just to add...

Of course keeping hydrated is always important, especially when you sweat a lot.

That being said if your vents are open and much wind is passing through, around, your body, you might not even need to sweat because wind dissipates heat very fast.

The purpose of cooling and venting is to allow your body to dissipate the heat.

Mesh panels and vents opening are there for a reason. Those engineers working on the development of summer riding gear certainly know a little about the physics of heat dissipation.

You are quite free to disagree!
Retaining moisture on your body / in your clothing acts as an 'air conditioner' and continues to cool you down.
Allowing this moisture to escape is fine as long as you can drink more water to replace what is being /has been lost- If that is the case, vent away; my jacket and trousers have vents too and let some heat out.

However, if your water supply is low, as I said, before, uncontrolled venting isn't wise. Jackets/trousers are not totally sealed- heat will leave via the gaps and through the materials in any case.

Your water- your retention or your loss- it's your decision.:Beach: A chacun son truc jeune homme!

a slow speed fall wearing no protective clothing resulted in removing the skin from my knees to my hips and my forearms as well as the need to scrub out bitumen daily for 2 weeks...ATGATT now.

I wear an airflow suit over wet clothes on the hottest days. I add layers of merino clothes underneath and a windproof but breathable outer layer when it's cold.

In my experience (and according to all those promoting the benefits of materisls that wick away moisture) trapping sweat is NOT a sound practice as overheating the core increases the need for hydration.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bertrand (Post 489505)

Retaining moisture on your body / in your clothing acts as an 'air conditioner' and continues to cool you down.

My understanding is that water that is not being evaporated, warms up to your body temperature and ends up doing nearly nothing to cool you down.

Mais bon, si ça fonctionne pour vous, pourquoi pas?
;)