Death Valley Fatality
For anyone who hasn't heard, a motorcyclist died (and a companion was hospitalized) due to overheating while riding in Death Valley, California a couple of days ago. I haven't heard any details, but apparently they were among a group of six riding together--the four others in the group were treated on the scene and released.
High temperatures over the weekend were around 129F/54C. Bear in mind that these are official temps, taken in full shade a certain height above the ground, and that unshaded temps on asphalt would have been much higher.
I'm not here to lecture or to argue the relative dangers of various stuff you might do on a motorbike. I'm merely suggesting that anyone tempted to ride down for a selfie next to the Furnace Creek thermometer consider the possibilities should something go wrong.
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