Know How Your Body Reacts To Heat

One of the great things about motorcycling is learning exactly how your body responds to different environmental conditions. Even in all of our gear, we're extremely exposed to temperature, humidity, etc. We're probably even more exposed than someone just standing there outside, because we have to contend with intense wind on top of everything else.

Here in the desert wastes of urban Phoenix, we're reaching the hottest part of the year. As if the temperature and unrelenting sun isn't bad enough, we get to contend with rising humidity as well. Those of you acclimated to cooler, wet places might not think the humidity level here is that high, but I can assure you that adding any humidity to desert temperatures makes it absolutely disgusting outside.

Luckily for me, I seem to be well-suited to the heat. Some people, for varying reasons, just wither in high temperatures. I don't look down on those poor souls, by the way. If you can't cope with the heat, then stay the heck out of the heat. Heat exhaustion is no fun, and heat stroke is a miserable way to die - and a common one.

It's therefore a good thing for you to know how your body responds to the heat, and when you should start being concerned.

Sweating, obviously, is a good thing. Your heart rate might also increase a bit as your body tries to cool itself by passing as much blood as possible close to the cooler surface of your skin. Things are still OK if you're a bit flushed and sweaty, though you need to stay attentive to what your body is telling you.

If you start feeling nauseous, fatigued, weak, dizzy, or start getting cramps, a headache or vomiting, you need to take immediate action to cool off. Get out of the heat and into someplace cool. Rehydrate. Get wet and stand in front of a fan. If you're really feeling sick, seek medical attention.

If you stop sweating, have trouble breathing, or have a rapid, weak pulse, you need immediate medical attention for heat stroke. Other common symptoms of heat stroke are strange behavior, hallucinations, confusion, disorientation, agitation, seizure and coma. Of course, if you have any of those last symptoms, you're probably going to have to hope that someone else notices you're not acting quite right and takes immediate action.

Exposure kills people. Even tough people. Don't be a chump - if you start feeling crappy in the heat, take immediate action to cool off. Get off the bike and in to a cool place until you feel right again. Everyone you know will prefer you arrive alive rather than croak trying to show up on time.

10 Great Motorcycle Habits to Maximize Your Riding Enjoyment and Minimize Your Risk of Death

So, now that the gremlins lurking about the Triumph are all taken care of, perhaps I can spend a bit of time writing about things other than annoying oil leaks. I found a search for "great motorcycle habits" in my stats, and I thought that sounded like a good post to write. Here goes.

1. Ride Every Day - Riding every day keeps your skills honed. If you only ride once or twice a month, you're probably spending about as much time remembering how to operate the motorcycle as you are paying attention to traffic. Operating your motorcycle should be almost reflexive, so you can focus on avoiding dangerous situations.

2. Always Try Ride Better Than You Did Yesterday - Have you got five years of riding experience, or one month's worth repeated 60 times? Try to pick better lines. Break some of your bad habits. Work on being smooth.

3. Learn How To Sit At A Stoplight Without Blipping Your Throttle - Seriously. Quit playing with that thing.

4. Minimize Your Chicken Strips - In day to day riding, it's best to have a margin of safety, so you shouldn't be riding at the limits of your bike or ability. On the other hand, it is important to know how to handle your bike at extreme angles. You should be able to ride better than you usually need to so you can handle unusual circumstances. So find a safe place and wear down the edges of your tires now and then. It's fun.

5. Stay In The Power Band - Most people ride in a higher gear than they should. If your power band starts at 7,000 RPM, try to stay around there when you're cruising. When you need power, you'll be glad to have it right there waiting for you. You'll get used to the extra racket.

6. Unless You Have Loud Pipes - OK, maybe this is habit 5.1. Whatever. If you've got crazy loud pipes, consider getting rid of them. Or just leave the bike parked, since you probably don't ride it but twice a year. And if you're not going to follow that advice, then consider not being a douche in residential areas or out where people are walking around trying to live their lives. The only person who thinks your bike sounds awesome when you're causing hearing damage is you. (Also, the only accident loud pipes MIGHT prevent is getting rear-ended. Even that is unlikely.)

Yes, some asshat with loud pipes DID wake me up this weekend. Why?

7. All The Gear, All The Time - You're not going to crash on your epic road trip through Alaska five years from now. You're going to crash a mile from your house on your way home from the gas station. It's true. Embrace your inner warrior and put that gear on.

8. Pay Attention - Situational Awareness for bikers is defined as knowing what's going on around you so you don't get creamed by an SUV. Don't space out when you're on the bike.

9. Think Ahead - Pilots call it staying in front of the airplane. Know what you're going to do next. Act, don't react. You're a rider, not a passenger.

10. Remember that riding should be totally awesome - I don't think much of riding through rain, wind, cold, or heat, on the whole. All the same, it's important to remember that despite our cozy helmets, we are out in the elements and being exposed can still be dangerous in this day and age. So if you're thinking "this sucks," instead of, "this is totally awesome," get off the road for a while until the situation is back to being totally awesome.

If You're Going to Embrace Discomfort, Don't Be Stupid and Die

After a couple of days to think over my recent posts*, I realized that I was urging you to embrace discomfort and adventure without an important caveat: Don't Be Stupid and Die.

Frankly, I think that "Don't Be Stupid and Die" should go without saying but, as Irondad mused upon in a recent post on his blog, sometimes we start to base our sense of self on the amount of discomfort and adventure we're willing to endure, to the point that we can get ourselves in to some very bad situations because we think our reputation somehow depends on riding across Death Valley in the midday heat in August without water.

The difference between hardcore and stupid is slight, but important. A hardcore rider is certain he/she can handle a challenging situation because he/she knows his/her limits, and the limits of his/her machine. A stupid rider, on the other hand, is simply certain he/she can handle a given situation because, hey, he/she isn't dead yet.

A hardcore rider and adventurer knows that, every now and then, it is best to simply not ride (or stop riding briefly, if conditions demand it).

So, please, keep riding boldly forth, just don't be stupid and get killed. I won't think any less of you - really, I won't - if you decide not to ride now and then because you don't like the conditions.

Just don't be a wussy all the time.

*The recent posts in question:

Comfort, Safety and Other Illusions That Are Bad For You

Thirst For Adventure

Minding Your Own Safety When Stopping To Help

On the freeway yesterday, a dude ahead of me on his Harley pulled left into the breakdown lane. Naturally, I pulled in behind him to see if he was OK.

He saw me, and I think that led to the weirdness that followed. Instead of coming to a stop, he rolled on for probably a quarter of a mile, finally braking just before we reached the widest part of the space between an on ramp and the HOV lane.

So, we're both in the breakdown lane, and I pull up next to this guy to see if he's OK. Only he's in the middle of the damn breakdown lane, so I can really only get to his 4 O'clock and holler "You OK?" without sticking myself in the HOV lane. Traffic zoomed past a few feet away from my right side.

This is right about when I realized I'd put myself in a stupid, dangerous situation.

My man on the Harley was fine, had just been worried he was going to lose his cell phone so he'd pulled over to put it somewhere safe. He thanked me for stopping, and then we had to figure out how to merge back into traffic.

Since he was ahead of me, it was only polite to let him go first. Of course, that meant I had to back up and get out of the way so he could see traffic.

After he had safely pulled into the HOV lane, I realized that I could actually just take over the handy on ramp to my left and merge into traffic that way. So I did.

I gave the dude a wave as I passed him and continued on my way.

Next time around, I think I'll do things a little differently. Risking my safety to see if someone else is OK is not the best strategy on the street...

How to Ride Through A Desert Summer and Not Die

I've been riding to work year round here in the desert for about five and a half years. One question I get, over and over, usually asked with a mix of awe and disbelief, is "Don't you get hot?"

Well, yes.

I'm lucky because I seem to be physiologically well-suited to cope with heat. I know some folks just get sick after a long time in the heat and would probably keel over if they tried riding through the heat I ride through.

That said, I try not to be the stupid macho guy. Exposure kills people.

So, here are a few tips and tricks for riding through a Phoenix summer.

Maintain a good attitude. I know this is really hard. I hate the cold and fight against it instead of accepting it and getting on with whatever I need to do. And I know some people fight against the heat the same way. If you can just accept that you're going to be hot, and be OK with that, it's a lot easier to deal with the heat. Hey, some folks pay good money to sit in a sauna, right?

Try not to ride when it's really hot. I leave for work around 6:00 a.m. because the temperature rises significantly as soon as the sun comes up. I do my best to stay indoors, or at least in shady areas, during the hottest part of the day. I don't ride in the early afternoon unless I absolutely can't avoid it.

Cover up. You know what cowboys wear? Boots, jeans, a long-sleeved shirt, gloves and a broad hat. Bedouins wear long robes and head coverings. Staying covered up serves two purposes.

First, it keeps the sun off of you. The sun is ridiculously intense here and anything left exposed in the sun, including you, will heat up very quickly. You can get sunburned in a very short time, even if you tan easily. Sunburn reduces your body's ability to cool itself.

Second, staying covered keeps your sweat from evaporating. Between the wind and the lack of humidity, it's possible you won't even notice you're sweating because your perspiration evaporates so quickly. Staying covered up slows down evaporation, which means your sweat can do it's job.

So don't be one of those dummies out there in shorts and a t-shirt.

Wear cotton. The desert during the summer months is the one place where cotton is actually a good fabric to wear outdoors. It stays wet, and keeps you cool. That would be bad in the winter, but it's a very nice thing indeed in the heat of summer. (Incidentally, synthetic underwear that wicks moisture away from your skin is just about the best thing ever when you're spending a lot of time on a hot motorcycle.)

I have heard that wetting a bandanna and tying it around your neck will help you stay cool. I haven't tried this yet, but I'm going to. I have also heard that soaking your t-shirt in water and wearing it while riding is almost heavenly.

Stay hydrated. It's extremely easy to become dehydrated in the desert. Drink tons of water. Drink enough water to "piss clear." When you think "Man, I don't want to drink any more water," have some water. If you feel thirsty, you're already dehydrated. If you're riding a long ways, stop every hour and have a bunch of water and a salty snack like peanuts or pretzels.

The pavement in summer around here can reach 150 degrees Fahrenheit. That's hot enough to give you a third degree burn. Scary, huh? You're more or less riding around over a hot stove. You are going to sweat quarts of water. Keep drinking.

Also, carry water with you. Should you break down or otherwise end up stranded, you're going to need it, and water is scarce in the desert.

Keep your bike maintained. Once again, you're riding around over a hot stove. Extreme conditions are hard on mechanical things. Watch your tire pressure and tire condition. Blowouts suck. Check your oil and coolant levels regularly. Overheating also sucks.

Ride every day. Getting somewhat acclimated makes a huge difference in your comfort level. If you've been living in air-conditioned comfort all summer, and decide to go for a ride at 1:00 in the afternoon in August, you're going to have a miserable time. On the other hand, if you ride in the heat every day, well, riding at the hottest time of day in August is still going to suck, but it won't be nearly as traumatic if you're somewhat used to heat.

I have no doubt there are some things I'm forgetting, but I think this will get you on your way to surviving a desert summer on your motorcycle.

Apparently I've Got A Target On My Butt

I knew she was going to do something stupid. I just knew it. You know, universe, I wouldn't mind being surprised for the better now and then...

A little red Japanese coupe of some sort I'd spotted the second I let the clutch out came screaming into the intersection from the right, oblivious to the red light until it was too late to do much except scrub off some speed. I braked, hard, and was choosing my best option when I heard squealing tires behind me. I hoped it was just my back wheel, and thought "Fuck. Today?"

If you're at all anxious at this point, rest assured, my nickname is Lucky for a reason.

Somehow, the little red Japanese coupe of some sort hung the tightest right turn I've ever seen, and suddenly there was nothing but open lane ahead of me. The driver made several apologetic waves and was clearly freaking right the hell out, so I just waved as I passed her. No harm, no foul.

Which is right about when the adrenaline rush settled down and I discovered I'd braked hard enough to mash my nuts against the gas tank. Note to self - don't ever do that again.

I was quite awake for the next two miles of my ride, and good thing too, because some jackass turned left in front of me. He just stared at me with a stupid expression on his face, and got a much less friendly gesture from me than the driver of the little red coupe.

You know, I'm aware that riding has risks. I'm aware that I'm invisible on the road. But I'm not accustomed to having so many "oh shit!" moments within a couple miles.

Desert Riding and the Issue of Water

Heat has returned to Phoenix. This afternoon, I hate to admit, we had to turn the air conditioner on so we could work in the back room of our house. Our home has a western exposure, and the bedrooms turn into ovens in the afternoon.

Yesterday, we went out for a quick walk along a trail in the desert (I hate to call it hiking) with some friends. I brought two liters of water in my backpack. Lady Luck and I managed to drink half of it while we were out walking.

The desert sucks moisture right out of you. You lose water from breathing, sweating, and I think some of it just up and leaves. Dehydration is a real danger, especially for bikers and other people stuck exerting themselves in the sun.

To be honest, once the peak heat of summer hits, I don't ride much unless I'm commuting or it's dark out. On quick little rides, one can sort of get away with not having a water supply. It's stupid, but I've gotten away with not carrying water because water is readily available at either end of the trip. I'm planning to do some motorcycle camping this summer, and a long trip up to Colorado in the end of June. Those will be significantly longer rides. I'm not going to be able to avoid the heat, it seems.

As a man with, uh, a very active cooling system, I'm going to need significant amounts of water handy to keep from getting dehydrated. I've been considering investing in some dromedary bags. I suspect a few of you use them and maybe even like them. Which ones are well-suited to motorcycling? Do you carry them on your back, or in a tank bag?

Zombie Apocalypse Averted by Prepared Biker

Yeah, I'm awesome. Please line up to the right for high fives.

OK, so here in the real world, I think the Zombie Apocalypse is pretty unlikely. I mean, it's good to be prepared, but I kind of expect the walking dead to just congregate around shopping malls and Ikea and leave me the hell alone.

All the same, preparing for the worst case scenario is a good exercise in order to be ready for mundane annoyances. Irritation, after all, is far more likely than cataclysm.

Not that I'll admit to that in public, you understand. This is between us, OK?

Lady Luck and I went up to Flagstaff, AZ for the weekend. We stayed at the Little America Hotel. Generally speaking, we've had good experiences at that hotel. This weekend, however, was an exception.

Zombies, you know?

Well, OK, the dead have not (yet) risen and taken over scenic Flagstaff. However, the power in the hotel went out for a solid 10 hours. This was, of course, in the evening. After a day of causing trouble, we got back to a very dark, and very spooky Little America Hotel. It seems silly now, but being in a dark, silent hotel is quite unnerving. I blame Stephen King.

Anyway, because I am one prepared fellow, I had a flashlight with me. The front desk loaned us oil lamps, but the wicks were too short to give off any significant light. The wicks were also too short to grab bare-fingered. Being a good Moto-Scout, I had on my belt a Leatherman PST, which just so happens to have needle-nose pliers built in. I had the wicks adjusted in seconds, and we had enough light to avoid stubbing our toes on random furniture lurking in the dark.

...Too bad I didn't have a source of fire. This was quickly remedied (before getting back to the room, actually), as the gas station across the street still had plenty of electricity. I've now added a Bic lighter to my list of Every Day Carry items. I plan to wrap a few feet of duct tape around it as well. You never know when you might need to stick something to another thing and then light them both on fire.

So, I guess this really wasn't a gripping tale of survival against overwhelming odds equipped with nothing but a paperclip and a Swiss Army Knife, but having a few basic items with me saved us from a miserable evening in a dark, silent, hotel room. Prepare for the worst, so you can easily deal with the annoying.

This, of course, applies to motorcycles and most any other situation. The best time to have a tire repair kit is before you need it. Same with band-aids, water and chewing gum.

Watch Your Ass

Last I heard, 4 of the 8 bikers hit by a dump truck the other day are dead. I've been thinking about that wreck quite a bit recently. I have no doubt that lots of the other bikers in Phoenix are watching their mirrors with as much anxiety as I am.

A few years back, I was in a friend's car and we were rear-ended when a couple cars ahead of us slammed on their brakes. My friend stopped in time, but the car behind us didn't even notice traffic had slowed. There were no squealing tires, or horns. We came to a fast stop, and then were hit from behind by some guy going at least 45 mph.

Incredibly enough, apart from a ruined pair of pants and a big mess in the car (my coffee spilled everywhere, what were you thinking?), we were OK.

But for the next 6 months, I got extremely nervous any time I was in a car coming to a quick stop. I always expected a neck-snapping jolt and hot coffee in my lap.

Getting rear-ended on a bike, I've heard, is no laughing matter. There's no telling where you might end up because someone else didn't understand basic physics. Personally, I'd prefer not to experience such things.

As such, I keep an eye on my mirrors at stop-lights, watching for rapidly approaching vehicles. I'll flash my brake light a few times if they're moving too quickly for my liking. Usually, that slows them down (Why does that work? Does anyone know?). I also stay in gear at intersections. Maybe it's more superstition than effective plan, but I'd rather have the slim chance of noticing I'm about to be hit and getting out of the way than the alternative.

Take a Look Around

Irondad has a brilliant post about how you ought to be scanning for threats while riding. If you haven't read it already, well, go read it.

Fatigue Can Kill You. Avoid It!

Here is a useful article about recognizing fatigue, and tips on avoiding it, as applied to the fine art of motorcycle riding.

You can't have fun if you fall asleep and ride into a truck.

Fatigue and Motorcycle Touring

(Thanks Nate!)