How hot is too hot to ride?
If it is going to be hotter than the low 90's then I use that as a limit.
I do ride to work when it is going to be in the low 90's because riding home, I can just jump on the freeway and at least have some air moving around me.
I have ridden in Arizona in June one year and it was close to 117. A friend was buying a bike from a friend who moved there and it was about 300 miles there. It was a tuff, ride back in the afternoon but we stopped every hour and we used these cool collars where you put ice cubes in them and they worked great.
I won't be doing that again.
When it is over 90, sitting in traffic it is just not fun anymore.
I do ride to work when it is going to be in the low 90's because riding home, I can just jump on the freeway and at least have some air moving around me.
I have ridden in Arizona in June one year and it was close to 117. A friend was buying a bike from a friend who moved there and it was about 300 miles there. It was a tuff, ride back in the afternoon but we stopped every hour and we used these cool collars where you put ice cubes in them and they worked great.
I won't be doing that again.
When it is over 90, sitting in traffic it is just not fun anymore.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,921
Likes: 264
From: Deep in the heart of New Jersey
Apparently low 90's is the cut off point here in Jersey. I just came back from a 70 mile cruise before it got too hot, and I only saw 2 other bikes on the road. And neither were Harley's.,,,
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,958
Likes: 1,988
From: CA
I've ridden in 110-115 degree heat, not too bad when you are moving, but really sucks if you get stuck in traffic. Gotta stay hydrated, those kind of temps combined with wind can cause serious problems quicker than you might think.
If I have a long ride planned I'll go whatever the temp, but for riding around town, if it's over 100 I'll probably take the car and crank up the AC.
If I have a long ride planned I'll go whatever the temp, but for riding around town, if it's over 100 I'll probably take the car and crank up the AC.
Cruiser
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 223
Likes: 12
From: Texas
It's been hovering at 103-108 the past few weeks here in DFW. I don't get out in the middle of the afternoon when it's that hot. I wait till a little after 5 and head out. Still
hot, but a hell of a lot more comfortable. I can't think of a time I've turned down to go riding with a buddy either though. I'm always up for that. Just prefer to not be out in the middle of the day when it's 100+.
hot, but a hell of a lot more comfortable. I can't think of a time I've turned down to go riding with a buddy either though. I'm always up for that. Just prefer to not be out in the middle of the day when it's 100+.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 14,164
Likes: 63,621
From: Other Side of the Tracks
Wife and I rode 2-up from Washington Dc to Tampa FL in June 1998 during the wildfires.
We could smell the smoke 1/2 way through Georgia.
Temps in Florida reached 111 during the day, and there were places where the smoke was so thick, we couldn't see more than 20 feet in front of us.
We were laughing about folks in cars with their windows closed and wearing surgical masks, we were cruising wearing bandannas for protection.
A crappy day on the bike still beats a good day in the office.
Fun Times!!
We could smell the smoke 1/2 way through Georgia.
Temps in Florida reached 111 during the day, and there were places where the smoke was so thick, we couldn't see more than 20 feet in front of us.
We were laughing about folks in cars with their windows closed and wearing surgical masks, we were cruising wearing bandannas for protection.
A crappy day on the bike still beats a good day in the office.
Fun Times!!
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