Hot weather riding: Stay safe, stay cool
You can have comfort, style and protection in hot weather riding gear.
It’s tempting, when the temperature rises, to go for a motorcycle ride without wearing the right clothing.
Especially in L.A., when the mercury tops 80 or 90 degrees, it can suddenly seem like a cool idea to jet down to the beach in a bathing suit and flip-flops or scooter down to the café in short pants and a tank top.
Don’t be that guy.
I see examples of this all summer long -- the surfer dude riding the Vespa in nothing but his Vans and Vuarnets, the burly dude on the Harley wearing a wife beater and Dickies shorts over sandals, or the carefree young woman wearing yoga pants and sandals.
When I talk to them, they say things like, “I’m riding a scooter,” or, “I’m just going down to the corner.”
The problem is, the asphalt doesn’t make allowances for temperature. The road doesn’t care where you are going, how long you’re going to be gone or what you’re riding.
If you fall down and you’re not protected, it’s going to hurt.
Luckily, motorcycle apparel manufacturers now make a wide variety of lightweight, breathable summer-weather gear that is lighter than leather and a lot more protective than denim.
Plus, it’s ventilated in ways that can make a hot day in the saddle a lot more pleasant.
Companies like Alpinestars and Tourmaster make gloves, boots, jackets and pants that have substantial protection but are breathable, to let perspiration out, and vented, to let cooling wind in.
Good gloves have hard plastic on the knuckles and reinforced fabric on the palms.
Good boots cover the ankles and have toe protection.
Jackets should have CE protection in the elbows and shoulders and some kind of padding or protection down the spine.
Pants should offer knee protection, at the least. Many offer hip padding too.
Sure, it’s an extra expense. And yes, it won’t feel as good as sandals and board shorts.
But if you go down -- and chances are that you will, one day, go down -- the money you spend on protection will feel like a smart investment.
So dress appropriately. And remember, no matter how hot it is, no matter what season it is -- always dress for the fall.
Follow me on Twitter: @misterfleming
