When the Heat Is on – How to Deal with Riding in Extreme Heat

Riding in the heat is uncomfortable, but in extreme, 100 degree-plus temperatures, the heat can actually become dangerous or life-threatening - and it happens a lot faster than you think. See why, and check out our tips for staying cool and fighting off heat injury this summer!

The Baja 500, a grueling 500-mile off-road race that occurs each June in Mexico's Baja Peninsula, just took place this past weekend, as vehicles from 125cc motorcycles to 900HP trophy trucks raced for time across the regions arid desert. The race is a legendary event in the off-road community, as it tests the endurance of both vehicles and riders with a course that covers hundreds of miles of challenging and widely varying terrain.

But it's not just the terrain that racers must conquer - in the barren desert climate, the heat is as much a challenge as the course itself. Temperatures often run in excess of 100 degress Fahrenheit on the course, and when adding in the heat from engines and the effects of convection, effective temperature for riders can hover at closer to 120 - for hours on end, at a race pace.

But this year, ambient temperatures were recorded at a scorching 115 degrees - a level of heat so intense, it has already caused this years race be called the most brutal of all time by veteran competitors. After winning in this year's premier motorcycle class, veteran competitor Colton Udall said of the race "the heat was extreme. I've never really raced in anything hotter than that before in my life...my brain feels like it is cooked."

Sadly, the danger of this year's brutal race is underscored by a tragic loss of life as well. Two competitors - both motorcycle racers - were killed in this years event, and the intense heat is rumored to have been a factor in both of their deaths

Colton Udall, one of this year's Baja 500 winners, said this year's race was the hottest environment he had ever raced in.

Death is rare, but dehydration, heat exhaustion, and even heat stroke are very common in intense heat, and the fatigue that results can put you at increased risk of an accident on a bike - which can be far more deadly. The moral of the story here - heat can hurt you, and can even kill you, if you're out riding and not prepared for the challenges of intense heat you might encounter.

How Heat Can Hurt (Or Kill) You

Riding in the heat is uncomfortable, especially when you're geared up properly. But at a certain level of heat, it can go from uncomfortable to actually dangerous - and it happens pretty fast.

There are a few reasons why. I wrote an article on wind chill last year, explaining how wind can drop your body temperature and magnify the effects of cold temperatures. But at temperatures exceeding 93 degrees, the same principles apply in reverse, as the convection effect intensifies the effects of heat; that makes it feel even hotter than it actually is, forcing your body to work overtime by sweating to keep itself cool.

But heavy sweating is often less noticeable on a motorcycle, because it evaporates more quickly in the rushing air. So you can be sweating profusely, dehydrating your body very quickly, and actually accelerating the effects of heat exhaustion - all without even noticing!

To make matters worse when riding on-road, asphalt roads collect and radiate heat, making the air above the highway even hotter than ambient temperatures - and when you add that to the heat already being generated by your bike, it can become a recipe for heat injury very quickly.

Intense heat can not only burn you, but it dehydrates you at an accelerated rate due to the effects of convection. That's why you can suffer from heat exhaustion on a bike much faster than you even realize it!

How to Fight Back Against Heat Injury

The key to preventing heat injury is preparation. Most often, heat injuries occur when someone is unprepared for the heat, and tries to "tough it out." To make sure you're not "that guy/girl," here are a few tips to make sure you're ready to face the heat:

Hydrate or die. Camelbak's motto holds true - water is essential to life, and in the heat, especially in sports where you sweat intensely (like riding) it is absolutely crucial to staying hydrated and preventing heat injury. Bring more and drink more than you think you need. Using a hydration pack is essential while riding, because it allows you to hydrate without stopping your ride and prevents you from "pushing a little farther."

Avoid energy drinks to stay alert. One of the first signs of heat exhaustion is fatigue, which occurs as your body overworks itself sweating to keep you cool. A common remedy is to "energize" with caffeinated energy drinks; however, these can make the effects you're feeling even worse, since caffeine is a diuretic, and actually pulls more water out of your body! There is so substitute for pure water in the heat (though a sports drink with electrolytes can be added to your water as well.)

Rest and recover more than normal. Long rides are exhausting and rest stops are essential, but you should include more of these than normal on especially hot trips - this will allow your body to recover, your temperature to equalize, and give you some time to hydrate before the next leg of a trip. Find a shady spot to stop at least, but an air conditioned spot is even better!

Cover up. Head-to-toe gear prevents injury from a crash, but did you know it also prevents heat injury? This is because the sun not only burns bare skin, but it also loses sweat faster due to the effects of convection, which draws more water and energy from the body at a faster rate. It sounds counter-intuitive, and goes against the inclination to strip off all your gear, but while riding in intense heat, you're better off staying covered from head to toe in mesh or moisture wicking material.

It may seem counter-intuitive, but covering up in extreme hot weather is actually better than stripping down.

Use cooling gear. These days, technology has given us some awesome tools to fight off the heat, like cooling vests, collars, and even wrist bands, which absorb water into special moisture-retaining fabric and help keep your body cool for hours.

Use sunscreen to prevent sunburn. Dehydration isn't the only way the heat can hurt you - extreme heat is usually accompanied by intense sun, which can cause sunburn in as little minutes in extreme conditions! Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or greater on exposed skin every time you ride in the sun to prevent burns and long-term effects of sun, like accelerated aging and even skin cancer.

Beware the melting road. You've probably seen how roads, especially fresh ones, can become soft in high heat as the tar melts. "Tar snakes" (patches of sealant in the cracks on road surfaces) can melt and become slippery in high heat, causing a crash hazard, so ride over these with extra caution when it's hot out.

The tar in asphalt melts in hot weather, and can become a safety hazard on your bike. Beware the tar snake!

The sun can dump your bike! And don't forget one often overlooked nuisance from heat - that a parked bike's kickstand can "melt" into the pavement slowly, even dropping your bike while you're not looking! Place a puck of some sort under your kickstand when parking in hot areas, especially on fresh asphalt - a small block of wood, a rock, or even a dip can will work to keep your kickstand from punching a hole in the ground.