Planning a Motorcycle Tour In Mexico?
Prepare to Ride in Hot Weather!

Taking a motorcycle tour in Mexico can be a great adventure. It's a country full of natural beauties, some great cities, very friendly people and challenging roads.

But as all other Tropical countries, hot weather is something that prevails most part of the year and, for motorcycle riders, this condition poses its own of set of problems. From minor annoyances to serious safety issues.

So, if you are planning a motorcycle tour in Mexico or in any other country with hot weather, I recommend you to take a look at this article. You'll learn how to:

Hot!
by Jackie Vaughan

Dressing properly is very important. A T-shirt and shorts
are not the answer. Exposed skin is not only dangerous in a
crash, it’s a major source of dehydration and sunburn. Add
to that the long-term danger of skin cancer and covering up
becomes the clear choice. Cover all exposed skin to reduce
dehydration. There are some specialized clothes that purport
to have UV resistance built in, but they are a bit on the
pricey side. A long-sleeve cotton shirt, cotton jeans, and
gloves, all normal safety wear, are the clothing of choice.
Many riders use the old biker’s trick of soaking the body of
a heavy cotton sweatshirt in water, leaving as much water in
the shirt as possible. The sleeves are left dry from the
elbows down, as well as from the waist down, to allow for
moisture wicking down. The wet shirt becomes an evaporative
cooler that leaves the rider in blissful comfort for at
least an hour.

Apply plenty of sunscreen to the face and back of the neck,
and if gloves are not worn, to the backs of the hands. Look
for a product that is strongly water-resistant so it won’t
run into the eyes from perspiration. Use at least SPF 30,
and since sunscreen loses potency with age, make sure it’s
fresh. Most people fail to put on enough sunscreen and do
not reapply throughout their ride.

Start the ride well-hydrated, taking in at least a quart of
liquid before departure. Contrary to logic, this will not
necessitate extra pit stops. Take in at least a quart of
liquid such as water or sports drinks every hour. If the
temperature or heat index is very high, double that intake,
since fluid loss can top a gallon an hour. Riders who do not
need to make a pit stop every couple of hours are
dehydrating and should sharply increase their fluid intake.

Break the ride into segments with extended cool-off periods
every couple of hours. These can be refreshment stops,
points of interest, or just spending 30 or 40 minutes in a
cool gas station, sipping a sports drink. Caffeine tends to
increase dehydration, as does alcohol.

Know the signs of heat exhaustion (profuse sweating,
dizziness, flushed face, weakness, muscle cramps) and heat
stroke (no sweating, pale face, shallow respiration,
collapse). Riders and co-riders should watch for them in
themselves and in others. At the first signs, seek a cool
place and cool the victim down as quickly as possible. In
heat stroke, seek emergency medical help.

With a little preparation and common sense, beating the heat
is a lot more fun than staying home.

Copyright © 1996 by Jackie Vaughan.
http://www.wheels-in-motion.com

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Motorcycle Tour In Mexico Prepare to Ride in Hot Weather!

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