Keeping cool

Hello all. I just did a 200+ mile ride in 90+ degree heat and MAN that road is HOT! So what does everyone do to keep cool on those summer rides?  

It's not a problem for me, since I don't ride behind a windshield. I get plenty of cooling air flow over the handlebars. I don't even bother to carry water when traveling, until the air is going to be above 100 for several hours.

On second thought... If your house has an air conditioner, you might want to turn the thermostat up a few degrees each week until you are comfortable with it set to 85. Keeping your body acclimated to cooler temperatures makes you much more sensitive to heat.

regards,
Joe  

A couple years ago I bought one of those cooling vests. Soak it in water for 5 min. wring it out, put it on, and go. First time I wore it, after 30 min, I was thinking "I'm not cool, this isn't working". Then I saw the temp. 97, and it was high humidity. It will make it feel like about 10 degrees cooler for a couple hours. Not perfect, but, it's better than the soaked t shirt which lasts for about 10 - 15 min and then it's dried out.
Also, I wear a mesh jacket. It keeps the sun from beating on my body. The mesh absorbs the heat, and the wind keeps the heat away from me. You do roast at stop lights.  

My limited experience suggests that literally "keeping cool" is not necessarily a viable option.  But you can improve your odds if you hit the road early and get off early to avoid the peak heat times of the day.  But above all, make sure you stop more frequntly and drink water, Gatorade, juice, etc. or even something like ice cream or a milkshake to let your body cool down from the inside.  Keep hydrated, don't eat anything too heavy, but do eat.  You may not get the same number of miles per day in, but you'll feel a lot better at the end of the day and more ready to go again the next morning.  I also have a mesh jacket and it's a God-send!  And I have a neckerchief-type thing that you wear around your neck with some kind of crystals or seeds in it.  You soak it in cold water which the crystals absorb and expand.  Tie it on in the AM and it acts like a mini air conditioner around your neck.  You can run cold water on it at each pit stop to cool it off again, and soak it again each night for as long as you expect to need it.  Sounds like it might be heavy and cumbersome but isn't.  Actually works surprisingly well.  Cheers.  Herb.