Re: Keeping cool in the Dog Days of summer

[Robert Silas <robert.silas@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dan,
My helmet is very light silver colour.  My choice of colour based on the
"being seen" idea.  I have a BMW flip helmet too, the one you need two hands
to open, that one has a feature that you can push the whole shield a notch
forward. For me it is too tight at the neck, good for people who are
sensitive for cold air around the throat.  I am not using this helmet, I
will sell it.
Bob Silas
  ----- Original Message -----
  From: Seattle Dan
  To: oilheads@xxxxxxxxx
  Sent: Thursday, July 14, 2005 1:20 PM
  Subject: RE: Keeping cool in the Dog Days of summer


  Robert, sorry for the bum luck!

  May I ask -- what color is your helmet? The really "cool" (looking) matt
  black :)

  Personally I have a black Arai Quantum II and a while Arai XD white. The
  latter has a far more open design, a visor to keep the sun off my face and
  it's white. Overall I find it FAR cooler. I do all my commuting with my
  white XD and when I go for a longer (more spirited) ride I'll revert to
  wearing the Quantum as the XD has far more wind turbulence / noise.


  -----Original Message-----
  From: owner-oilheads@xxxxxxxxx [mailto:owner-oilheads@xxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
  Of Robert Silas
  Sent: Thursday, July 14, 2005 7:45 AM
  To: oilheads@xxxxxxxxx
  Subject: Re: Keeping cool in the Dog Days of summer

  Bruno,
  Thanks for the write up, interesting.
  Is there any chance to find a helmet which offers some kind of cooling
  system???

  On my way from Montreal to Detroit, I got into a traffic jamb at Kingston
on
  the 401.  One lane was closed and the open lane blocked solid.  We were
  standing without any rolling for 25 minutes.  Of course I turned the boxer
  off and eventually I took my helmet off too, to prevent fainting.  It was
  bright, sunny weather and 33-35 C.  (93-96 F.); I have a thermometer on
the
  bike.

  I hung my full-face helmet on the mirror.  Slowly, we started to crawl,
5-8
  feet at a time. As lucky as I am, a police car was parked in the closed
lane
  in the middle of the construction.  A young and eager officer turned on
  lights, flashers, sirens, jumped out of the air-conditioned police cruiser
  and pulled me aside, thinking that "I'll get this 79 years old bustard".
  He gave me a $110.- ticket saying: "today you rode without a helmet".
  He carried the law to the extreme.  I could have used a cooled helmet.
  Bob Silas, '94 RS
  Montreal
    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: Bruno Valeri 
    To: oilheads@xxxxxxxxx 
    Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2005 9:31 PM
    Subject: Keeping cool in the Dog Days of summer


    Riding in hot weather can sometimes be a bit of a struggle, especially
  with
    the current spate of hot weather.

    But there are some gear options that can make this much more bearable.

    One option is to wear an evaporative cooling vest. Though cooling vests
  are
    at their best in hot and dry climates, they can also offer benefit in
    humid climates. There are quite a few on the market to choose from.

    I have a review up on my website for the Joe Rocket Sahara vest.
    http://pages.videotron.com/mcrides/product_evals/joe_rocket/sahara.htm

    Though the review deals with one model in particular, the concepts and
    comments can be
    applied to most quality evaporative vests.

    A good cooling vest will lower your level of body heat stress and
fatigue.
    It will even make sitting in traffic more bearable. Something to
consider.

    Another option is a good pair of mesh or breathable pants that don't
    significantly compromise on safety.
    You can definitely be stewing in your own juices when wearing regular
  riding
    pants in more extreme
    weather. Again, a good pair of vented pants will lower your heat stress.

    As example, I have a review and comments up on the Teknic Supervent
pants.
    http://pages.videotron.com/mcrides/product_evals/teknic/supervent.htm



    Cheers!


    Bruno
    Montreal, Canada
    CBR 929
    http://pages.videotron.com/mcrides

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