Adventure Bike Rider Forum

Central Spain can be a cauldron. Was ~44 degrees when we rode through in sept/oct last year and hitting traffic in cities is definitely worth avoiding.

Vented clothing makes riding in that heat easily comfortable. I wore a Tuareg jacket and it was perfect combined with a bamboo/merino/coolmax shirt. Trousers I went with Klim Dakar with huge thigh length vents which were great. I saw quite a few bikers with leathers on, so it is do-able, but I didn't envy them.

Sun tan lotion is a must

I always wore leather until I started travelling South. I invested in a quite inexpensive for bike gear textile suit. It's the "Desert" suit made by Akito. It's all I wear now, summer and winter with a seperate waterproof and thermal layer you can quickly zip in and out to suit the environment, it also comes with Knox body armour, full arm length vents, and back and chest vents. I have had it since 2009 and covered roughly 18,000 miles through snow in Andorra to sweltering Spain in June no problems.

The one thing that nobody has mentioned, probably due to it's personal nature, sweaty arse.
Maybe it's just me but this caused me more discomfort than anything else, now dont laugh but, three sheets of toilet roll caefully rolled up and placed between the cheeks makes a hell of a difference, an unamed friend recommended Tampons for the same job but, well I just couldn't. sorry I will go now

Arrrr sweaty arse!

Lanacane talc your sensitive areas and carry baby wipes.

A friend of mine was sponsored by ID Lubes (they are trying to branch out from botty love lubes) when doing the Great Kalahari Desert Race (think Marathon des Sables - on crack) a few years ago, a sweaty bum and chaffing was not an issue.

Best thing I ever bought was my BMW Rallye Suit, stupidly expensive and a pain in the rain as if you haven't got the goretex liner in, you have to strip off at the road side! And even if you have the outer suit weighs a tonne when wet. These days I carry lightweight, cheapie waterproofs to wear over the top.

But it is fantastic in hot weather, loads of vents, a built in camel back pocket and very good armour so even when fully vented feels very safe.

I was wearing it when I had my off in December, OK it was at low speed but the suit shows no signs of damage, shame it couldn't stop the effect of dropping 150 kg of bike on the inner side of my knee

The price will be off putting for some, and the fact you look like a Charley/Ewan wannabe but they do come up on eBay.


And as for sweaty arse, wicking kecks under your base layer is the way to go as if you wear cotton it ruins the effect. I usually wear cycling shorts with a wicking colmax pad makes the seat on my CCM more bearable too :laugh:

Oh yes there is a difference between "base layers" and "thermals" some people think they are the same so are put off wearing "thermal underwear" in hot weather.

If it's hot,try tee shirt,cargo shorts and flip flops.
Dead comfy,keeps you cool.
Just don't fall off or crash.
Works for me.
Now we're gonna get all the safety lectures about acting irresponsibly.
But it's my choice,my life,and I don't give a stuff what anyone else thinks.

Nigel wrote:

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:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

And http://www.kaboodle.com/reviews/harley- ... flip-flops



Or....

http://www.jcmotors.com/c-3981-flip-flo ... FilterID=7

laz wrote:If it's hot,try tee shirt,cargo shorts and flip flops.
Dead comfy,keeps you cool.
Just don't fall off or crash.
Works for me.
Now we're gonna get all the safety lectures about acting irresponsibly.
But it's my choice,my life,and I don't give a stuff what anyone else thinks.

I did that in Florida some years ago. Hired a Harley (sorry - it sucked big time) to do the Florida Keys. As we entered the 7 mile bridge the monsoon started. It was great fun in the T shirt and shorts - not. :blink:

Anyway, stuff safety, we're bikers. If we want safe we could buy a cage.