It's summer. In Texas. Remember the feeling you got at the end of each school year … of total freedom and time stretched out so far it seemed endless? Summers were when special trips were planned for family, reunions, maybe Six Flags or that wonderful world of Disney.
Summer brings day light savings time extending the sunshine from the heavens encouraging us to stay out a just little bit longer than we maybe should or normally would. Summers are delicious and a good deal shorter than I think God intended. Before long, it's over and we fondly remember the past and are looking forward to the next.
Summer in Texas is one time of year when it is safe to say only the genuinely tough skinned and determined persist on taking the bike out mid-day when the sun shines high in the sky. Most of us hide from the middle of the day seeking shade, a priceless commodity in Texas between noon and about three in the afternoon. A lot of us Texan bikers take respite at these times to wait for the shadows to grow a little longer and a tiny bit of cooler breeze to blow over the Texas terrain.
As a Texan you learned quickly that jumping on your bike after it sat in the 110-degree sun probably isn't a smooth move. You may wear the brand of the bike seat pattern down your thighs a couple of times to aid your memory. And you most likely know what "Monkey Butt" is, even if you have called it by another name. You know it isn't as funny as it sounds either.
In Texas, I suspect we eat spicy food because it actually makes us feel cooler in the sultry weather. From June through August, a prevalent fear bikers have is considering is whether or not we will cook to death if we wreck and end up on the pavement too long before paramedics arrive. (Will they know to scoop up the person puddle?)
This time of year only the hardcore take to the road during braving it even while sizzling in a thick swamp of sunbeams. Riding now is at a faster pace than during the winter months, so that every advantage can be gained from the wind, however hot, to keep from turning into a runny fluid. And it's the hardest time of year to keep the helmet on for those of us wearing one. A long red light is reason enough to consider running it and taking the gamble of getting a ticket, just to get that breeze stirring around our sweltering body.
So, why do we do it? For those riders who love gazing at the panorama of blue skies surrounding them as they ride, seeing summer in the plump, swaying emerald, jade, lime and olive colored trees, in the brightly colored wild flowers dotting the roadsides; it's a simple explanation. As the t-shirt testifies " if I have to explain, you wouldn't understand." The heat of the summer will not stop our pursuit of happiness, to ride. But there is danger lurking in these trips in the scorching sun. So here are a few suggestions for those of you who choose to venture out during these dog days of summer.
Most of us don't appreciate how lethal excesSive heat can be. Each year deaths due to heat are double the evident disasters such as tornadoes, floods, and hurricanes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports estimates that total is around 350 deaths in this country every year due to the effects of heat. Seems logical then that we, as bikers, are in a vulnerable position and need to be equipped.
Normally, sweating is the body's way of cooling itself, regulating your temperature. When temperature and humidity are extremely high, as they are in the lovely state of Texas, sweating is not efficient enough to maintain the body's normal temperature. Because of this your brain and kidneys can be damaged.
Think it's no big deal? Well, you couldn't be more wrong but I'm not here to dispute it, just to enlighten on how to avoid your chances of going down on that melting road to be scooped up and poured into an ambulance.
In Texas it's true that it isn't just the heat; it really is the humidity! 100° F at 80% humidity is as much heat as 158° F.
We need to be prepared to take precautions. I know you have heard that you should drink "plenty of fluids" but do you really comprehend what that means in relation to the summer heat in our beautiful but sweltering state? It means that every day you should be drinking at least 1-1/2 to 2 quarts of water, fruit juice, or fruit-flavored or carbonated drinks. We need to drink at regular intervals during the day when we are riding in the heat. If you must drink alcoholic or caffeine beverages then drink 6-12 ounces of water in between each drink. And by the way, salt tablets are not a substitute for fluids.
A couple of more suggestions to make your ride more pleasant and easier on your body, freeze water in plastic bottles and, as they melt, cool off by pouring over your head, neck, arms or whatever part of you needs to be cooled down. You can also use them to keep any drinks cold for a short period of time. Don't get trapped somewhere with no cover and nothing to drink.
Heat stroke is real and it can kill. If you start to feel your pulse quicken and get a throbbing headache, dizziness or nausea comes on, be aware that unconsciousness is not far away and you need to get off the bike immediately. Find a cool place, preferably an airconditioned indoor setting but if outside, find a spot in the shade to rest. Get in a sitting position, loosen clothing and bathe the head and body with COLD water.
And another tip, this is probably not the best time to wear the all-pervasive biker black clothing. I plan to enjoy the summer as long as I can but to also stay safe while I do my riding. How about you?
Carmen Juch