will england :: motorcycle notes and tips

Riding when it's hot

Check out the MiraCool Poncho at
 http://www.stageoneproductions.com/vstpnch2.html  as recommended last summer

by Sam Lepore.   I purchased one prior to my trip across the southwestern
deserts last summer and found it to be very effective when worn under my
perforated Vanson jacket.   It works like the bandanas that soak up water in
the enclosed crystals and then release that moisture very gradually over
many hours depending on heat and airflow.    It works best in drier
climates, but is still effective in higher humidity as long as you have
adequate airflow.

When I first received mine, the vest seemed so insignificant I thought I had
been ripped off.   When the vest's crystals (is there a name for that
stuff?) are completely dry, they weigh next to nothing and take up a
miniscule amount of space.   The completely dry vest will fold up and fit in
a pocket, but when soaked in water for 30 minutes must weigh at least 5 or 6
pounds!    In fact it will hold so much water that I can barely get my
jacket on over it, so I usually only soak mine for a couple of minutes and
lightly squeeze the excess water out and then it fits easily under my jacket
and still cools for many hours in even the hottest weather.    You do end up
with a damp shirt, so it might not be the best thing  to use on the way to
the office, but for desert crossings it can't be beat.    One of the best
$27.00 purchases I've ever made.    (I tried it under my Roadcrafter once,
but there is so little air flow that no cooling seemed to occur.  I was just
hot and wetter, but YMMV.)

Geoff Adams
Arlington, TX
'85K100RS 'IBMWR'
'85K100C/EML-GT
www.bmwdfw.org

Return to index

note: this article is by the listed author. all articles have been collected from various usenet groups and e-mail lists. DMCA violations, errors, omissions, complaints to will england. compliments to listed author. if no author is listed, none was provided in the source material. all information is correct to the best of my knowledge; however it has not been independently verified. use at your own risk; this database of information is for entertainment purposes only. no warranty is given or implied.