Adventure Bike Rider Forum

What do you wear in hot weather on the bike?

We are doing a tour of Spain in July/August. Not having been abroad on the bike before, im not really sure what we should wear. Obviously, protection is the most important, but has anyone bought different gear for riding in hot climes? As it stands, i'll be wearing leather bike trousers and my Tuareg jacket with a teeshirt undernieth, but having worn just that in the weather we had last weekend im thinking i may need to buy something else. I roasted last weekend in the gear i have.

Any advice? Fanx.

Well I just have my Armoured Cordura Touring Jacket and Pants, I just take out the winter lining in good weather which helps with temperature until that is you stop then I start to cook. Be interested to see what others suggest as we all have the same problem come summer time.

I prefer wearing textile gear with armour and then vary what I wear underneath depending on the weather as I find leather trousers too warm in summer.

When I rode to & around Morocco October 2010 I wore a summer jacket & trousers that I could vent and then wore just a thin base layer top & leggings underneath when it was hot (the base layer stuff washes & dries quickly and I thought it would stop my bike gear getting quite so sweaty) and then wore warmer clothes underneath for travelling over the mountains in Spain and back through the UK. The only problem with this was I needed a waterproof / windproof layer over the top when the weather was bad, but I just used a cheap pair of waterproofs for that.

If you don't want to splash out on new biking gear I would recommend swapping your T-shirt at least for something that wicks and dries quickly - might not be quite as stylish as your choice of T-Shirt but is likely to be a lot more comfortable.

Hope this helps, looking forward to hearing more about your trip as having ridden through Spain quickly on the way to/from Morocco I would love to go back.

Leather jacket, cuff zip open and neck left open 2-3 inches. Mesh gloves. Leather jeans calf left unzipped. Light Shorts underneath.

All is good and airy as long you are moving, as soon as you stop dive in the shade pour water on your head and neck and take as much off as you dare. In traffic try not to stop at all or stay in the shade even if it means hanging back from a junction.

If staying somewhere and just going to the shops, beach, or a short sightseeing trip I just do what the locals do - jeans, t shirt, trainers. It's too bloody hot to do otherwise. My skin protection is SPF50


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I have a Halverssons suit with vents made from an infrared reflecting material that worked really well in 38C plus temperatures combined with a wicking base layer

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The chap we stayed with in Mallorca had a Dainese jacket which was basically just cordura mesh with body armour, but also had another layer to go on the top when colder / wet - seemed like a good idea to me

+1 for what Lizzie says about wicking t-shirts. Decathlon do a good one for not very much money at all.

If you don't want to splash out on new biking gear I would recommend swapping your T-shirt at least for something that wicks and dries quickly - might not be quite as stylish as your choice of T-Shirt but is likely to be a lot more comfortable.
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Yes, i have all the wicking teeshirts having been a mountain biker all my life. Pretty much all my clothing that i own is North Face or Berghaus, fast drying and i never iron!

I considered buy some Dickies work pants with the knee, hip and butt protection, but not sure if they would be safe enough for biking in.

riding isnt the problem its what happens when you stop. you might regret the leather trousers if youre going to walk more than 10'.
i ride in stuff i ride in the summer here, kevlar cargo trousers and a HG jacket with removable thermo liner and big opening vents. chances are it wont but it can still rain out there in the summer. short cuffless supermoto gloves, teeshirt. i thought about those short ankle boots you can get because my feet get really hot.

an open faced lid is a godsend too

I wouldn't consider leather of any kind at all.. Spain in the summer can be almost intolerable.. I've done it.

As said, Ok-ish when on the move ie over 50mph?... but when coming to a stop, I've seen leather clad (British) riders almost keel over with the heat.

I choose Hood type denim jeans (or even ordinary ones) and a textile jacket with lots of ventilation, even then it can get quite uncomfortable..

You'll have to forget about ATGATT, and go for comfort, long sleeves are a must, it's easy to get burnt and not notice until it's too late..

I'm of to Southern Spain in September, got me all excited now.. :laugh: