Gone from bone dry to wet. How do you handle humidity?

[oblivion007]

I am now in Brownsville Texas where the humidity is high (right by the ocean) coming from El Paso TX where the air is really nice and dry so when I sweat I can cool off by evaporation.

How the heck do you guys handle this? When I put on my gloves its a hassle now because its all sticky, same goes for pants. So far I'm thinking baby powder is my friend.

How do I stay cool and are there any new maintenance precautions I should take given that a lot more water is in the air than what I'm use to seeing?

Thanks in advanced.

[csmith12]

Drink water and lots of it. For example, If I know I am going to be doing a day of riding. I will start the day before hydrating myself. You have drank enough when your pee runs clear. Get plenty of rest too.

I would stay away from the baby powder, that stuff will just make a quite foul cake if you use to much and is an A1 pain in the arse to clean out of your gear. You want to look into moisture wicking underclothing. Makes getting gear on and off easier, because your not gunna stop sweating and the material stays slippery even when wet. Not much you can do about the gloves either accept maybe get a pair that flow air better.

You will also want to get your gear cool and dry as soon as you can after the ride. Moldy gear sucks. Never lay your gear down in the sun if you help it, it makes a small greenhouse. Keep it as cool as possible when not in use. Your chain can rust in as little as 24 hours in high humidity, so that will require extra attention. Watch for condensation in places like the gas tank and oil sight glass. If you think there could be too much water in there, change the oil or drain the gas. It's normally not a problem if you ride often enough.

[oblivion007]

Thank you! I'll look into those things. Also I did notice my chain rust =0 I was freaked out.

[Motofool]

Originally Posted by csmith12

.........You will also want to get your gear cool and dry as soon as you can after the ride. Moldy gear sucks.........

Exactly right !!!

With humidity and some organic food, mold seeds germinate in around 72 hours.
Once that happen, you cannot get rid of it.

Remember that the cooling of your body is done mainly through evaporation of the sweat.
When relative humidity reaches above 70 ~ 80% that process almost stops, which elevates your temperature and makes you feel uncomfortable.

In those extreme conditions, abundant flowing air around your body is your only friend, so keep moving and as fast as possible and use any ventilation opening that your gear has.

Also, remember that your neck is the radiator of your body and keeping working at peak by wrapping something wet around it is good.

You lose a lot of salts (which makes you feel tired and dizzy) with sweat and plain water cannot replace those.
Sport drinks replace the lost sodium and potassium.

[csmith12]

Here is what I do at the track.

A good breakfast
A couple of bananas after registration
Beef jerky yo. Protein + salts
Water and/or Gatorade

[93etgocart]

Come to missouri this time of year when the humidity stays in the 80% or higher. It is something you learn to live with.

[Joshorilla]

Silk liners

[oblivion007]

Originally Posted by 93etgocart

Come to missouri this time of year when the humidity stays in the 80% or higher. It is something you learn to live with.

How long does it take? I will be here two months.

[93etgocart]

well I am almost 24 and lived here all my life and it still bothers me in certain areas (you know down by the boys) so needless to say you will just be getting to where you can bare it by the time you leave

[oblivion007]

Originally Posted by 93etgocart

well I am almost 24 and lived here all my life and it still bothers me in certain areas (you know down by the boys) so needless to say you will just be getting to where you can bare it by the time you leave

Dang :\

I guess I'll be buying some new clothes and some other stuff. Maybe a sombrero.

[93etgocart]

Alot of the guys at work swear by gold bond, I just shave

[adouglas]

When it gets really nasty I use the old tried-and-true swamp cooler method.

Before you put your gear on, to to the rest room and soak your shirt and bandanna. I mean sopping wet. Cool water. Don't wring it out… just put it back on.

As the air flows through your gear it evaporates the water and cools you off amazingly well.

This is the exact same principle used by cooling vests.

[oblivion007]

Originally Posted by adouglas

When it gets really nasty I use the old tried-and-true swamp cooler method.

Before you put your gear on, to to the rest room and soak your shirt and bandanna. I mean sopping wet. Cool water. Don't wring it out… just put it back on.

As the air flows through your gear it evaporates the water and cools you off amazingly well.

This is the exact same principle used by cooling vests.

Yeah I've tried that but due to the humidity being so much higher than what I'm used to (gone from Low-14%; High-45% to Low - 49% ; High 100%)

and so sadly it doesn't work as well as what I'm comfortable with

[oblivion007]

Originally Posted by oblivion007

Yeah I've tried that but due to the humidity being so much higher than what I'm used to (gone from Low-14%; High-45% to Low - 49% ; High 100%)

and so sadly it doesn't work as well as what I'm comfortable with

e:\ I bought some goldbond, it works nice for stuff and it seems as I will be carrying it around with me.

e:2\ woops.... edit to realize the fact that this post was not an edit >_<

[xaple]

Originally Posted by 93etgocart

Come to missouri this time of year when the humidity stays in the 80% or higher. It is something you learn to live with.

Dry day in SoFlo, 77%

[setasai]

I like to use athletic apparel with moisture wicking. It really helps feel more comfortable when you're sweating like crazy in addition to the humidity.

[Snake]

Here in Louisiana it's just part of summer to you just get aclamated to it and drink lots of water.

[backinthesaddleagain]

Arrid Extra Dry - do they still make that?

[oblivion007]

Originally Posted by backinthesaddleagain

Arrid Extra Dry - do they still make that?

Amazon still sells it. Can I apply it to my butt?

[backinthesaddleagain]

Originally Posted by oblivion007

Amazon still sells it. Can I apply it to my butt?

Hey it's your butt.