I was out for a ride before 10am for about 12-14 miles from home and it was 93 and I was comfortable as it felt much cooler. After a late breakfast, a business call with my insurance broker to discuss my upcoming insurance policy renewals for bike, auto, and renters insurance I went relaxed for a while longer enjoying some sweet tea and a small splash at Chick-fil before going to fill up the bike at Costco, didn't feel up to another 15 mile ride to save another $0.16/gal for 4 gallons of gas, economically not a winning proposition...would have burning 1/2 gallon of fuel on the round trip for $2.839/gallon vs the $2.999/gallon I paid. Normally the spread in prices between the Costco at Orange Grove vs the Tucson Marketplace is less than $0.10/gallon different. I stopped for some BBQ at Dickey's BBQ, a couple Western Brisket sandwiches and a pulled pork sandwich... The Western brisket sandwiches went in the refrigerator for a few meals the next couple days...
I had a coupon for a free Western Brisket sandwich, this why I bought more than one sandwich. They 2nd Western Brisket and the pulled pork sandwiches were on sale for several dollars off normal. The sandwiches went in a bag tucked under the cargo netting I strapped to the rack. The drinks went in a plastic bag and I tied them to the side tank/engine crash bars of the Vstrom. I had a refill of sweet tea from Chick-fil-A and large cup of ice and a 24 oz aluminum thermos of ice in a plastic bag tied and strapped to the other side engine/tank crab bar. The cups from Dickey's leaked a bit because they tilted a bit in the large plastic bag. I didn't put the side panniers on the bike for the ride and the cargo net wasn't going to stretch enough or be able to contain the cups standing upright...so this my saddlebag like tie on transport...
I should get a milk crate to put on the rear rack or have taken my soft helmet rear bag on the rear rack. I often use it to take a change of clothes and some straps and first aid supplies when I have the rear hard panniers on the bike.
Ride home I checked temp before I put food on bike and refreshed evaporative cooling vest with about 16-20 ozs of cold water and dumped a small cup of cold water in my helmet to make it more tolerable. Temperature was 100f at 12:15pm, 30-40 min later at home (12:50-12:55 ish) the temp had risen to 102-103f. 5 min after seeing the 102f the temp had risen to 103f...
It was a very hot ride...I'm not acclimated to the extreme temps, have stayed inside in the AC most of the summer and today's ride was 2nd time I have ridden in over well over a year because of some health stuff going on...
Chart one would extrapolate the temps to be between 111-117f...it felt every bit of that! (40-45 mph max speed and 100-105f temps) Going over the Tucson Mountains through a bit of Saguaro National Park West I felt areas of cooler hot air amongst the cactus and desert scrub. That totally went away the last few miles home into just like a sauna. The evaporative vest was dry to the touch but my Tshirt was damp in my back. I brought the food in with my helmet and gear and stripped off Hemet, gloves, evaporate vest, and jacket. Then retrieved a couple more things before securing the bike. I stripped down and put the dual split in my bedroom to 61f to get my body temp back down to normal hydrating while I cooled off.
