Cool Ideas

I'm just starting to make plans for my fourth annual roundtrip from Columbus, OH to Dallas, TX.  The last ten hours or so, through Arkansas and Texas, just kill me with the heat (I go in August).  I've been filling a bandana with ice and rolling it up, then tie it around my neck and ride as it melts.  I was hoping somebody might have a better way.  Any ideas?

[Valker]

..cool collars (bandannas with water retaining beads inside.) My favorite is a HEAVY turtleneck, completely wet, with a mesh jacket over it. It keeps me cool for several hours after I wet it. I usually rewet it at each fuel stop.

This past Memorial weekend I tried an idea while traveling in our Texas heat.  I kept a small spray bottle with water standing upright in my tank bag.  It's teh bottle used to water plants around the house; very small.  I would occasionally squirt myself while riding (I know, I should pull over first!).  But it made a HUGE difference in my body temp.  a little breeze blowing over the wet clothes would chill me down quickly.  Of course, I dried out quickly and had to reapply occasionally, but it was still worth it.  The other riders in my group were jeaulous, and I passed it to them occasionally.  That small bottle lasted all day.
I will try the cool collar next time.  Safer than squirting while riding and I hear they work great.

[Valker]

Try this since you like the idea and want to be safer (talk about jealous friends!!!) clicky
Cool Mate is what you need to do a search for when you get here.
It is a pressurized cooler like you used. They also have the cool collars. All this is under the "Off and Riding" section the the "keep cool" subsection. Typing cool mate into the search box takes you straight to it.

Ok Valker, I'll bite.  A heavy turtleneck sounds contrary to what you should do in the heat, but I understand evaporation - so, how heavy?  I'm guessing 100% cotton.  And how about the jacket - are you talking about those nylon semi-see-through things or something else?  On the cool collars, I understand you refrigerate those to get them going.  What happens on the road after they warm up?  If I understand the way they work, you can only use them once before you need a refrigerator again.

I use the cool collars all the time in the yard and in the boat! You can re-cool them with ice-water. I keep a quart jug of ice water in my boat just for swapping out cool collars with 2-3 of them in the rotation. Despite the label you can put them in a ziplock and keep them in your cooler too, just don't leave them overnight in a sealed bag.

[Valker]

The heavy (heaviest I can find-usually Eddie Bauer or Lands End) is so it retains more water after I wet it and for a longer period of time. Around here (dry heat) a thin long sleeve T-shirt will dry completely in about 15 minutes of riding. You are COLD for 15 minutes though ;-). I MUCH prefer to be COOL for a couple of hours at a time. The turtleneck is so it cools my neck area also. I am talking about the mesh jackets-I prefer the First Gear Mesh-Tex, but Joe Rocket Phoenix and some others are very good also. This keeps the shirt from drying out too fast as well as providing the protection in case of a crash or impact. My family owns three mesh jackets. My favorite place to get them is http://www.newenough.com especially on clearance when they are $69 or even $49 like the last one I bought. I also have the Joe Rocket mesh pants-First Gear doesn't make my size ;-( These are very cool and protective. They also let me pack far fewer pairs of pants on a long trip. http://www.aerostich.com/riderwearhouse.store and type "cool mate" into the search box. This is a great product and will nearly freeze you out!
I do switch to a thinner long sleeve T-shirt under my jacket when traveling in high humidity areas. The turtleneck will not allow enough evaporation in those areas.
I hope this helps.
BTW-I am quite comfortable riding in 110º-120º heat with this set up. East of the Mississippi (high humidity-like south Texas!), this will make 100º nearly bearable as long as I can keep moving.