Do you guys have any tricks or special clothing for keeping cool on long rides in the summer?

I wear the underwear that wick away moisture .. Works pretty good for me ..

Perforated leather jacket..... I'm always soaked with sweat when I get home no matter what I wear....lol
Try to avoid traffic jams...

When it gets to the mid 90's or above, in addition to wearing mesh or perf jacket, I will take my shirt off at a restroom, run it under the sink faucet, wring it out so its not dripping too much and put it back on under my jacket. Nice and cool and depending on the conditions will last for about 45 minutes or so. By the time I stop again my shirt is dry.

For the lower half a good pair of wicking underwear.

Good tip with the t-shirt builder....
will use that this year if it gets real toasty...

* Last updated by: zx14beast on 1/14/2014 @ 7:44 AM *

Always the same Preset clothing worn during summer and winter:

1. Red Wing socks = Longest made up the calf, 2-3" from the knees.
2. Red Wind shoes = Ankle high, steel toe.
3. Sweats = winter/summer crash/warm/cool too bad!
4. Long sleeve tall body t-shirts = Summer/Win win I go down I have no skin left from the last crash.
5. Overalls = Get out the way, it's summer time I'm starting to sweat so I need moving air to cool off.
6. Custom made leather jacket made in 1985 - still fits.
7. Levi over sized denim jacket so it fits over the leathers/jacket/ovalls/t-shirt.
8. Gauntlet gloves - plain deerskin, no fancy crash plastic sown in.
9. Full face helmet - Generic.
10. Always black underwear - Superstitious... a lucky charm.

I can't bend both knees (one worse than the other) due to a test crash. Can't go out in the sun without a long sleeve shirt due to the changed pigment of the arms due to the same crash. I was literally burning (friction) down the road traveling past a ton I'm sure, if the last thing I remember is looking down at 93mph before the throttle was locked open is when I thought I backed off to look at the speed.

I had sweats, a t-shirt, helmet and sneakers on. Imagine that one day you don't suit up, you morph into a 100% cotton cow pillow just about. This is how I have to go out on the bike theses days. Why? Because 9 seconds is 160 in the quarter mile? Give or take 150 plus you work 2 or 3 seconds worth of open throttle and what speed are you at now? A lot more seconds to burn thru before getting to you is the idea.

Kevlar jeans, and a t-shirt with an Xelement Level-3 Advanced Armored mesh jacket with liner removed, this jacket got me through a bad accident, with NO road rash, and I only paid like $50 at the time I bought it ...

Link to Jacket, Click Here !!!!

Somewhere I saw an ad for a vest that you wet and it is supposed to keep you cool for like 3 hours or something. Check the magazine ads.

Mad

Cycle gear sells an cool out undergarments. Also other companies do too. Kinda like what the bike guys wear. They work very well. I use the in this he summer and there is also the same kinda undergarments fir winter wear. They work.

sandals, bermuda shorts and wife beater gets me thru ;-p

(pay no attention to the helmet in my avatar, its only there for looks. I never wear it really)

Actually in all honesty, that Arai keeps my head pretty cool... while moving

* Last updated by: omega2k on 1/15/2014 @ 9:46 AM *

In the extreme heat, I rock a hydration vest w/ perforated leather jacket and a camelback. They both spend the night in the freezer and get buried in my top box in the morning.

By the time it gets hot and I am ready for them, they are good to go. I refill them both at fuel stops - lots of times you can get free ice and water if you ask.

I had a bad accident several years ago due to dehydration, so I really try to stay hydrated on multiday rides in hot areas now.

I ride with an Alpinestar cooling vest, get it wet and zip it inside the leather coat. Works awesome.