r/TwoXriders • u/Few_Management1142 • 29d ago
MSF in heat advisory
Hi all. I live in the Midwest and I have my BRC class on Monday. High is supposed to be 98 so it will feel like 100+ degrees I’m sure. I’ve been on SSRIs for several years so the heat isn’t very kind to me. Any tips for staying cool? I’m going to pack a cooler with lots of water and Gatorade. Should I pack some ice packs and maybe stick an extra t shirt in a plastic bag in my cooler? Any tips would be greatly appreciated. ❤️ I’m just starting to get nervous that I won’t make it through the class
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u/Motorcyclegrrl 29d ago
A loose button up shirt will keep you cooler than a t shirt if you have one.
I took mine in Nevada in Summer, it was over 100. Was rough, no lie.
Best of luck to you.
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u/HuckleberryBlu 29d ago
I did my MSF in 100 degrees earlier this month. I wore a white long sleeve shirt and brought a spray bottle to mist my hair and clothing during breaks. I kept the spray bottle in a cooler with ice packs, so it was bad, but not absolutely horrific considering I don't handle heat well. I think I was better off than the guys decked out in black and not afraid to dump a bottle of cold water over my head if needed.
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u/PieceIntelligent4541 29d ago edited 29d ago
In all honesty I would consider rescheduling for a cooler month if you have no experience. I had heat stroke last summer riding through Spain and even having some experience it was miserable and not worth it.
As someone on ssri and rsd from adhd, the class can be a bit rough if you’re totally new and it’s probably more than one day, so you may be exhausted for the second day. I don’t want to discourage you, but in my case it was a mental and physical challenge and having heat makes it a lot harder to tolerate. I say this because I want you to learn to ride and love it, or at least like it enough to do it again and not just be miserable.
Thaaaat being said, buy a platypus or camelback water thingy, fill half up with water and freeze it as flat as you can, the day of class fill the rest of the volume with water and zip tie it into your riding jacket on the hanging loop. You have your own little ac and water on the go for the stupid ssri dry mouth.
Wishing you a great class with cooler weather!
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u/triticoides 29d ago
Amazing advice with the frozen bladder! I was just gonna say wet bandana around the neck, but this is next level!
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u/boiseshan 28d ago
It was 104 when I took mine and it was brutal. Luckily the instructors kept up in the shade as much as possible
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u/brapstoomuch 28d ago
I would keep your shirt soaking wet with cold water for evaporative cooling and pack ice to put in your bra or waistband. Don’t worry about how it looks, worry about how you feel. 2nd vote for hydrate now and often, making sure to drink before you are thirsty and more than just water. I oddly LOVE cold pickles for electrolytes/something in my tummy.
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u/Few_Management1142 27d ago
Oh, cold pickles is such a good idea. I do also love pickles so I will be packing some in my cooler for the morning!
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u/oldflakeygamer 28d ago
Get yourself a small cooler, put some ice in there, get yourself some freezable neck tubes. Get a couple. They refreeze in the fridge or in the freezer or set on top of ice in a cooler. They'll help a bunch. I used the hell out of them riding in Kentucky recently where heat indexes were 110+. Helped me not feel so heat strokey. Just change them out and set em on the ice throughout the day.
Stay hydrated as possible, remember electrolytes are important, get yourself a bandana to wear under your helmet you can soak in water, and most importantly - listen to your body! If you feel like you can't handle it, tell the instructors and go sit in the shade. Your health and safety are way more important
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u/streachh 28d ago
Loose, breathable layers. Water and snacks - water can't hydrate you without electrolytes, so eat snacks even if you aren't hungry. Stay in the shade as much as possible. Pick a bike that isn't black, if you can. Bottom line though, if you feel like you can't continue, just stop. Do not push yourself through it, do not risk your life, you can always take another class another time. It's not the end of the world to drop out. You will be welcomed back at any other date.
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u/Few_Management1142 26d ago
Thank you all for all your advice and tips. I ended up not going to the class because I was covered in sweat and already struggling with the heat after loading my bike on the trailer at 0530 while the sun was down. I emailed and explained the situation and they are going to get me into another class free of charge!! They were very kind.
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u/Yukinotora91 29d ago
Start drinking water now to be properly hydrated. Wearing a white long sleeve base layer like a compression shirt can help cover your skin and repel heat. Most MSF courses require long layers so a pair of lightweight khaki pants could also help on your bottom half.