Post by Azza ( AB ) on Jan 13, 2016 12:19:32 GMT 10
After a reminder that I had it and some warmish weather forecast I dug the Fly racing cooling vest I bought last year out of the wardrobe. Instructions said to activate it once prior to first use. To activate it you just soak in water for two minutes so without further ado I threw it in the pool. After about two stubbies I fished it out and hung over the fence to dry. Tuesday morning I grabbed it to resoak it but found that it was still pretty damp so didn’t bother. The trick I read is to wear it against you skin for best results so I slipped it on and let me tell you on a warm morning it felt great putting on a cool jacket. Now because I looked like one of the blokes from the village people with my boots, jeans and silver vest and because the vest offers as much road rash protection as a singlet I donned my mesh jacket and helmet and headed out to the 9.
Well things did not start well as some dip ship put the wheelie bin on the footpath right in my reversing path and I promptly knocked it ass over tit and spent ten minutes in full ride gear picking up crap from the road. I worked up a bit of a sweat in the 24 degree heat before I got back on the bike mostly on the face and found the cooling effect of the damp vest stopped any profuse sweeting. Once I got on the bike and got out of the short 50 KPH streets I was able crack the throttle open to get the cooling effect of the vest working. I find it an interesting combination, nice cooling with the clammy feeling of wet clothing. On the open roads it works a treat and on the hi-way is great. When in slow moving traffic the effect is not as pronounced but when you stop at the lights the vest is cool as it settles onto your back, I am thinking the reflective silver finish helps with keeping cool when stationary.
I did not resoak it for the home journey and found it to be working just the same as it did in the morning but with temps around the 30 mark and once removed my skin was cool to the touch. I threw it back in the pool to soak and gave it a squeeze out and folded it up to wear today, it does make your jeans a bit damp but on a hot day who cares. For weekend rides you could keep it in a plastic bag all activated and ready to go and just put it on when the need arises. I will keep wearing it while the weather is warm and research if they make an undies version
Well things did not start well as some dip ship put the wheelie bin on the footpath right in my reversing path and I promptly knocked it ass over tit and spent ten minutes in full ride gear picking up crap from the road. I worked up a bit of a sweat in the 24 degree heat before I got back on the bike mostly on the face and found the cooling effect of the damp vest stopped any profuse sweeting. Once I got on the bike and got out of the short 50 KPH streets I was able crack the throttle open to get the cooling effect of the vest working. I find it an interesting combination, nice cooling with the clammy feeling of wet clothing. On the open roads it works a treat and on the hi-way is great. When in slow moving traffic the effect is not as pronounced but when you stop at the lights the vest is cool as it settles onto your back, I am thinking the reflective silver finish helps with keeping cool when stationary.
I did not resoak it for the home journey and found it to be working just the same as it did in the morning but with temps around the 30 mark and once removed my skin was cool to the touch. I threw it back in the pool to soak and gave it a squeeze out and folded it up to wear today, it does make your jeans a bit damp but on a hot day who cares. For weekend rides you could keep it in a plastic bag all activated and ready to go and just put it on when the need arises. I will keep wearing it while the weather is warm and research if they make an undies version