beat and heat - a ride San Franisco to Las Vegas

[Ridercam]

i am seriously considering a ride from San Francisco to Las Vegas this next weekend. it should be 105 across the Golden State and Las Vegas so most of my riding will be in the early morning and afternoon after 2. Going there will be more superslab than two lane curvy rollers but timing is everything. the plan going down includes an overnight In Bakersfielda at the motel 6 with the pool. The return will include Death Valley in the very early first light morning, a late lunch in Mammoth and a nice sun set ride through Yosemite - YEAH! i normally ride with the Darian Jacket and pant with a wicking tee and bermunda bike shorts. I have found that when I ride where it is hot, I use with a camel back. I fill the bag with 1/2 ice and water. I tie/wrap a wet handkerchief around my neck and I am good for two hours in blazing heat.

How do you cross the desert in the summer? got a favorite rest stop from the heat along the way?

any one want to join me on any part of the ride.

[dougie]

Saw a good documentary about Death Valley last night.
You plan to ride through there, one person, one bike, in the beginning of August?
It will only be early morning as long as nothing stops you.
Then you're in Death Valley with a jug of ice water and a handkerchief.

[Deleted User 287]

Saw a good documentary about Death Valley last night.

Was that the one that I saw on PBS Monday early morning that featured the marathon runners? Incredible!
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/deathvalley/

The nature aspects of the show were very interesting.

[dougie]

Saw a good documentary about Death Valley last night.

Was that the one that I saw on PBS Monday early morning that featured the marathon runners? Incredible!
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/deathvalley/
The nature aspects of the show were very interesting.

Yup.

[Garnet]

I rode my /7 through the valley of death 30 odd years back. End of July, early afternoon. Fuck was it hot!

We stopped at the little store in Furnace Creek (Hell Creek, can't remember), and the air conditioning hit us like a blast from the arctic. Wondered around the store for a bit to cool down and then saw a thermometer on the wall. It was 95 degrees inside the store! I have no idea how hot it was outside.

[Zombie Master]

Why not avoid Vegas. It really sucks.

[ME 109]

How do you cross the desert in the summer?

Greyhound bus?

[Ridercam]

Why not avoid Vegas. It really sucks.

vegas is pretty bad as I don't gamble or drink much. My wife is there for a week long business meeting and has a large suite at the Belligio. i am the CTO of her small business and might get some cool travel side work. (Vietnam motorbiking anyone!) I was thinking it sounded pretty good to have dinner on Friday and Saturday with her and her clients, with a visit to the adult pool Saturday afternoon to look at other professionally done opposed jugs (read topless) and get in a bit of early morning desert photography.

the airhead sounded better than to drive her year old Red VW convertible bug with cutiesy personalized plates (it is even too gay for our gayest friend to drive!). I am not wealthy enough to drive the land cruiser that gets 12 mpg - 1200 miles.

[Garnet]

Make sure you have lots of water with you.
A couple of cups of water down the inside of your jacket makes excelent AC.

[Deleted User 287]

her year old Red VW convertible bug with cutiesy personalized plates (it is even too gay for our gayest friend to drive!).

Oh - we must have a picture of that!

I tried a Camelbak once - I didn't have to stop for water, but I had to stop more often to pee!
If I were to keep up this foolish notion of long-distance m/c travel, I'd need a Stadium Buddy to go along with the Camelbak.