One of the downsides of electric scooters is that riding them is weather dependent. You can’t really ride an electric scooter comfortable and safe under some weather conditions like heavy rain, snow, ice, and even high temperatures.
While I consider spring and autumn (except the heavy rains) the perfect seasons for electric scooters, summer would be my favorite if it didn’t have days with extremely high temperatures. But, rest assured, I will give you some useful tips that I used during the summer to make the rides more enjoyable.
Here are 5 tips that will help you ride during a hot summer
Use a summer-friendly helmet
Some electric scooter / electric bike helmets don’t have good ventilation which will make the heat build-up and become unbearable in hot summer days. Using a ventilated helmet will make a huge difference, and also make sure you get a light color one. White would be the best option. Here is an example from Amazon.com of a good helmet.
This one has 23 integrated flow vents which besides offering a cool airflow it will also decrease the air-resistence so you can get more speed.
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It also has a cool feature which is not a must, but nice to have like: rechargeable led tail light. This will make your night commutes safer.
If you don’t want to wear a helmet or you don’t have one (even though I strongly suggest you get one), the next best thing is to wear a light color hat.
Use polarized bike-glasses
Another bad thing that happens during bright summer days is that sunlight reflects and can blind you sometimes. Wearing some good bike glasses with UV protection can protect you and can relax your forehead muscles. They will also protect your eyes against bugs and flies that are present in a large number during summer.
Besides these important benefits, some pairs also have interchangeable lenses so you get night-vision glasses and driving glasses at the same price. A good example of these is Torege sport sunglasses. (link to Amazon.com)
Use sunscreen
While most people only apply sunscreen when going to the beach, UV rays are everywhere and the UV Index is very high in the summer days. If you ride your electric scooter between 11 am and 5 pm, the sunscreen is a must! According to ehe health, not using sunscreen can lead to an increased risk of skin cancer and premature aging of the skin. The UV index is at the highest level at around 12 o’clock, when the sun is right above us so the distance between the sun and us is minimal.
Use a sunscreen that has at least 30 SPF. This means that you get 30 times less damage than using no sunscreen at all. There are also 50+ SPFs if you do longer rides, for example, if you are delivering food on an electric scooter. It’s also worth mentioning that UV rays are present even in winter, that’s why most ski athletes use 50+ SPF when training.
Hydrate – Freeze water bottles
Yeah, I know, an obvious tip, but many people ignore it.
According to the Australian Institute of Sports Nutrition, if you are working out, you must drink at least 8 ounces of water every 15 minutes, which is about 0.2 liters or 236 milliliters. You may drink slightly more water in case you are sweating heavily. (source)
If you have longer rides, you can freeze the water bottles so you can get fresh water for longer periods of time.
Another tip is to get electrolyte water or drinks. It improves hydration, muscle contraction, and multiple body functions. Heavy exercise can decrease the number of electrolytes that are available to your body and cause fatigue or muscle strain.
Use light material and light color clothes
The color is pretty evident but worth mentioning. Also, the clothes should be made of textile materials that favor airflow. Cotton is a natural fiber that provides airflow for higher breathability. It also absorbs sweat and allows evaporation so you can get a cool ride.
You can also look for sports-specific equipment. These are specifically made for better heat management during summer. The best ones for a cool ride are mesh bike jerseys which provide good airflow.
Conclusion
To wrap this up, you can certainly get through a hot summer with using these basic but important tips. Many people ignore common sense and don’t use sunscreens, helmets, sunglasses, and light clothes to protect against the harmful (and invisible) UV rays. As I mentioned before, these can cause skin cancer and premature aging of the skin so it’s important to follow all the safety measures when riding an electric scooter.
I hope this helps and if you have other tips or tricks in mind that you use to cool down during summer please let me know in the comments section below.
>>> BEFORE YOU GO! Check out our article about the best electric scooter accessories here <<<
