Riding in the Arizona Heat

Hi,
This is my first biking summer in the Arizona heat. Is there anything special that I need to do or know about my bike. Different oil weight, tire pressure, engine idle heat in traffic, etc. etc. etc???????
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Dave

 

A 20-50 oil should do just fine. Make sure you're not running lean -- check the color of the spark plugs on occasion. White insulators = lean = hot. Don't let the tire pressure get over 40psi. An oil cooler might help, but is not necessary.

Your bike will probably handle the heat just fine... Be careful about yourself though. Just cause it's hot, doesn't mean you can leave your riding gear at home. If you ride in a t-shirt, you will lose moisture a lot faster and dehydrate. It goes without saying that t-shirt and jeans won't protect you much if you go down.

 

Thanks. I do all the gear all the time.
I will be looking for a lighter color jacket, as mine is now black and that would be bad in the summer sun. Also I am looking into a camelback hydration pack for watering while riding.