Mesh in Morocco?

[Dave E]

Hi all, I've been lurking for some time picking up tips for my trip to Morocco, starting tomorrow. Ferry to Santander on the 14th then generally southwards until we hit the desert!

Have got most of everything sorted but I'm still unsure about the most suitable riding gear to take. I have a choice of two jackets; Spidi textile jacket with removeable waterproof liner and a few small vents (lots of pockets, armour and gadgets etc) or my summer Alpinestars mesh jacket which is pretty basic but nice and breezey on hot days.

I'd pretty much decided on the mesh but am having last minute second thoughts as to whether it is the best choice. Has anyone familiar with the temperature in Morocco this time of year got any pearls of wisdom which might help me?

Would I roast in the Spidi jacket or benefit from the additional 'features' and protection?

Cheers
David

[Walkabout]

Just a thought:
During the last week or more of fine weather in the UK there has been quite a bit of rain further south in Europe, incl Spain: check the 5 day forecast on the BBC website.

[Matt Cartney]

Driving South could be pretty cold (sorry, will be cold!), personally I'd go with the riding jacket/waterproof liner combo. Depending on where you are going in Morocco, it might not be that warm there either.

Matt

[Dave E]

Originally Posted by Walkabout

Just a thought:
During the last week or more of fine weather in the UK there has been quite a bit of rain further south in Europe, incl Spain: check the 5 day forecast on the BBC website.

The recent weather in Europe is what got me wondering; I'd originally thought mesh after looking at all the pictures of deserts!

Looking at the temperatures in Morocco over the last few days it appears to have been similar to the UK...

[Matt Cartney]

I rode to Morocco in February one year. The UK was fine. France was hell on earth (wind and rain) then it warmed up for Spain and then it went back to wind rain and cold when I got to Morocco. I was wearing all the gear I had been wearing in France!

Even down near Merzouga and the dunes, where it was blue skies and sun, I was wearing a thermal vest and a sweatshirt under my riding jacket.

Matt

[Dave E]

Planning on exploring both the high Atlas and down to the dunes so I guess we could experience both extremes, mmmm, getting more unsure by the minute.

Really don't enjoy being too hot hence my original plan to go in mesh...

[Tim Cullis]

In Morocco you always need to be prepared for a wide range of temperatures depending upon
- the general weather pattern (currently cold),
- where you are (north cooler than south),
- the time of day (warm/hot at noon but cool/cold in mornings/evenings), and
- the altitude you are at (much of Maroc is higher than anywhere in the UK).

It's quite chilly here in Fes at the moment--Eastbourne is several degrees warmer!
Fes-10-day Extended Weather Forecasts - weather.co.uk

[edteamslr]

I would agree with the general consensus. I also think the colour of the jacket is as significant as whether it is mesh or not. I took a Rev'it Desert textile jacket to Morocco in September. It rained once heavily but I was still glad not to have the waterproof liner as I didn't need it at all heading south.

My esteemed travelling companion took an alpinestars mesh jacket and I think he'd agree that he wouldn't have changed his mind in hindsight either. His jacket was black though so if you intend on spending any amount of time at a standstill you will get very hot.

[Dave E]

Originally Posted by edteamslr

My esteemed travelling companion took an alpinestars mesh jacket and I think he'd agree that he wouldn't have changed his mind in hindsight either. His jacket was black though so if you intend on spending any amount of time at a standstill you will get very hot.

Unfortunately both my options are black...

Bearing in mind Tim's comments about being prepared for a wide range of temperatures I think the balance is shifting away from mesh!

[Walkabout]

Originally Posted by Dave E

Planning on exploring both the high Atlas and down to the dunes so I guess we could experience both extremes, mmmm, getting more unsure by the minute.

Really don't enjoy being too hot hence my original plan to go in mesh...

That would swing it for me!
I would rather be warm(ish) on the high ground and sweating like the proverbial lower down (you can always take something off - even the jacket, at your own risk blah, blah), than vice versa.

As Tim says, those mountains are high.

[AliBaba]

It’s often cold to cross Europe, beside the temperature-issue you often have long days in the saddle and it makes thing worse.

When I go to Morocco I carry a lot of clothes, and leave most of it in Spain. With the mesh, t-shirt, a thin wool-shirt and a light jacket I can manage 10 °C, it’s normally not colder then that - at least not for days.

[Big Yellow Tractor]

Hooning around on and off piste in January, I wore a waterproof Textile jacket over an MX shirt & sixsixone body armour. The jacket stayed on in the mountains then came off as we got further south. It was still quite cold early in the day. I like wearing separate armour because it allows me to loose some layers whilst still having the protection.

[JMo (& piglet)]

I'd agree with big yellow tractor - layers are the key...

Are you going to be riding dirt roads/off-road/piste as well as tarmac?

I was out there at the beginning of April (Tuareg Rally) and it was pretty roasting already (comparatively, 30°+) in the desert... South of the Atlas mountains it will be warm/hot, especially if riding off-road... I only ever wore MX pants and my jacket over a vest and my body armour, and in the dunes an MX shirt. Racing or not, if you drop your bike you'll be sweating like a sod!

I use an enduro jacket (Alpinestars Venture) which has plenty of vents and it pretty shower/rain proof unless it's torrential. It doesn't have armour in it though so you'll need some elbow guards (at least) or a pressure suit type all-in-one.

Layer that with a thermal vest and/or MX shirt and armour, and take a windwall type fleece/mid layer to wear under the jacket in the mountains/cold mornings etc. A cheapy rain smock (pack away type) over the whole lot should sort you out if it rains in Europe...

Afterall, it is nearly summer now!

xxx

[Dave E]

Thanks all,

I think with the summer on it's way and the temperature in the dunes rising I think I'll stick with my original mesh jacket plan. Not really planning too much hooning, we're both on more road-biased bikes (Transalp and GS650) so it'll be more pottering and pedaling!

Thinking I'll take my waterproof liner and wear it under the mesh if it's cold or wet; I'll let you know how I get on.

Cheers
David

PS always have been rubbish at making decisions!

[deandean]

I would go for the mesh with lots of layers...and some all-in-one waterproofs as its been raining on and off for the last few days.