Fair-weather biker. It’s a phrase that I used to hear a lot when I lived in the UK, where the winters threw up serious challenges to anyone with a penchant for travelling on two wheels. I had a Harley-Davidson for four whole months after passing my motorcycle test and I don’t think that I used it more than a dozen times, thanks to wet roads with their slippery drain covers, fallen leaves, black ice and severe winds.
But the UAE presents entirely different problems for motorcyclists. The driving standards of car users is one thing, but what about the weather? I once met a motorcycle journalist who had come here in the summer to try out the road leading up and down Jebel Hafeet in Al Ain, as part of a series of features that he was writing about the best roads in the world for bikers. He was wearing a special cooling suit, but after just half an hour of riding in the fierce heat, he was soaked through.
Could any item of clothing protect riders from the insane temperatures that we bake in every summer? Ditching the jacket altogether is one option but only the criminally insane would dare go for a ride with bare arms and no back protector. A British company called Ventz believes that it’s found a solution, having designed and patented a tough plastic “cooling system” that fits between the tops of your gloves and the sleeves of your jacket.
“When riding in warm weather,” says the company, “an invisible layer of hot air, trapped in your jacket, raises your core body temperature to uncomfortable levels, which can cause a dangerous loss of concentration. Ventz creates a flow of soothing air that removes the trapped heat, making your journey cooler and more comfortable. Safe and comfortable to wear, Ventz is effective for both the rider and pillion passenger.
“The insertion of Ventz into the sleeve opening of your jacket effectively turns the jacket into one large venturi system. An acceleration of airflow is generated by the Ventz device which flows up the sleeve and around the upper body before finally exiting the jacket via the neck opening; this faster flowing air exploits a principle known as the Bernoulli Effect.”
Apparently Bernoulli’s Principle states that an increase in the velocity (speed) of air decreases the air pressure; lower air pressure creates a partial vacuum sucking in the adjacent air at normal pressure – in this instance, the hotter air trapped around the lower regions of your body/jacket. The effect of this constant cycle of air replenishment means that it isn’t possible for there to be any trapped air that can heat up to uncomfortable levels. Any excessive body heat, says Ventz, is immediately transferred out of the jacket, keeping the user at a more comfortable riding temperature.
The devices are made of shatterproof plastic and pliable rubber, and they’re nice and compact. They also feature a filtration system to prevent airborne insects making their way up your sleeves.
Interesting stuff but has anyone actually tried them yet? So far I have been unable to test out the maker’s claims, but I intend to and some of the motorcycle press has already carried out independent reviews. The consensus of opinion is that, while they’re not able to provide drastic cooling levels, they do add to rider comfort.
“We’ve worn the Ventz in a variety of weather conditions and found them to function as promised,” said Bruce Steever of Motorcycle Consumer News. “They don’t radically change a rider’s comfort level, but they do work to add some welcome cooling. Even when wearing fully perforated leather, the additional airflow is noticeable.”
It's obvious from what Steever says that the searing temperatures in the UAE's summers will still overcome this or any other device, but what they might do is enable bikers here to enjoy riding for an extra few weeks either side of the really hot weather, and that has to be a good thing. They're cheap enough to take a punt on, at about Dh120 including shipping – pay a visit to www.ventz-range.com and see for yourself.
khackett@thenational.ae
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The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Best Foreign Language Film nominees
Capernaum (Lebanon)
Cold War (Poland)
Never Look Away (Germany)
Roma (Mexico)
Shoplifters (Japan)
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
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Political flags or banners
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Bikes, skateboards or scooters
Normcore explained
Something of a fashion anomaly, normcore is essentially a celebration of the unremarkable. The term was first popularised by an article in New York magazine in 2014 and has been dubbed “ugly”, “bland’ and "anti-style" by fashion writers. It’s hallmarks are comfort, a lack of pretentiousness and neutrality – it is a trend for those who would rather not stand out from the crowd. For the most part, the style is unisex, favouring loose silhouettes, thrift-shop threads, baseball caps and boyish trainers. It is important to note that normcore is not synonymous with cheapness or low quality; there are high-fashion brands, including Parisian label Vetements, that specialise in this style. Embraced by fashion-forward street-style stars around the globe, it’s uptake in the UAE has been relatively slow.
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In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre turbo 4-cyl
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Power: 190bhp
Torque: 300Nm
Price: Dh169,900
On sale: now
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How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
The full list of 2020 Brit Award nominees (winners in bold):
British group
Coldplay
Foals
Bring me the Horizon
D-Block Europe
Bastille
British Female
Mabel
Freya Ridings
FKA Twigs
Charli xcx
Mahalia
British male
Harry Styles
Lewis Capaldi
Dave
Michael Kiwanuka
Stormzy
Best new artist
Aitch
Lewis Capaldi
Dave
Mabel
Sam Fender
Best song
Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber - I Don’t Care
Mabel - Don’t Call Me Up
Calvin Harrison and Rag’n’Bone Man - Giant
Dave - Location
Mark Ronson feat. Miley Cyrus - Nothing Breaks Like A Heart
AJ Tracey - Ladbroke Grove
Lewis Capaldi - Someone you Loved
Tom Walker - Just You and I
Sam Smith and Normani - Dancing with a Stranger
Stormzy - Vossi Bop
International female
Ariana Grande
Billie Eilish
Camila Cabello
Lana Del Rey
Lizzo
International male
Bruce Springsteen
Burna Boy
Tyler, The Creator
Dermot Kennedy
Post Malone
Best album
Stormzy - Heavy is the Head
Michael Kiwanuka - Kiwanuka
Lewis Capaldi - Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent
Dave - Psychodrama
Harry Styles - Fine Line
Rising star
Celeste
Joy Crookes
beabadoobee
You may remember …
Robbie Keane (Atletico de Kolkata) The Irish striker is, along with his former Spurs teammate Dimitar Berbatov, the headline figure in this season’s ISL, having joined defending champions ATK. His grand entrance after arrival from Major League Soccer in the US will be delayed by three games, though, due to a knee injury.
Dimitar Berbatov (Kerala Blasters) Word has it that Rene Meulensteen, the Kerala manager, plans to deploy his Bulgarian star in central midfield. The idea of Berbatov as an all-action, box-to-box midfielder, might jar with Spurs and Manchester United supporters, who more likely recall an always-languid, often-lazy striker.
Wes Brown (Kerala Blasters) Revived his playing career last season to help out at Blackburn Rovers, where he was also a coach. Since then, the 23-cap England centre back, who is now 38, has been reunited with the former Manchester United assistant coach Meulensteen, after signing for Kerala.
Andre Bikey (Jamshedpur) The Cameroonian defender is onto the 17th club of a career has taken him to Spain, Portugal, Russia, the UK, Greece, and now India. He is still only 32, so there is plenty of time to add to that tally, too. Scored goals against Liverpool and Chelsea during his time with Reading in England.
Emiliano Alfaro (Pune City) The Uruguayan striker has played for Liverpool – the Montevideo one, rather than the better-known side in England – and Lazio in Italy. He was prolific for a season at Al Wasl in the Arabian Gulf League in 2012/13. He returned for one season with Fujairah, whom he left to join Pune.
