Heat safety

[TsPoet]

I'm sure this has been covered, but a search of "heat" didn't really come up with what I was looking for.

The weather report here predicts 105 degrees plus the next few days and the health department has issued warnings stay in doors.
I have thrown up from heat just waiting for a bus. But, I've found I can ride in the head with less of an issue :cool:
I usually ride to work a few days a week, and really want to ride in tomorrow. It'll be 70-ish on the way in and over 100 on the way home. It's usually upper 80s to lower 90s for the commute home.
Is there a health issue, am I being foolhardy trying to ride in that heat?

[Zen]

Try a search with the words "exercise and heat"

[Torrilin]

Not on TE, but a good overview of heat stress (http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/007766.html).

Short answer, yes it's dangerous. With proper precautions, no it won't kill you.

[margo49]

Torrilin, that was a really good piece.

[Velobambina]

My experience has been that once your body acclimates to the heat, you can ride in it fairly comfortably. We have heat & high humidity in DC. The first really hot/humid rides each year are tough (100 degree plus heat indexes). Taking it slower, drinking a lot of fluids, and listening to my body is the key. Once I adapt, I actually like riding in the heat, feeling the sweat just dripping off me.

The only thing that concerns me is whether riding on the "bad air days"that accompany the worst of the summer heat/humidity -- code reds -- will have a long term impact on my health. I grew up in a cloud of second-hand smoke, due to two parents who were cigarette smokers. No lung problems thus far, but who knows what might crop up in the future.

[Torrilin]

Torrilin, that was a really good piece.

Thanks :). I just reread it myself, headdesked and refilled my water. The water's almost all gone, and I feel much better. Still not really acclimated to humidity again, and the new apartment has all day sun exposure, so it can get pretty hot.

The guy who wrote it is an EMT, and has a collection of other articles on common first aid and health issues.

[jdubs]

Though riding in high heat is not ideal, sometimes I get stuck out on the road when the temperature rises. I'm the type of rider whose entire head turns beet red when I exert myself; people think I'm having an embolism or something. My cure: I take LOTS of water and use at least half of it to pour over my head periodically throughout my ride. I put the spout of my bottle through the vents in my helmet, tilt my head back and squeeze away! It seems to cool my core temp for awhile. But I try not to stay out in high temps any longer than I need to. Kudos to you for not letting the heat stall your riding!

[TsPoet]

Torrilin, that was a really good piece.

Yep, good piece, thanks.
I have a neck cooler, and have never used it to ride. Will do today.