Tired of the 100 degree + days!

[txred9876]

The heat sucks! I sure hope the cool wave hits tomorrow because I am tired of just riding on the weekends.

I just cannot make myself get on my bike when its over 100 degrees.....and it has been for nearly a month now.

any suggestions on how you guys deal with the heat?

Tina

[HappyTexasMom]

It's hotter where I live, but it's more humid where you are (my hometown..oh, how I miss Austin), so I think we're both suffering.

I've found that in general, I just can't handle doing much in triple digit temps. I read somewhere about the body *only* being able to cool off by sweat/evaporation once the ambient temp rises over the body temp. Add in your humidity you're going to have a really tough time, so whatever you do, be very careful and pay close attention to your body signs. Look for rapid pulse, feeling faint, *chilled* (I know, seems impossible), disoriented, or just suddenly and extremely fatigued. All can be signs of heat exhaustion and are to be taken seriously. Don't be afraid to call someone to bail you out...you don't want to end up with a heat stroke because you only had one more mile.

Now, what I do to try to keep up some semblance of a cycling routine:
- ride in the morning. I'm not a morning person, but this works better for me than the evenings because the pavement has had a chance to cool down (sort of) overnight. If I try to wait in the evening for everything to cool down, I'll literally be riding at 2 am (which is what my husband does, since he's even less of a morning person, and more of a night person than I am ;) ). Even then, I'm not sure it's that cool (although at least then there's *no* sun)
- wet some of your clothes down. Don't wet enough that you make yourself feel cold, or your body is going to have to go from keeping warm to keeping cool, which will be even harder on it. I usually start out my ride with an almost dripping wet bandana wrapped around my head, and another one around my neck (with the wide part in the back...keeping the base of my neck cool seems to really help, plus it keeps me from getting a sunburned neck). Somewhere during my ride I'll stop for water (I ride along a greenbelt/through parks, so I use the watering fountains there) and rewet my bandanas (they dry in about 15 minutes here). At this point I'll also wet down my face and sometimes, depending on how I'm feeling, drip water over my shirt.
- Drink plenty of fluids and electrolytes. If you're sweating a lot, you're losing electrolytes. I ride with a camelbak and put electrolyte replacement powder in my water. You can use an energy/electrolyte sports drink if you like, I just prefer to get my energy from different sources.
- find some way to ice your water enough to keep it cold, but not so much that you're running out of water before it melts. Some people freeze their bottles/camelbaks when they're partially full. My freezer is full at the moment, so I just stuff a lot of ice cubes in my camelbak. We use old-school manual ice trays with largish cubes, and they keep my water cool enough for a couple of hours, but melt in time for me to get to drink all of my water.
- If riding for more than an hour or two, try to build in a stop in some place air conditioned. Allow yourself enough time to get *really* cooled off so that you're not feeling hot and heat fatigued the moment you get back out on the road.
- lower your expectations of what you can do. It's going to take longer in the heat, because of the necessary breaks, and you also may find that you can't push yourself as hard as your normally could (so you'll also be slower). I want to be building up my miles right now, but I'm finding that I can only stand to be out in the heat for so long. I'm not happy about it, but I'd rather ride consistent 10-20 mile rides than nothing at all. Maybe use this time to explore different routes around your area.

[txred9876]

It's hotter where I live, but it's more humid where you are (my hometown..oh, how I miss Austin), so I think we're both suffering.

I've found that in general, I just can't handle doing much in triple digit temps. I read somewhere about the body *only* being able to cool off by sweat/evaporation once the ambient temp rises over the body temp. Add in your humidity you're going to have a really tough time, so whatever you do, be very careful and pay close attention to your body signs. Look for rapid pulse, feeling faint, *chilled* (I know, seems impossible), disoriented, or just suddenly and extremely fatigued. All can be signs of heat exhaustion and are to be taken seriously. Don't be afraid to call someone to bail you out...you don't want to end up with a heat stroke because you only had one more mile.

Now, what I do to try to keep up some semblance of a cycling routine:
- ride in the morning. I'm not a morning person, but this works better for me than the evenings because the pavement has had a chance to cool down (sort of) overnight. If I try to wait in the evening for everything to cool down, I'll literally be riding at 2 am (which is what my husband does, since he's even less of a morning person, and more of a night person than I am ;) ). Even then, I'm not sure it's that cool (although at least then there's *no* sun)
- wet some of your clothes down. Don't wet enough that you make yourself feel cold, or your body is going to have to go from keeping warm to keeping cool, which will be even harder on it. I usually start out my ride with an almost dripping wet bandana wrapped around my head, and another one around my neck (with the wide part in the back...keeping the base of my neck cool seems to really help, plus it keeps me from getting a sunburned neck). Somewhere during my ride I'll stop for water (I ride along a greenbelt/through parks, so I use the watering fountains there) and rewet my bandanas (they dry in about 15 minutes here). At this point I'll also wet down my face and sometimes, depending on how I'm feeling, drip water over my shirt.
- Drink plenty of fluids and electrolytes. If you're sweating a lot, you're losing electrolytes. I ride with a camelbak and put electrolyte replacement powder in my water. You can use an energy/electrolyte sports drink if you like, I just prefer to get my energy from different sources.
- find some way to ice your water enough to keep it cold, but not so much that you're running out of water before it melts. Some people freeze their bottles/camelbaks when they're partially full. My freezer is full at the moment, so I just stuff a lot of ice cubes in my camelbak. We use old-school manual ice trays with largish cubes, and they keep my water cool enough for a couple of hours, but melt in time for me to get to drink all of my water.
- If riding for more than an hour or two, try to build in a stop in some place air conditioned. Allow yourself enough time to get *really* cooled off so that you're not feeling hot and heat fatigued the moment you get back out on the road.
- lower your expectations of what you can do. It's going to take longer in the heat, because of the necessary breaks, and you also may find that you can't push yourself as hard as your normally could (so you'll also be slower). I want to be building up my miles right now, but I'm finding that I can only stand to be out in the heat for so long. I'm not happy about it, but I'd rather ride consistent 10-20 mile rides than nothing at all. Maybe use this time to explore different routes around your area.

thanks for the advise.... looks like I need a light on my bike so I can run around in the dark! The only problem with that is ...we live in the boonies... and about 6 months ago a cyclist got hit (i dont know what they had on).

right now I am only doing it in the mornings and if its under 100 I will go for a short ride with lots of water/electotrolye stuff. I don't have a camelback....i guess thats another thing to think about. I try to plan my run so I can hit a little store during my trip and I stay for about 15 min and cool off.

I just have went from going out around 100 miles a week to maybe 60 tops.

Tina

[Tri Girl]

I feel your pain, my sister!!! The cool front hit us last night, and today was DREAMY. The highs are only supposed to be in the low/mid 90's for about 5 days. It feels like winter compared to the last month of 100+ degree days.
I went for a two hour ride and only needed one bottle because it was so cool (comparatively). Hang in there- I think the cool front is heading your way. :)

[sarahspins]

I so feel your pain! I'm taking a few days off to let my leg feel better, but I have to admit that not being out in that heat sure is nice :p

[Righteousbabe]

I am right there along with you...I am sick of it! But I have managed to continue riding. Although, I have been experiencing the early signs of heat illness (high heart rate, chills, dizziness). It took me a few rides to figure out what was going on, but I eventually did. I could not understand why, besides the obvious heat, my heart rate was so high on my rides. And I noticed this started right after I began taking a certain medication. I wear a heart rate monitor, and I could not stay out of zone 3 and 4 at a fairly easy-moderate pace. And I would get chills towards the end of my rides. Then last Saturday, I rode that morning and finished by 11 am. I was still getting chills and it was not that hot yet (low 90s?). But I did notice I had not urinated the entire 47 miles, and when I finally did, it was a yellow-brown. Again, it was not making sense to me because I drink more water than most riders I know, before-during-after the rides. On the rides, I supplement my camelback with pure electrolyte powder, and I keep an electrolyte-carb drink in my polar bottles. So I did some research online this week, and found this Sports Medicine journal article about certain groups of people who are vulnerable to heat illness, and bingo, my type of medication was listed in that article. Apparently, the meds are making me dehydrated, and what would normally be enough water/day for a Texas summer is not nearly enough. Also, the article suggested that even during prehydration you should supplement the water with electrolytes-sugar. So Tuesday I drank at least 5 liters of water, and alternated it with electrolytes and sugar. Then on my ride after work, it was 104 degrees and high humidity, and my heart rate stayed down and no chills. I was so happy I figured it out! :D

Everything HappyTexasMom suggested I second. The only thing I would add is prehydration. With consecutive 100 degree days prehydration is extremely important. We cannot drink enough these days, and do not be afraid to use some electrolytes and sugar pre-ride. The two products I like are the Hammer Endurolytes powder for just electrolytes, and the Luna Sport Electrolyte Splash drink mix for electrolytes+sugar. It is low on the sugar, and has vitamins and minerals.

Good luck!

[denda]

Yep, hot here too! Today is pretty nice though, 90's. I think they are calling for 80's tomorrow or Sunday.:)

[KSH]

It's been a complete beat down this year. Usually I don't even think about it, but for some reason it just seems worse up here in Dallas.

I am SO HAPPY the "cold" front blew through last night! Only see 92 degree temperatures for a few days will be dreamy.

Personally, I have just been riding in the heat. My performance is suffering (aka: I'm slower), but I am fine if I'm moving. It's sitting at stop lights that beats me down.

I know that cold water saves me on hot days. My Camelbak will keep ice in it for a good 2 hours.

[Loraura]

I try to remember that with the heat, generally, comes less wind.

It's routinely 103, 104 real temp (not heat index) here in Austin this summer. To battle it:

I ride in the AM and between 7:30-9PM when I can. I do commute home in the heat of the day though.
I drink lots of water every day, even if I don't ride.
I use Nuun on the bike in one bottle. Makes a huge difference in my comfort in the heat.
I don't hammer in the heat. Ride, yes. Hammer? No.
I seem to drink more on the bike when I have a camelback. It's just easier, so I drink more. This helps.
Shadey routes rock.
Take breaks (in the shade).
Never pass up an opportunity to refill the water bottles.
Insulated bottles rock. Hot water sucks.

P.S I didn't notice you were in Austin, too, untill after I posted. *waves from Anderson Mill/183*

[Mr. Bloom]

:eek::eek:Indiana got a Special Weather Statement today:eek::eek:

:p:pTomorrow's high will be 68!:p:p

Sorry

[Triskeliongirl]

Yeh, its really getting to me too. I don't ever remember it being this hot this early.

I deal with out by getting out early. Our club rides start at 8am, and since we are ride leaders tomorrow we have no choice....

Commuting is good too. Its not that hard to get out the door in the am. But, then you are committed to the ride home. When I get home I jump in the pool........... But the rides home are not fun. I do try to drink a lot.

[VeloVT]

I will gladly trade you hot weather for the 6 days a week of rain we've been getting for the past two months here in the northeast :(.

Then, I like the heat.

[Red Rock]

I agree with all of you on the amount of 100+ degree days.

I am wish I could be riding like everyone else here enjoying their summer on the bike. I have not wanted to go out for fear of heat stroke or exhaustion.

As it is, my husband is in the middle of it doing landscaping. When I am not working, I am helping him out so he will not have to be out in the hot weather so much. Last weekend it was 9AM and I was trimming the lawns where we live and I had sweat coming off of me like crazy. I just made sure I was drinking lots and I popped an electrolyte tablet or two to make sure I was "ok". The Cliff Blocks have become my friends for work in the yard as well as on the bike.

Hang in there everyone, it will start to cool of in a month or so??

Red Rock

[hilldweller]

Hmmm... sitting here looking at the forecast sleet for tomorrow wondering if I'm up for another freezing cold wet dirty ride... and yet I think I'd rather have that than the temps you guys are getting. Hope you find a solution that works for you.

[kenyonchris]

The heat sucks! I sure hope the cool wave hits tomorrow because I am tired of just riding on the weekends.

I just cannot make myself get on my bike when its over 100 degrees.....and it has been for nearly a month now.

any suggestions on how you guys deal with the heat?

Tina

As a native Texan, the only thing I can say besides proper hydration is, "GO VISIT MONTANA" (or Colorado, or freaking Death Valley)....any of which would be cooler than here.
I have found that people not born here just can't deal with it (not that those of us that were CAN, we just seem to be like lobsters in the water, we are used to it). I swear, if I can move away from it, I will. It is like Hell in the summer, and that cold, wet misery in the winter...even 10 degrees in Montana isn't as cold as 45 here when it is 90 percent humidity.
Of course, when it is sunny and 75 in January this is the best place on earth.

[sarahspins]

Hang in there everyone, it will start to cool of in a month or so??

Maybe in CO :p

Here it's hot clear through September... it's yucky :(

[txred9876]

At this point I am also fighting Lymphedema which is aggrevated by the heat. I am only riding in the mornings and I am looking forward to the few days of "cooler" weather. I do use drink a lot before during and after my rides as well.

Loraura you should come out and join us for the mamma jamma ride. We are having a training ride starting from Mellow Johnnys in the morning at 8am (wheels down - meet about 15-30 min before that).

Anyway.... have a great day I am going to get going here shortly for a couple hour ride ( I have several different places to cut it a little shorter though if need be).

I think maybe it is due to the fact I am light skinned and feel like my skin is just frying in this heat...maybe thats why its a we bit worse.

Have great rides today...
tina

[Selkie]

This has been an odd year for weather.

Didn't it start out rainy in the south, then we in the mid-Atlantic were socked in with rain/grey skies/cooler than average temps for what seems like most of the spring and all of June. I felt cheated out of my solstice long days since June was so gloomy this year. Almost had to break out my SAD light therapy lamp!!!!July has been mostly dry, sunny, and much cooler than usual (I think only a handful of 90 degree days this year and lower humidity all around). I wonder if your heat will migrate to our area for August/September?

I hate to think what the end of the year will bring. Snow in October? Maybe it'll be a milder, kinder winter for all of us.

In any event, I hope you get some relief soon.

[mtbdarby]

We've had an unusually dry and cold summer here. Right now it's 55!

I suppose you're used to what you grew up in cuz I'm dead when it hits 80. Of course, 80's here always comes with high humidity.

Don't overdo it and take care of yourself with those high temps - sounds dangerous to me. I'll try and send some cold your way!

[nancielle]

We've had relatively cool weather for July. The other night it was 45 degrees! It's been very rainy although we've had sun for the past few days, with more normal temps for summer, which has improved moods around here.
I have a family gathering tomorrow (outdoors) so I hope our good luck holds out.

[sundial]

We had high humidity and heat this past week. Yesterday it was 100% humidity, and the day before 92% so whatever the temperature was I had to add about 8 degrees more. :p A cool front moved through and it was in the 60's this morning. :) Ahhhhhh. My bike speeds were much better and I didn't feel like I was riding in a sauna. Honestly, as hot as it gets here (in the 100's) I don't know why I would ever want to ride the HHH. :p

Wanted to add: I found wearing a cap under my helmet makes me feel cooler by keeping the sun of my head--even though my helmet is well ventilated. I've noticed that when I don't, I have sunburn on my part. The cap also keeps sweat out of my eyes.

[Fish_Lady]

I am really new to cycling, but I've been trying to get into better shape lately. We're in central OK and mercy it has been wicked hot here. I've been taking my walks early in the morning. It has irritated me to no end when I get up at 0630 for my walk and it's already in the mid 80's:(

All this heat makes me miss living in Maine so very much .....

[HappyTexasMom]

Last night we had a *low* of 95. I wanted to cry. I got in the car this afternoon and the thermometer said 123. I know that was artificially high from sitting in the sun, but still. I think it said 115 once we had the car up to speed.

My son and I (I almost typed "sun" LOL) went for a 9 mile round-trip ride to the store this morning. It was hot but we hydrated well and the built in a/c break was nice. He wasn't too thrilled when the valve on his camelpak started leaking on the way home (he bit through it :rolleyes:). I can't wait for cooler weather.

[Tuckervill]

It's going to be in the lower 50s tonight in my area. woohoo!

Too bad there's an air conditioner in the window of the bedroom and I can't open the window. :(

Karen

[Red Rock]

I feel for you HappyTexasMom. I am up here in Southern Utah. We are not at 123 but I think we have reached 111 which is hot around here. It is hard to sleep in when you want to ride. I deal with this every summer, which is more important sleeping or riding. Then it is the reverse in the winter, saying in the house until it is not so cold out before going for a ride. Maybe I need to live where there is not such a temperature range of extremes.

I hope you were able to get a replacement Camelbak valve.

Red Rock

[HappyTexasMom]

Thanks RedRock :) It's rarely cold enough for me to have to worry about "too cold" here. I remember some chilly mornings riding on the UT campus when I was going to school back home in Texas. Never cold enough to really bother me, but I do remember my eyes watering from the cold, which was annoying.

I ordered some new valves online, and I managed to make a valve off of an old crappy generic pack of mine work for him in the meantime (the valve on that one is partially broken from when I accidentally slammed it in a door:mad:, but I think I can make it last until the replacement comes, anyway).

[sundial]

Last night we had a *low* of 95. I wanted to cry. I got in the car this afternoon and the thermometer said 123.

I was in Dallas during a big heat wave and the downtown temps registered 125! :eek:

[txred9876]

It seemed so much cooler this weekend during my morning rides but apparenlyt we are back at 13 days over 100 again (and we only had one day break between the days at that).

I just wish I didnt have to work...LOL then I could ride any morning I wanted to!
I got in 40ish miles this weekend and a quarry open water swim practice. Now I have to recover and come back to work to rest!

Do any of you find you cram in tons of workouts on the weekends because of the heat?
Tina

[gavin_m]

A little break today. Only 99 here in 78704 :rolleyes:

[Aggie_Ama]

I have found a small relief in mountain biking but I sure miss my beautiful roadie, Miranda. It was amazing in Huntsville this weekend, only 95. Of course you have to have 35 pounds of bug spray to play in the woods on your bike. :rolleyes:

[sundial]

Aggie, did you retire your road bike for awhile?

[Mr. Bloom]

I'm advised we might hit 80 tomorrow.

I know, I'm a jerk:D

[VeloVT]

I'm still willing to trade continuous rain for extreme heat... Any takers :D?

[txred9876]

I'm still willing to trade continuous rain for extreme heat... Any takers :D?

would love to....we are in a severe drought!

[Aggie_Ama]

Aggie, did you retire your road bike for awhile?

Feels like it. I did do 62 miles on the 12th but otherwise it is just so dang hot. I really have no motivation for it. :( The new mountain bike is helping keep me motivated for the trails!


Mr Silver- We will be sure to rub it in when you're freezing and we are wearing shorts in December. :p

[greta]

I am having serious trouble riding in the heat.:(I just don't have it in me. Rode a whole 6.5 miles today and haven't ridden in weeks. I'm not good at rising early. I swear even my pool is boiling! Some awesome tips early on this topic, never did think of wetting my clothing. It's been in the one-teens here.:eek:

[Red Rock]

I guess I have decided to not fight the issue. It will eventually cool off. I do not want to put myself in a possible heat exhaustion or stroke postion if I can help it. As it is, I have to help mt DH with the landscape company, so this means Im outside. In the meantime, I have resorted to eating sugar free ice cream and watching the Tour:D.

Red Rock

[Running Mommy]

Over the weekend we had a senseless death on our trails out here.
A family thought it would be a wise idea to head out on a hike on South Mountain at 7:00 am when it was probably already near 100. It was forecasted to be 113-115 that day, and it was.
At some point a mtn biker came upon a 13 yr old boy and his mom. He was crawling, and she was yelling at him to stand up. The mtn biker stopped to help them. He gave them all the water he had, and went back to his car for more water, and I assume to get help. When he returned the boy was turning purple and only had a faint pulse. He was rushed to the hospital, but didn't make it. I guess he and his mom were from Alaska, and they were hiking with local family.
So very sad!!! The desert is a dangerous place, and I'm always amazed by the nonchalant attitutude people have towards it.

[greta]

Soooo true, last year we worked a 30 year old for quite some time that hiked usery mountain, a way easier hike in the morning about 1000 am. She was from Wisconsin and had been here only a couple of weeks. Young and strong and we couldn't save her. Arizona deserts are cruel. I worked this weekend and didn't hear about that. That's heartbreaking. But to tell him to stand up is toooo much:mad:

[HappyTexasMom]

So very sad!!! The desert is a dangerous place, and I'm always amazed by the nonchalant attitutude people have towards it.

As someone who is not from here, but who has lived here for 15 years...

the severity of the heat and dryness and what it can do to you was beyond my comprehension. If someone could have somehow managed to convey to me what it's really like, I would not have believed them, because I would not have believed that a place with this climate would support a huge metro area like this. To put it bluntly, I can't believe so many people would choose to live here. I know some people love the desert and the heat and I'm not saying this to put those people down, I just literally could not fathom that it could be this bad in a place where a large population of people would choose to live.

The first time I went hiking out here was at Squaw Peak. I don't know how hot it was...I'm guessing 90s. I didn't realize how much I was sweating (because it evaporates so fast), and I didn't bring water with me because I wasn't accustomed to needing water after being out for only 1-2 hours.

So for people who aren't familiar with it, even if you tell them, it's probably out of their realm of comprehension. It makes me very sad that someone had to pay for it with their life. :(

[Mr. Bloom]

Mr Silver- We will be sure to rub it in when you're freezing and we are wearing shorts in December. :p

That's fair;)

[Crankin]

Running Mommy and Happy Texas Mom, thank you, for saying what I have been thinking.
First, yes, the desert IS dangerous. The story you told is so sad and could have been avoided... I used to walk at 4:30-5 AM and even then, it was not fun. No wonder I was a gym rat. And no wonder I crave being outdoors now, even after 19 years of being away from AZ.
Happy Texas Mom, you hit the nail on the head for me. I had a wonderful life in Tempe, but the day my two little boys went out and were playing in the foundation plants outside my house and said, "We're in the woods," I knew I had to leave. No one *can* imagine what 115 feels like. When I try to describe it by saying, "Open up your oven door and stick your head inside," they just give me a look. I don't know how the valley grew into such a popular area, either. And now, it's ruined. When my parents moved there in 1971, it was hot, but nice. Still truly western. I know I sound like an old person, but the Valley I knew is gone. My house, at Elliot and McClintock was surrounded by cornfields and sheep farms.
I give you credit for trying to ride now. If I was still in AZ, I am pretty sure my riding season would be October to March, no different than how I ride now from March through October, or the beginning of November, in a colder climate. I always used to say that the school year should be reversed in AZ. During the nice weather, normal people who work, can never get outside, because they are at work... even as a teacher, it would be dark pretty soon after I got home in the winter. I distinctly remember my kids playing outside in the backyard, before dinner, with the patio lights on.
So sad...

[Puckerbrush]

I am really new to cycling, but I've been trying to get into better shape lately. We're in central OK and mercy it has been wicked hot here. I've been taking my walks early in the morning. It has irritated me to no end when I get up at 0630 for my walk and it's already in the mid 80's:(

All this heat makes me miss living in Maine so very much .....

Fish Lady, you aren't missing any good weather in Maine this year! May was okay, but June and July have been unusually cold and rainy...DH and I both did the TAM and it was the wettest 180 miles I ever rode! Sunday the 19th was the nicest day yet this summer and it didn't even make 80 degrees. We are longing for just a tiny taste of the Southern heat!;)

[BeeLady]

I'm in South Texas and we've had a string of about thirty 100 degree-plus days. I was ill in March, and the wind was so strong through April that I basically quit riding. I ride mainly for errands and since moving out to the country, the closest grocer is 15 miles or more.

My solution? An electric assist for my Big Dummy! I sold my car, bought an eZee Electric Hub Motor Kit w/ Lithium Battery and hit the road. Did my 20-mile shopping trip today, came back with my bags loaded and survived. I still got a heck of a work out, and 98 degrees (in the shade) when I returned is still sapping whether there's help on the hills and in the wind or not.

I have goats to milk in the mornings now, but right after that's done, I can hit the road. I plan on at least two trips into town each week and riding my Bianchi Volpe for fun when the weather cools down.

[Kano]

It's here too, the dry, desert heat. I have learned that if I can't ride in the morning, late evening, 8:00 or so, is a nice time to ride. Riding in the morning is a challenge for me -- I hate morning! -- but I'm working on it.

Time to change -- I need a ride! (missed two days in a row, and I don't do that happily anymore!)

Karen in Boise

[PinkBike]

just checkin in with the extreme heat discussion.
last week riding in to work (at 2 in the afternoon) it was what i call "scary hot." i think it may have been 114. when you can't get enough O2 its so dry and hot. you get chills. the air burns on your legs. it is truly like sticking your head in an oven.

but i for one just love it.

my commute is 6 miles, only about 25 minutes.
i call them my "tanning rides."
my coworkers call them my "melanoma rides."

then you wait next to a car at a stop light and feel the heat from their engine compounded by their a/c running at full bore. whoa.

i think we're just paying for such a mild winter - and even june.

[shootingstar]

just checkin in with the extreme heat discussion.
last week riding in to work (at 2 in the afternoon) it was what i call "scary hot." i think it may have been 114. when you can't get enough O2 its so dry and hot. you get chills. the air burns on your legs. it is truly like sticking your head in an oven.

but i for one just love it.

But ask yourself, if you would be saying the same thing 10 years from now, meaning loving such high extreme dry heat and sun.

[sundial]

Feels like it. I did do 62 miles on the 12th but otherwise it is just so dang hot. I really have no motivation for it. :(

I hear ya! I've cut my rides short for now--nothing over 30 miles. I learned that in high humidity things can turn ugly fast! Last season I was on a long ride and felt my speeds decreasing, my heartrate climbing, temps in the mid 90's and then had a tire blow. :eek: I knew I needed to get off the road fast and into the air conditioning and got a ride back to the car. Sometimes having plenty of fluids just isn't enough. Mother nature can be so brutal.

[Kano]

just checkin in with the extreme heat discussion.
last week riding in to work (at 2 in the afternoon) it was what i call "scary hot." i think it may have been 114. when you can't get enough O2 its so dry and hot. you get chills. the air burns on your legs. it is truly like sticking your head in an oven.

but i for one just love it.


But ask yourself, if you would be saying the same thing 10 years from now, meaning loving such high extreme dry heat and sun.


Not Pink, but...

Twelve springs ago, we were transplanted from Minnesota to Idaho. Northern tier still, and you wouldn't think the climate would be so different. We do have seasons, snow in winter, heat in summer -- plenty of it! The primary difference -- it's much hotter and drier in summer, and winter is more mild. When we got here, I found I liked the extreme, dry heat, and all the sunshine.

A dozen summers later, yup, I can still say I love it. You learn how to live in it -- and quite honestly, I find it lots easier than the "not the heat it's the humidity" back in Minnesota! That stuff is just NASty!

Karen in Boise

[Crankin]

I'm sorry, 115 is 115. Or 100 is 100 for that matter. No temperatures that any human being should be outside in, let alone exerting themselves in. Humidity is irrelevant. I don't like humidity, either, but, I prefer a more moderate temperature, short bouts of high humidity, a couple of heat waves, and change.
Mostly, I don't have to plan my riding around the temperature, only the chance of rain.
In the winter, I just put my wool on and get outside to snow shoe or x country ski! Again, we don't have the extreme humidity for 3 months, below zero temps for months, or many days above 90 degrees. No tornadoes, either. Yes, the weather here is changeable and weird at times, but that's what I like. It grates on my nerves to hear people complaining about the weather, as most New Englanders seem to do.
Hey, it's just my opinion, but then, I was one who got SAD from endless days of eternal sunshine and unbearable high temperatures.

[Aggie_Ama]

I definitely notice a difference in our lower humidity days and higher humidity days were the temps are the same. When the humidity is high it reminds me of trying to exert myself at altitude, you can't breath as well. Plus your sweat doesn't cool you are well because it doesn't evaporate as much. I agree both 100 degrees with humidity and without are bad but I still feel (and DH has said the same) it is harder when the humidity starts getting high.

As a native Texan I used to chuckle at people complaining about the heat but the past two summers it has worn on me. I like having mild winters but we have had record hot summers the past two years and it does make even those of us who love Texas whine.

36 days of 100+ and it isn't even August yet, last year we had a close to record at 50 days. Sometimes we pay for our 300 rain free days a year. :rolleyes: