No riding for a week

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Originally Posted by Biciclista

my DH is doing ramrod and his plan is to ride as hard as he can early, to get as far as he can during the cool part of his day.
Whatever is hot for anyone is hot. I would never live in places like Florida or Texas because it's too hot. A lot of people live in the Pacific NW precisely because they are weather weenies, so our true colors really come out when we get stuck in a heat wave.

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Sounds like a 4:00 am start or earlier for raleighdon, which actually would be lovely time and a real morale-booster for rest of day.

THis morning I set off just before 6:45 am and was done my 42 kms. under 2 hrs. Appreciate hills at this time under rising sun shade and their cooling descents.

As for Canadian snowbirds in Arizona and Florida, presumably some choose to fly home north shortly before now or now, when the heat isn't as oppressive.

In a way, I'm glad to have lived elsewhere in Canada and cycled first for many years, under far greater constant humidity and heat. Makes me more grateful for the NW coastal weather...yea, hmmmmm, except for the constant rain later. :rolleyes:

I truly prefer to cycle in 40-65 degree F weather with not much humidity.

Are you serious. You won't ride in the 90s????? I only wish it were in the 90s for my commute home. Its been in the low 100s here. My upper limit is 105 (but I also won't ride below 40, maybe you gals are willing to go cooler than me).

Sorry gals! It is completely what you are used to, as a native Texan it wouldn't bother me but if I lived where it was abnormal it would. Do you guys have AC? :eek: Stay hydrated, ride early and hope it passes.

Yep, it's all what you're acclimatized to. I used to live in Utah where the temps were a lot more extreme...into the hundreds in the summer, well below freezing in winter. At that time those temps never bothered me because I was used to it. But I've been in the PNW for over 8 years now and my body just doesn't remember how to deal with either extreme cold or extreme heat.

Aggie_Ama...no, the vast majority of homes up here (at least around the Seattle area) do not have AC. The cost of installation & maintenance isn't worth it considering that there's usually only one week out of the year that you actually need it. DH and I did buy a single-room portable AC unit though. If we set it up and then set up some fans to blow the cooler air around we can keep the dogs from being quite so miserable. If it was up to them, we'd live in the arctic year-round!

Salsabike - good luck during your tri. I hope the heat isn't too bad for you either, esp. since Portland is often a few degrees warmer than Seattle. Hopefully the swim leg at least will be enjoyable.

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Originally Posted by Triskeliongirl

Are you serious. You won't ride in the 90s????? I only wish it were in the 90s for my commute home. Its been in the low 100s here. My upper limit is 105 (but I also won't ride below 40, maybe you gals are willing to go cooler than me).

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I only gave a preference. If I have no choice, then I will / have done so enough times in past, especially when one is on a bike trip or needs to do functional cycling to get to/from work/shopping, etc. Southern Ontario has reached 90+ degrees F with 100% humidity for summers on some days. When that happens usually there is a smog alert for large metropolitan areas in that part of Ontario. It's not just Los Angeles, etc. in the U.S.

Right now, we don't have A/C. All our windows flung open for cross-breezes. Initially it surprised me, being in a building not old. We have a floor fan somewhere. He squirreled it away in a storage rm. in building's basement. But not necessary, just abit stuffy.

Cycling at freezing point is fine in Vancouver, BC (as long as the wind is not 40 km. per hr.)..it's just the black ice problem..at times.

When we moved to the Northwest from Indiana 20 odd years ago I thought it was funny that the natives thought it was HOT when it was only 85 degrees out. It sure is all about acclimation. I'm the loudest whiner in the chorus now if the temps climb much higher than 75. I can still tolerate riding in cold and wet though--down to mid 20s.

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Originally Posted by Triskeliongirl

Are you serious. You won't ride in the 90s????? I only wish it were in the 90s for my commute home. Its been in the low 100s here. My upper limit is 105 (but I also won't ride below 40, maybe you gals are willing to go cooler than me).

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that's really hot for us, Trisk. Imagine being a polar bear in texas. that's kind of how we feel today. :D:D:D

I also try not to ride in the 90's. I am going to do a group ride Wednesday, where it might be 90, but it leaves from near my house and I can ditch them and go home if I can't stand it. The problem with 90 here is that it is most often accompanied by high humidity and bad air quality. Since I have asthma, I won't risk it. Yesterday, I did an almost 40 mile ride in 84 degrees almost 90% humidity. It truly sucked, but I did it. The only reason I will go Wednesday is so far, there's no bad air alerts.
I find my best riding temperature is between 55 and 65.

The acclimatization conversation has been had many times on this board. Some of it is acclimatization; some of it is your particular body, I believe. I grew up in upstate NY and never, ever dealt well with the heat and humidity. Some people take it better than others. I don't in the least mind riding under 40 degrees. I LOVE riding in the winters here--it's downright invigorating and energizing for me. That doesn't mean I think everyone else should feel that way.

I have gotten much more serious about hydration and electrolytes since starting triathlon. I want to have some gas, so to speak, left for the bike and the run (my weakness). Am working hard on this, so will be interesting to see if it helps.

Malaholic, best wishes for Thursday!

I agree that it is partly what you are used to, and partly what your body can handle.

When I was born, it was -27F. In general, I prefer cool temps to hot ones. That said, when I lived and rode in NC, I was ok riding at 95 degrees and often rode when it was significantly hotter. But, if we didn't ride in those temps, we didn't ride most of the summer.

We've only been here a year and I have quickly gone back to my cold-loving ways! This heat is positively wilting me (like the delicate flower that I am *snort*)! Seriously, last summer we were laughing at those who wouldn't ride when it was 90. Last week, I had a serious health problem when riding in those same 90+ temps.

It is forecast to be well over 100 degrees a couple of days this week. I will not be out on my bike. Besides, why should we ride when it's this hot if it only happens a couple of days out of the summer? All we have to do is wait a couple of days to see cooler temps (unless of course, you have an organized ride). If all we had was 90+ temps all summer, we'd all learn to ride in the heat too. ;)

When my dad was sick in the last stages of cancer he was hospitalized in Ennis Montana, where my parents had their summer home (only it was January). He was very close to dying, on almost totally liquid nutrition. He asked for a slurpee. I was not going to deny him, but it was sunny, clear....and 10 degrees. I went trudging across the street in my parka with little hope of a slurpee. Imagine my surprise to find the slurpee machine up and running! I commented on it as I paid for it, and the guy behind the counter told me that they had turned it on "because of the heat wave". He was serious.
It is all what you are used to.

I hope your dad enjoyed that slurpee. Official thread drift notification. I miss my dad too. He developed a big thing for Twix candy bars in his last year.

Back on topic. We have one window air conditioner, on the exposed west side of our house, in a living room window. Boy, does that improve the quality of life during weather like this. Bet I'll be sleeping on that couch tonight. Also, ceiling fans--which can be pretty inexpensive--are a huge help.

I agree it is what you are used to. I don't have a problem riding when it is 100. the 90's sound great!

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Originally Posted by denda

I agree it is what you are used to. I don't have a problem riding when it is 100. the 90's sound great!

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Where is Dumas? Up by Lubbock? I will say I was the coldest I have ever been when I was judging a horse show up there. Well, almost the coldest (the cycling phase of a 40 degree tri in my wet suit was the coldest). IT WAS MISERABLE.

we dont' have A/C and probably won't ever.

Raleighdon said for those of you riding Ramrod, there will be extra water set up for riders and NUUN is going to put in a station as well - electrolyte drink.