monday June 30th ride (whine)

[mimitabby]

Okay, it's just a commute. But it's 84 degrees out (wait, i'm not done yet!) and (gasp) 47% humidity.

I usually ride 4 miles back up my hill and get home all red and sweaty. I can accept that. But today I also had to go to the post office, which meant more climbing and more downhills too. For a grand total of 11 miles instead of 4.
By the time I got to the post office (at about 5 miles, I was just dripping. I could barely see because sweat was pouring into my eyes. The line (of course, my neighborhood being mostly minorities always has the worst service) was long and there i was fanning and dripping, feeling like an idiot.
I picked up my (small) parcel and continued on my merry way, through a park, taking it slow and easy, cruising down hills and struggling up them. It's not like it's high noon. And it's not like I don't ride these same stupid hills every single day!
Good grief, how do you people DO it?
It's hard to ride in the heat!! will i ever get over the puffing and red face and losing 3 gallons of fluid every time I ride 5 miles?
total for the day: 15 miles.

[Blueberry]

If you find an answer, please let me know

We've been in the 90's with humidity well over 50% for weeks (at least so it seems). If get red and am pouring sweat just walking across the street. Kind of makes it hard to reasonably use your bike for errands when you show up looking like you just took a shower in sweat - ewwww

We actually have driven some places we would have otherwise biked because I can't figure out how to show up decent looking after riding 10 miles in heat (e.g. to a dinner at someone's house). *sigh* Fall will be here soon.

CA - in sweltering - NC

[dex]

Good grief, how do you people DO it?
It's hard to ride in the heat!! will i ever get over the puffing and red face and losing 3 gallons of fluid every time I ride 5 miles?
total for the day: 15 miles.

I think it's even harder on us this year than usual in the PNW , because there wasn't really a ramp-up to the warmer weather. It's like someone flipped a switch and we went from cool gray early spring to sunny hot summer practically overnight, and no one is acclimated.

I can't even stand the thought of getting on my bike right now. Mostly because I don't want to have to climb the hill to get home at the end of my ride. (It's ok, y'all can call me a wimp. The heat has always just destroyed me.)

[Triskeliongirl]

Are you serious? I'll take 84 anyday! My commute ride home was 95 and felt like a steam bath, especially when I first went outside! Good news is that I was having a problem with my carradice bag clamp hitting the canti brakes on my touring bike, so I dropped her off at the machine shop on the way in. It meant having to walk to the other end of the campus to fetch her after work in the heat, but I was finally able to put my saddle in the right position and she felt so good to ride again!

[mimitabby]

yes, ma'am (hanging my head) I am serious. Isn't that pathetic?

[dachshund]

I can relate. We had a similar "on" switch with the hot weather in CA, when it shot up to 95 all of a sudden. I can't just go out and ride in that without any adjustment. It drives my heart rate up, and I end up with a headache if I'm not careful. I get really red in the face. I'd scare children.

From what others have said, drink a lot of water. I think it also helps to be hydrated well during the day and possibly the day before.

But adding hills with the hot weather... might be asking for too much.

[GLC1968]

yes, ma'am (hanging my head) I am serious. Isn't that pathetic?

Nah - it's ok. You are not alone!

DH and I joke about how everyone around us is moaning about the humidity. 50% humidity is not humid to us....at all. Try living in Florida in the summer where the humidity doesn't drop below 80% EVER. It's even sweltering in the middle of the night!!

I'm SOOO thankful that this odd PNW weather is happening while we are still somewhat adjusted to NC weather. It's not bothering us like it does everyone else. If this happens again next year, I'll be complaining right along beside you, Mimi!

Oh, and no one rode at lunch today. Usually, half the bikes on the rack disappear at lunch time - but today - mine was the only one to leave for the hour.

[Triskeliongirl]

Hmmm compared to the 100s of last week 95 felt pretty good today....

YOU GUYS ARE JUST WIMPS!!! Once you start moving you don't notice it anymore. But, I do like to jump in my pool when I get home.