Biking in the HEAT

[HELLY]

Hello all! As you can see, I'm new to the forum. This site was recommended to me by my co-worker, who is responsible for getting me to commute to work via bike. I find the topis and posts here to be totally informative and the vibes uber cool. That being said, I'll jump into my question.

Any tips for riding in 100+ degrees of dry Northern California heat??? Obviously, being incredibly hydrated is a no-brainer...any other hot tips?

Thanks to these discussion forums for being so helpful to newbie riders like me

[FreshNewbie]

Helly, welcome to the forum !!! I can't help you on how to deal with 100F heat, it was nearly 90 here in NY yesterday and I could not think about going out to ride I think one needs to sort of get used to the heat to be able to ride. I would suggest lots and lots of sunscreen, also try to get your electrolites from drinks or pills that don't contain a lot of sugar. Personally, on a hot day in the summer, I always crave cold watermelon YUM. Dress light, and wear light colored helmet.

[DrBee]

Ride as early in the morning as is feasible. Drink lots, replace electrolytes, wear sunscreen, and light colored clothes.

Welcome and when you get a chance, head on over to the "getting to know you" thread and introduce yourself.

[Trekhawk]

Hello all! As you can see, I'm new to the forum. This site was recommended to me by my co-worker, who is responsible for getting me to commute to work via bike. I find the topis and posts here to be totally informative and the vibes uber cool. That being said, I'll jump into my question.

Any tips for riding in 100+ degrees of dry Northern California heat??? Obviously, being incredibly hydrated is a no-brainer...any other hot tips?

Thanks to these discussion forums for being so helpful to newbie riders like me

Hi Helly and welcome to TE. Where in NorCal are you??
I agree with the others try to ride as early as possible especially if you are heading out for a long ride.
Giving your body a chance to adapt to the heat is a good idea.
Make sure you have plenty of fluids for riding or know where you can top up if you need to.
Freeze your ride drinks overnight if you like icy drinks . According to The Complete Book of Long-Distance Cycling cool fluids empty from your stomach much faster than warm fluids. They also taste better which helps you drink more.
Listen to your body and ride accordingly.

[HELLY]

Thanks for the great suggestions, they're all very practical and easy to incorporate into my commute.

I live in Sacramento, CA and the morning part of my commute is no problem, 3.5 miles at 65F-70F. When I get off work though, its high heat time around 98F or so. The forecast for this week says we'll hit 103F by Wed or Thurs, and i'd like to be prepared. I've started to get mild headaches lately since the heat has been steadily increasing and I don't want them to hinder my riding. Thanks all again for you suggestions, very cool

[Duck on Wheels]

Hi Helly, welcome to the board. Did I see a post recently asking whether there were any riders in the Davis area? How near you would count Davis to Sac'to depends on your schedule and transport -- didn't feel all that close when I was a car-less student at UCD -- but it was a thought.

I also have a thought about dealing with heat. Haven't tried it yet on myself, but this is based on how we used to cool down our house and chickens on the farm in Santa Rosa. No air conditioning, so the solution was wet sheets and open windows. Evaporation cools, so we hung wet sheets over the windows and opened them to get a cross-breeze going (and for the chickens, because they would actually die from the heat, we also hosed them (chickens and sheets alike) down every hour or so). Worked pretty well.

Breeze is no problem on the bike, so what about sprinkling some water on your jersey just before heading out, or putting on a wet scarf under your helmet. Maybe a bit silly-looking, but if it makes you more comfortable on that short hot ride home from work ....

[Trekhawk]

Thanks for the great suggestions, they're all very practical and easy to incorporate into my commute.

I live in Sacramento, CA and the morning part of my commute is no problem, 3.5 miles at 65F-70F. :

Hey Helly - Im in Grass Valley. If you get up this way or want to meet sometime any other place for a ride let me know.

[Deanna]

Hi Helly - welcome. I rode on our first REALLY hot day this year--I saw 105 for a short while! Like you, I rode to work in the AM, then the heat turned on. I recommend getting your hair wet for some evaporative cooling. The bandana under the helmet works too, and if you have short hair it may work better for your, but for me the hair works better. Of course, stay hydrated!

[DeniseGoldberg]

We don't normally get heat that extreme here in the Boston area - but I experienced riding for days in 100 degree temperatures on my cross-country trip. I was riding anywhere between 50 and 80 miles on those days. No tricks though - I drank a great deal of Gatorade and water on those days, and I went through a lot of sunscreen. But you already knew that, didn't you?

Welcome to TE - and let us know how your very hot commute goes!

--- Denise

[dachshund]

Or take your helmet off and pour water on your head. Bent forward, of course, so it doesn't go all over your shirt. This feels great, try it!

But to get used to it, you need to reduce your effort while getting used to the heat. So take some breaks and stand in the shade, go slower, stop and get a cold drink, or maybe use another method to get to work if it's over 100. Over 90 is considered "pushing it" if you're getting headaches.

Amy