Hot! Hot! Hot!

[Jo-n-NY]

Another one here from the northeast ladies!!! and hating it. I also am a warm weather person, hate to be cold. I cannot wait to ride without a jacket.

Denise I was thinking of you the other day as I remember a post from you, but do not know if it is recent. You mentioned not riding at the potential that you expected to for this time of year. Maybe it is not you physically but this horrible spring weather is what is keeping you down. I know it has me very fustrated and trying to figure out a scientific reason for this change in weather pattern.

After this past weekend, I came to the conclusion that I guess I better start searching rain jackets. I know there are many posts on them here.

Here's to a better June, PLEASE!!!! ~ JoAnn

[DeniseGoldberg]

Denise I was thinking of you the other day as I remember a post from you, but do not know if it is recent. You mentioned not riding at the potential that you expected to for this time of year. Maybe it is not you physically but this horrible spring weather is what is keeping you down. I know it has me very fustrated and trying to figure out a scientific reason for this change in weather pattern.

Here's to a better June, PLEASE!!!! ~ JoAnn

JoAnn -
I feel like I've been complaining about that a lot, and I still haven't figured out whether it is still related to my recovery from my crash (which was a year ago last Friday!) or whether it is due to our really lousy weather not letting me get the miles in on my bike. Funny thing though, I looked at my mileage summary as of the end of last week, and it completely matched my mileage by the same date late year. Hmmm... Whatever it is, the only way I know of to fix this is to spend more time (and more miles too) on my bike! I was hoping to get 3 good riding days in over the Memorial Day weekend, but the weather forecast still doesn't look great. But if it's really just scattered showers (instead of the all out rain we're having now)... well, I'm still hoping for some relatively decent riding days.

The weather wizard apparently isn't listening to any of us. Maybe it's time to move!

--- Denise

[KkAllez]

Another Texan here to whine about this hot weather. It is like a humid oven here in west Texas and I'm used to dry heat. We rode Sunday and although the temp said 93 I'm betting the heat index was well over a 100. It was a punishing 27.8 miles. Not to mention the wind that completed that seared steak feeling.

I thought I had more time to ride midday. Looks like I'll be up really early to get a ride in from now on.

Which brings to question: what temperature do you draw the line at and say 'no way'! AND what sunscreen works best? I tried BullFrog Sunday. It was a spray. I think I'll go back to the BullFrog gel, that way I know I'll get all exposed skin.

BullFrog 36 SPF + Mosquitoe spray + Road Grit = Shake and Bake Kik!

[Veronica]

I use Bullfrog spray only when there is no one around to get my back and shoulders for me. And that's the only place I use it. Coppertone 45 oil free is my preferred. But it's a cream and I can't get my back and shoulders really well. It has kept me burn free and doesn't seem to cause any breakouts.

V.

[Bike Goddess]

Thanks for the sunscreen advice. Going for 7 days straight in the sun isn't going to be much fun (no rhyme intended here )! Being the fair one here I need all the advice I can get!

Just ordered Spwipes on the internet for inbetween rest stops- they're like Wipes except they have sunscreen in them. Come in packets so easy to stuff in pockets, etc. Used them last year, but I didn't do this much riding either!

[annie]

I use Bullfrog spray only when there is no one around to get my back and shoulders for me. And that's the only place I use it. Coppertone 45 oil free is my preferred. But it's a cream and I can't get my back and shoulders really well. It has kept me burn free and doesn't seem to cause any breakouts.

V.

Annie's secret method for applying sunscreen to back and shoulders (if you're like me and not flexible enough to reach)

Find a nice, smooth long-handled wooden kitchen spoon. Apply a small amount of sunscreen to back of spoon. Looking in mirror, apply to all areas of back that you can't reach, adding more sunscreen as needed. I've done this for years. It works! Just remember NOT to put the spoon back in the kitchen utensil drawer. The sunscreen doesn't wash out so well after repeated applications.

annie

[Technotart]

I worked the first aid booth at a crit over in Fort Worth on Sunday - the thermometer on the sign above the high school stadium read 108 degrees - now that CAN'T have been right, but I did hear 101 and 102 from some other folks. It FELT like 108 out there on that pavement!

New Braunfels is about 3.5 hours south of the Dallas area. I LOVE New Braunfels - we'll be passing through there Friday on the way to San Antonio to visit the 'rents.

It's only going to get hotter here in Texas...think I will be doing a lot of indoor spinning this summer!

OH! For sunscreen - SOL KinderSport for kids is GREAT - no PABA, very dense white stuff, doesn't come off with the sweat, and you sweat right through it - unlike some other sunscreens that make you feel like you are coated in grease or something. I was out in the sun for 12 hours 2 weeks ago, I get a big ugly rash even with a few minutes of sun exposure AND I'm allergic to PABA - this stuff worked great with only 1 app in the morning, and another light coat in the afternoon. I tanned a little through it, but no burn and no rash.

And congrats on your graduation kk!!!!

[Veronica]

My sister Ginny manages the West Point Pepperel store in San Marcos. If you're shopping the outlets, stop in and say hi to her. She'll get a kick out of that.

Totally of topic - I'm the youngest of 7 kids. The girls' names all start with V. Being the youngest - I went through school answering to all of them.

V. - Princess Zippy

[archibella]

Hi guys-- well... it's hot here in San Antonio, too. Went out on a short (15 mi) ride with a coworker and his daughter last weekend. The poor thing overheated, so we sat in the shade while her dad rode the last 5 miles back to their truck. She was all crying and apologizing for 'ruining the ride'! I told her that she definitely did not ruin the ride, that it's not her fault it's hot, lol. I hope she doesn't give up! We all signed up to do bike to the beach this fall. Early morning or late evening is a definite. We left @ 9am and by 1030 we were just dripping!

fixedgeargirl-- where are some nice places to ride in austin? I only have a road bike so far, so nothing too rough... I went up there the other weekend to hit 6th street with some friends, it was great!

[BikeMomma]

I know it has me very fustrated and trying to figure out a scientific reason for this change in weather pattern.

You know, earthquakes are quite an interest to me. I've heard that some scientist somewhere calculated after the 9.0 Indonesia quake in December that this earthquake's upthrust was SO violent, more violent than any of the other 9-pointers in the last century (including the two Alaskan ones that also produced deadly tsunamis), that it actually shifted the earth on its axis very very slightly, like millimeters, or even less. I heard that this has happened before in the earth's history, but it was before recorded history. This was very small change, but it makes you wonder if it was "large enough" to cause a slight alteration in weather patterns around the globe.

Food for thought!