Too hot to ride

[MomOnBike]

Cold is easy, just wear more clothes. (The secret is gloves and adequate head gear.)

Hot, well, there are only so many clothes one can shed, publicly or otherwise. And sweat, that icky, gooey feeling that high humidity brings, Yuck. There are no wonder fabrics that wick that away. My skin starts to crawl even thinking about it.

I don't like summer much...

Mom(counting the days 'til fall)OnBike

[caligurl]

no.... not quite that simple.. i have several different winter gloves i've tried (PI amfib claws among them.... supposed to be such warm gloves)... i've worn thermals and sweatshirts and heavy jerseys.. nope... can't get/stay warm.... i wear/have worn more on 50 degree bike rides than some people wear up in canada or other cold climates.. and i still freeze my arse off!!!!!!!!!!

as for riding in the heat.... once you get a little sweat on you and the evaporative cooling effect kicks in.... it's all good!

[MomOnBike]

That's my point. There is no evaporation when the humidity gets high. (whimpery emoticon here)

I'm dreaming of living in a desert again, so I can ride in the heat without wanting to take my skin off.

[caligurl]

OK OK!!! i give! lol!

and yes.... you are right... that's why i have to switch from the evaportative cooler to the "real" a/c when it gets humid in august!

let's ask me this riding in the heat question again in august when it's monsoon season!!!!!!!!

[MomOnBike]

Tell ya what, I'll try not to be crabby about you shrugging off the heat if you do the same about me and cool, OK, cold weather. Diff'rent strokes, and all that.

And I don't even want to think about the humidity going up.

Still, it's kind of neat. Someone is always finding the weather Ju-u-u-st right.

[neuroticcyclist]

I vote with the heat index folks. Humidity and bad air quality multiply heat, so 102 out west or the mediterranean where is dryer (if no smog) may be fine but here, in the Mid-Atlantic, there are times at 92-95 with humidity you just feel you're going to melt.

For me the other factor, whether we're talking hot or cold, is WHERE I ride. If it is cold or hot, I tend to do shorter and hillier rides. Our hills are not many miles up, but you build heat on the uphill and get a breath of fresh air on the cool slide back down. Flatter just leaves me slightly chilled in the winter or moderately hot all the time in the summer, since there is no resting time.

God bless those wicking fabrics! I tend to wear some sleeve even if it is hotter than blazes for the wicking effect, rather than let my skin just drip....

That being said, you need to know how to hydrate for yourself, your weather and your ride without taking in too little or too much. I know where every farm with a hose available to cyclists is and often pick my routes accordingly, carrying drink powder to mix instant refreshment.

Go for it!

[JanT]

Heat? We got it! Here in Phoenix, our LOW is going to be 85-89 (f) degrees for at least the next week. Yes, it's a dry heat, and I can tolerate it by getting out early in the morning. I dread the coming of monsoon season; I'd rather bake than boil. However, I'd rather bake, boil, broil, steam, or cook any day, rather than ride in the cold and snow of winter like so many of you brave souls do!

[archibella]

Well... went on an alternate ride instead. Heat wasn't bad at all, although I did try to remember to take it easy just in case. It occured to me that we've been riding in this weather already, I just wasn't paying attention I'm so glad I invested in that camelbak though!

Thanks for the opinions all. Oh-- and for what it's worth, I'm a cold weather wimp too, lol. Went up to Boston over the 4th to visit some friends, and was cold in the high 50's. It was so cool to see so many people on bikes up there! Maybe next time I'll take mine with me...

[caligurl]

camelbacks ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i don't like and won't drink warm water (and imagine how warm the water can get when your temps are above 100.. even with polar bottles!) i fill my camelback with ice... then add water.. and it's still cool 4 hours into the ride! (i take bottles too.. and drink them first since their ice melts faster!)

sounds like we may have a humid (humid for the desert) day today.. at least that's what the radio guy said this a.m.: hot and humid

[Crankin]

My favorite temp. to cycle in is between 55 and 75. That said, I also ride when it's 95 or 42... The heat/humidity index and air quality affect me a lot. I really prefer the cooler side of warm, but in New England, you have it all. If I'm riding a long ride, more than 30 miles and it's really hot, I use a camelbak. I'm also wearing sleeveless jerseys more frequently. I sweat a lot, it doesn't bother me, but I don't look nice when I am done with a ride. If it's going to be in the high 80's or 90's and it's humid, I ride very early in the morning or I take a day off and go to the gym. I used to live in Tempe and I don't know how you guys ride there!! I would walk sometimes at 5 AM, but basically i did all of my exercise indoors during those months. Just thinking about monsoons makes me sweat. I have acquired lots of clothing to ride in the fall/early spring comfortably; booties, head covers, 2 types of gloves, thermal jerseys, and a good jacket. Last year I rode to the end of November and started again around March 15th. The year before that, it was March 5th. It depends on the state of the roads and snow. I tend to go slower when it is cold, like in the 40's, but I am usually happy just to be out. I don't ride in the real winter... to me that would be torture. It's really only 3 months totally off and i do other sports then.

[julbee]

I have some difficulties with heat. Fortunately, I live in New England and not in a southern state!

I have been riding on the warmer days (90's F) in the evening. It really helps that it is still light out at 8:30 PM or so!

I am anxiously awaiting the Fall weather... nice bike rides while taking in the Fall Foliage! Bicycling and Fall foliage... it's "double the pleasure, double the fun!" (In my own opinion!)

Hopefully, by then, I will have increased my skills and my stamina, as well!