Adapting to the heat

[OakLeaf]

seriously, i think the way to adjust to heat is to get up and do stuff and sweat and get over it.

I keep reading that when temperature in Fahrenheit plus percentage humidity is greater than 150, one shouldn't exercise. I don't really believe that either and I certainly don't practice it, but I'm not really sure it's safe to go out without any adaptation at all. 'S why I asked...

But if the consensus is it's safe, then tomorrow I'll HTFU

[Veronica]

I'm serious about starting early. Yesterday I rode a 200 K. I started at 6:30 AM. At 2 PM it was 95 degrees out. I knew it was hot, but because I'd been outside as it got hotter, my body had just adjusted.

V.

[shootingstar]

I keep reading that when temperature in Fahrenheit plus percentage humidity is greater than 150, one shouldn't exercise. I don't really believe that either and I certainly don't practice it, but I'm not really sure it's safe to go out without any adaptation at all.

150% humidity....ugh.

When living in humid summer areas, I used to try to start cycling off no later than 7:00 am. Earlier if possible. I never did understand why more people didn't start biking around 6:30 am on those days on weekends. I lived near and used several bike routes that were well-known in Toronto. At that time, the car traffic would be lower also.

And finish the ride around 9-10 am.
I'm a morning person anyway, so it wasn't a painful thing to start off early.

However, I have done loaded bike touring trips on summer days at 90F @ 100%. By noon, I was gettin' wasted...but sometimes there's no choice but to press onward in order to find a place to sleep and eat supper. It helped pyschologically if there was a slight breeze and some trees lining the route at various intervals along the way.

[ATL Laura]

It usually takes me about 2 weeks to adapt to the heat once the thermometer gets above 90. I notice that I can’t ride as hard as I can in the cooler weather, or as far. My strategy is to get out there everyday with PLENTY of water and just let my body get used to the heat. I drink much more than I think I need to. Last year this strategy worked for me, and after 2 weeks I was back to my regular strength. Keep an eye out for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke (nausea, headache, muscle cramps, dizziness).

[salsabike]

Not everybody can adjust to high heat. Early-early morning rides probably work best for those who have trouble taking heat.

[OakLeaf]

Okay, I'm over it.