What do you do when it's too hot?

[Crankin]

I can take riding in the low 90s when there's no humidity involved. However, that's practically never here. I used to just head to the gym when it was really hot and humid, especially when there's an air quality alert. Now I might ride early in the AM, take a hike/mt. bike in the shady woods, and go to the gym. I've done a few hot and humid rides this year; it takes me a few weeks to acclimate. Basically, though, I develop headaches in the summer when it gets like that and I try to do too much.
My range for really comfortable riding is pretty narrow! I do best between 58 and 72. Personally, I couldn't live without AC. But, I think my definition of comfortable AC is different from most of the people in New England. This comes from years of living in the desert; we keep our AC set on 78. In AZ, we kept it at 80 or 82. Most people around here keep it on 70! I would be freezing. And a lot of the time, it's on to keep the humidity out. I have mold allergies and once that gets into the house, I'm dead.

[chutch]

I'm in awe of those of you who can tolerate it to ride- just as I am in awe of my husband whose favorite road riding weather is when it's snowing

Fall is my favorite time of year to ride. For now, I'll stick to the trainer and maybe do a little weight lifting, yoga, and Pilates.

[kie_fujo]

i hit my trainer. actually i use my trainer more than i'd like because my daughter is out of school and she can't ride her bike yet. we go on the tag along sometimes, but it's not the same!

[mayanorange]

<- big furries + anything above 75 (well to be really honest 50) degrees + anything above 40% humidity = hot slobbery doggies! I run the AC for them but also for me because the humidity gets to me. I grew up in Upstate New York where it was only super hot 3 wks out of the year, so I guess I never developed a tolerance. My 2 yrs in CA I was out mtn biking in 90+ degrees and was fine- but sweating works out there. Here I just sweat continuously since the sweat can't evaporate into the air and get heat exhaustion very easily. I have been known to stay inside on the trainer because it's too hot.

[emily_in_nc]

I am working at home today (another hot, humid one) and am getting ready to do a Rodney Yee yoga tape in the A/C. I don't keep it really cool (80), but it's a must for keeping the humidity, and resulting mold and mildew, out of the house this time of year in NC!

Emily

[aicabsolut]

This thread is interesting.

I don't really mind bad air quality days so much. It's just my eyes that turn all red and itchy. I've had to race on code orange days, and I've done some training rides on code red days. I just try to take it easy (but obviously not in the race) and soak myself often. I must have humidity if it's hot. If it's cooler, say in the low 80s or below, low humidity is so nice. However, once it gets hot, I need the humidity or else I start feeling sick and get heat exhaustion symptoms quickly. I won't be able to keep up with the soaking, because the jersey will dry too quickly. I grew up in a hot climate with high humidity, and so my body is accustomed to working hard while soaking wet. Sure, sweat evaporating cools you better, but not if you're not used to it. If it's in the 90s or above with intense sun, there'd better be 50%+ humidity for me. Without it, I start feeling like I'm not sweating at all, so my body thinks it has shut down, I guess. Then I start getting the goosebumps and feel nauseated. Not good. Riding in the evenings usually isn't much better for temperatures, and then all the bugs start coming out.

[Aggie_Ama]

If I avoided heat I couldn't ride from April-October. I pour water on my head, ice down the sports bra and just acclimate. If I am not feeling like it I hike (ahhh shade) or mountain bike.

Now if it is cold, I can't deal. I whine and stay home or go for a run.

[shootingstar]

Before moving to Vancouver, I did cycle regularily and did loaded cycling trips in temp. up to 35 degrees F and 100% humidity... For quite a number of years.

To deal with this, found that heading out on bike early in morning by 7:00 am at the latest and finish at 10:00 am at the latest. On such days, if it was a trip, I preferred to avoid high noon..and restart cycling mid-afternoon.

If there was a smog alert, I did try to head out even early earlier and make the ride shorter. Or not go at all that day.

When I don't cycle when it's hot...admittedly I am a bum in front of computer or something else.

[sundial]

.....I'm not riding in 95 F weather anymore. After yesterday's ride, I came home and had a headache with intermittent nausea. Not good. I didn't feel right for the rest of the evening. I may have reached a point that I can't tolerate cycling in the heat like I did even last summer.

[tennisgirl43]

I ride really early in the morning, and try to ride shady routes. But still with the humidity as high as it is here, the heat kicks my butt. I end up taking a nap in the afternoon sometimes. Hydrate, hydrate, hyrdate!!

I also play tennis, and played singles last night at 6.30 - it was 95 degrees. Talk about brutal! In that case, hydration, icy towel on changeovers to wet down my face, arms, chest, legs - wet down my hair, etc. Still, on long points, i get that pounding in my head and nausea. Yeah, I know. It's stupid to keep playing, but I do.

[Tuckervill]

I don't think I mind the heat at all--it's the sun beating down on me that does me in. I worked out in the garden all morning--it was about 90, and I sweated through all my clothes...but I was in the shade the whole time.

We have a bank sign in our town that always shows a temperature about 10 degrees hotter than everyone else. The sign is always in the hot sunshine no matter the time of day.

On my tour, I was definitely getting heat exhaustion, with the chills and nausea. Thankfully, I didn't have a headache, too. That would have been the end of me. I recovered quickly.

Karen

[Aggie_Ama]

I say I don't mind the heat but I have been passing on commuting and carpooling instead. A couple weeks ago I rode the 26 miles home in 100 degree weather, once I got home I laid on the couch sick. I was nauseated, couldn't cool down and had a tremendous headache.

Shade is important and my commute has little shade. The pavement will amplify the already scorching heat.

[Blueberry]

I'm still nauseous and have a headache after my ride this AM. Not to mention by back is cramping up again Seriously - I did everything except just not ride at that time/temp. Guess that's what I'll have to stick to.

CA

[OakLeaf]

It's been a crazy summer for me (as really they all are the past few years ) but in general, when it's "too hot," I make sure and get out in it and get acclimated to it. Shorter, easier workouts at first (supplemented with indoor workouts if needed) - very close attention to fluid and electrolyte replacement - and before long it doesn't seem "too hot" any more. It really doesn't seem to be a problem as long as I'm exerting myself.

ETA: Heat exhaustion used to be a problem for me on the motorcycle (where as a recreational rider, I'm not getting my HR super high, plus I'm wearing gear). An evaporative cooling vest did the trick - love that thing. I got my inexpensive but very serviceable TechNiche vest from Rocky Moto. I'd post a link, but their website isn't working right now. I'm not sure you'd get enough airflow on a bicycle to make it work, but it's something to consider. They do sell them even for stationary applications like traffic control - but those evaporative neckies really never worked for me. They stayed plenty cool on the outside, but next to my skin they just served as an insulator and made me even hotter. The advantage to the vests is that they're thinner and lighter, so they don't insulate me.

[sundial]

I don't think I mind the heat at all--it's the sun beating down on me that does me in. I worked out in the garden all morning--it was about 90, and I sweated through all my clothes...but I was in the shade the whole time.

I rode out on the open farm roads with no shade and between the sun beating down and the incessant heat rising from the road it took it's toll on me. Then when I rode the mtb in the woods on another day in 90 F weather, I felt great. I just hope I didn't make the mistake of getting too hot to where I can't tolerate heat and high humidity. I hope no one else gets sick. Be careful out there.

Today we have much cooler temps with the rains that have moved in. Tomorrow when I ride it will be 68 F.