What do you do when it's too hot?

[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.

[cyclingmama]

I ride early early in the morning (head out at 5:30 on weekdays, 6:30 on weekends), or I go to a spin class or use the treadmill in the nicely air-conditioned gym.

[csr1210]

When I'm in office clothes and makeup, I can't stand the heat, but, ironically, if I'm working out or something active, I can deal.

We usually wait in the evenings until it's under 100 -- usually around 6:45 or 7. We do okay then, but it takes a lot more out of us when we do Saturday rides and don't get back in until 1 or 2. I'm assuming the difference is the intensity of the sunlight rather than actual heat for me (though I'd love 70s about now!!!). 100 without blazing sun = not too bad with lots of water. 90s with blazing sun = much harder. We had storms last week and did an evening ride in the 80s which was sooo much better - we were surprised how much faster we were.

Christy