No riding for a week

[OakLeaf]

It's all what you're acclimated to. Let's not let this turn into another one of the p*ssing contests like "my weather and my hills are bad, and yours aren't."

I like heat, and the one summer I spent in Florida, I didn't hesitate to go running at noon when it was 90-95°F. Shades of "mad dogs and Englishmen;" if the natives did their workouts outdoors at all, they'd go in the early morning or after sundown.

But the weather has been so cool here this year that on the two or three times the temperatures have topped 85°F, everyone's really suffered.

To give you an idea - "normal" temps for this time of year would be daytime highs of 85 most days. As it is, with the changing climate, no one knows what "normal" is any more. I've ridden in long-sleeved jerseys three times this past month, and when I did my laundry yesterday, there were two long-sleeved wool base layers in the load. We haven't turned our AC on since 2007 (hope it still works!).

Riding in temperatures you're not acclimated to is dangerous and requires care, period, whether that temperature is 115°F or 85°F.

[redrhodie]

I'll take 50º over 90º any day. I just got back from a very humid ride (and it's only in the 70s today), and I feel like a chewed up piece of gum. Ick.

[Biciclista]

my DH is doing ramrod and his plan is to ride as hard as he can early, to get as far as he can during the cool part of his day.
Whatever is hot for anyone is hot. I would never live in places like Florida or Texas because it's too hot. A lot of people live in the Pacific NW precisely because they are weather weenies, so our true colors really come out when we get stuck in a heat wave.

[shootingstar]

my DH is doing ramrod and his plan is to ride as hard as he can early, to get as far as he can during the cool part of his day.
Whatever is hot for anyone is hot. I would never live in places like Florida or Texas because it's too hot. A lot of people live in the Pacific NW precisely because they are weather weenies, so our true colors really come out when we get stuck in a heat wave.

Sounds like a 4:00 am start or earlier for raleighdon, which actually would be lovely time and a real morale-booster for rest of day.

THis morning I set off just before 6:45 am and was done my 42 kms. under 2 hrs. Appreciate hills at this time under rising sun shade and their cooling descents.

As for Canadian snowbirds in Arizona and Florida, presumably some choose to fly home north shortly before now or now, when the heat isn't as oppressive.

In a way, I'm glad to have lived elsewhere in Canada and cycled first for many years, under far greater constant humidity and heat. Makes me more grateful for the NW coastal weather...yea, hmmmmm, except for the constant rain later.

I truly prefer to cycle in 40-65 degree F weather with not much humidity.

[Triskeliongirl]

Are you serious. You won't ride in the 90s????? I only wish it were in the 90s for my commute home. Its been in the low 100s here. My upper limit is 105 (but I also won't ride below 40, maybe you gals are willing to go cooler than me).

[Aggie_Ama]

Sorry gals! It is completely what you are used to, as a native Texan it wouldn't bother me but if I lived where it was abnormal it would. Do you guys have AC? Stay hydrated, ride early and hope it passes.

[malaholic]

Yep, it's all what you're acclimatized to. I used to live in Utah where the temps were a lot more extreme...into the hundreds in the summer, well below freezing in winter. At that time those temps never bothered me because I was used to it. But I've been in the PNW for over 8 years now and my body just doesn't remember how to deal with either extreme cold or extreme heat.

Aggie_Ama...no, the vast majority of homes up here (at least around the Seattle area) do not have AC. The cost of installation & maintenance isn't worth it considering that there's usually only one week out of the year that you actually need it. DH and I did buy a single-room portable AC unit though. If we set it up and then set up some fans to blow the cooler air around we can keep the dogs from being quite so miserable. If it was up to them, we'd live in the arctic year-round!

Salsabike - good luck during your tri. I hope the heat isn't too bad for you either, esp. since Portland is often a few degrees warmer than Seattle. Hopefully the swim leg at least will be enjoyable.

[shootingstar]

Are you serious. You won't ride in the 90s????? I only wish it were in the 90s for my commute home. Its been in the low 100s here. My upper limit is 105 (but I also won't ride below 40, maybe you gals are willing to go cooler than me).

I only gave a preference. If I have no choice, then I will / have done so enough times in past, especially when one is on a bike trip or needs to do functional cycling to get to/from work/shopping, etc. Southern Ontario has reached 90+ degrees F with 100% humidity for summers on some days. When that happens usually there is a smog alert for large metropolitan areas in that part of Ontario. It's not just Los Angeles, etc. in the U.S.

Right now, we don't have A/C. All our windows flung open for cross-breezes. Initially it surprised me, being in a building not old. We have a floor fan somewhere. He squirreled it away in a storage rm. in building's basement. But not necessary, just abit stuffy.

Cycling at freezing point is fine in Vancouver, BC (as long as the wind is not 40 km. per hr.)..it's just the black ice problem..at times.

[lauraelmore1033]

When we moved to the Northwest from Indiana 20 odd years ago I thought it was funny that the natives thought it was HOT when it was only 85 degrees out. It sure is all about acclimation. I'm the loudest whiner in the chorus now if the temps climb much higher than 75. I can still tolerate riding in cold and wet though--down to mid 20s.

[Biciclista]

Are you serious. You won't ride in the 90s????? I only wish it were in the 90s for my commute home. Its been in the low 100s here. My upper limit is 105 (but I also won't ride below 40, maybe you gals are willing to go cooler than me).

that's really hot for us, Trisk. Imagine being a polar bear in texas. that's kind of how we feel today.

[Crankin]

I also try not to ride in the 90's. I am going to do a group ride Wednesday, where it might be 90, but it leaves from near my house and I can ditch them and go home if I can't stand it. The problem with 90 here is that it is most often accompanied by high humidity and bad air quality. Since I have asthma, I won't risk it. Yesterday, I did an almost 40 mile ride in 84 degrees almost 90% humidity. It truly sucked, but I did it. The only reason I will go Wednesday is so far, there's no bad air alerts.
I find my best riding temperature is between 55 and 65.

[salsabike]

The acclimatization conversation has been had many times on this board. Some of it is acclimatization; some of it is your particular body, I believe. I grew up in upstate NY and never, ever dealt well with the heat and humidity. Some people take it better than others. I don't in the least mind riding under 40 degrees. I LOVE riding in the winters here--it's downright invigorating and energizing for me. That doesn't mean I think everyone else should feel that way.

I have gotten much more serious about hydration and electrolytes since starting triathlon. I want to have some gas, so to speak, left for the bike and the run (my weakness). Am working hard on this, so will be interesting to see if it helps.

Malaholic, best wishes for Thursday!

[shootingstar]

Let’s say you step outside and see that it’s a mild and beautiful morning at 30 degrees. While your clothing may keep you warm enough while standing in that 30 degrees, if you start riding the open road and approach 70 mph, it will feel like 15 degrees to you.

cycling at 70 mph often can only be achieved by going down a very steep descent. And even not that many people want to reach that type of speed on a bike all the time. If it's 30 degrees F (instead of centrigrade which is hot) to ride at 70 mph is actually dangerous (and probably rare) because the probability of black ice is very real. At least where I live where we do have some long steep hills but still can ride in the middle of winter.

Introduce yourself abbey under the first main topic of general-cycling. There's a topic thread to give us the goods about yourself.

[OakLeaf]

I don't think 70 mph is even possible. The question has been discussed at some length on other forums. High 40's is common, a few people I know have hit 50 (if you trust their computers ), apparently the highest speeds on the TdF are in the low 60s (but then, they're winding technical descents, so they wouldn't necessarily be reaching terminal velocity).

Anyway, abbey is a spammer; the forum software is stripping the links out of his/her posts. Ignore away.