Hottest ride to date

[Bike Writer]

I rode yesterday and today. It's torrid out there! Yesterday it was not as humid and I'd been indoors all day at work so my body was super cooled down and it just didn't feel that bad to me. Today I had after work errands and got heated up just from in and out the car plus the humidity today was killer. I have not had early morning rides because of meetings so I've been going the last hour before sunset.

I hate heat and humidity so I am very surprised at going out in it and tolerating it. Tomorrow is supposed to be the worst of it and I have an evening meeting so I guess I won't be riding.

It's nearly a year since I got back into riding and when I picked up my bike last year it was the hottest day of the year. I was so excited that I rode it anyway and knew that was a sign of how much I loved being on a bike.

[Tokie]

I read an article that said the only way to train/acclimate to exercising in heat was.....training and exercising in heat. On our cross country ride and RAGBRAI, we have ridden long hours and miles in wilting 95 to 100+ heat. but NOTHING prepared us for riding in heat above 85 degrees with the incredible humidity we found in Minnesota,Wisconsin and New York last summer. Heat is do-able, but heat + humidity is not. Unbelievable! I guess in part that sweating in a humid environment is useless for lowering your body temp? Be careful out there! tokie

[northstar]

The heat index was in the 120's here (130 in Moorhead) yesterday. It has been beastly. The only time I stepped out was to get the mail. No riding, no way!

Today it's only supposed to be 85 or so. But it's back to insanity tomorrow.

[TrekTheKaty]

I headed out at 6:30 am, but it was only 85 with 74% humidity. I was still soaked

Dropped hubby off for a hilly-25 miler and it was already 95 :-0

[tzvia]

Skipped commuting all week- it was only 99f~100f, but with the humidity it was really sticky so no way. But I am going to ride tomorrow.

Last summer, I rode in 103f going home and had a second water bottle with ice in it just to pour into my helmet. I did so at every stop.

Thankfully my commute passes many gas stations with mini-marts where I can get water and Gatorade type drinks, and there is a fountain in front of a condo complex I pass that I can jump in (I'm not kidding) if I find myself in trouble with the heat.

Be safe out there people- the heat in the central U.S. right now is brutal and dangerous.

[Crankin]

When I went out this morning, at 5:30, it was already 79. I know that's nothing for other parts of the country, but it's hot for here, in the early AM. And, as opposed to yesterday, it is super humid.So, I was happy to do just 17 miles. It's going to be about 100 today, which, to a former AZ person, is nothing. But that with the humidity, yuck. Will be staying in the office or home, and thankfully, the one client I see on Fridays has AC.

[OakLeaf]

The humidity has been insane. I've been comparing it to Florida, and it's the same in Ohio. I've read it's because of all the flooding earlier in the year ... welcome to our new climate.

I finally had to turn on the AC yesterday even though it was only 87° inside, because everything was turning to mold. Just like Florida.

I also read a study yesterday that compared two groups of cyclists over a summer. One of them worked out in heat, the other in AC, but outside of the controlled workouts, they only spent an average of 18 minutes per day in the heat! Unsurprisingly, the ones who worked out in the heat really didn't acclimate much.

It made me realize that most people work inside and don't have the luxury of controlling the thermostat where they work ... and of course a lot of people have a heavy hand on the thermostats at home ... plus when it's this humid, it's either turn on the AC, or rip out all the carpet and drywall (seriously, they should call it wetwall or at least dampwall) and install a summer kitchen and an outdoor shower (you bet whenever this cardboard-and-tinfoil home finally collapses, the new one will be more efficient).

So while I still maintain that everyone's body is physically capable of acclimating to heat, it's made me realize that socially and environmentally, probably most people in the USA don't get the opportunity to be exposed to heat enough to acclimate.

Be safe, everyone. Going for a short run ...

[GingerbreadGirl]

and there is a fountain in front of a condo complex I pass that I can jump in (I'm not kidding) if I find myself in trouble with the heat.

.

Love it!

In college my roommate and I used to jump in the lake on the way home from our mountain bike rides. At the local state forrest where I trail run, there is a kiddie wading pool; I often surprise the lifeguards by stopping in there on my way back to the car, lol.

[SheFly]

I had to drop my car off at the dealer for service on Friday. Granted, the ride to and fro is only 7 miles, but when I dropped off at 7:30 am, it was already over 80 degrees. Worse was the pick up. I started riding at about 3:00 pm, and my deck thermometer was registering 110 in the sun . It was also pretty humid. I probably wouldn't have ridden at all on Friday except for that errand though - WAY too hot for this former Canadian .

SheFly

p.s.
Yes - it was also STINKIN' hot in Canada last week.