How do you deal with the heat?

[ny biker]

I think I'm probably about to contradict some of what I said earlier in this thread, but after a 10-day heat wave with one more day to go, I have absolutely no desire to go out and ride my bike, at any hour, regardless of the temperature. My experience in the past has been that it's more uncomfortable, and dangerous, after so many days of high temps, because the roads and ground have absorbed so much heat.

Last weekend, at the start of the heat wave, my routine was so thrown off by the storm and and loss of electricity, and there were so many trees down and traffic lights not working, that I decided to just not do any bike ride at all. On Wednesday, I went for a 15-mile/90 minute hilly ride in the morning, and it was okay, but I did find that I had to ride slower than usual. When I stopped for a minute in the shade, my heart was beating pretty fast and it stayed fast longer than normal after stopping, so I could tell my body was working hard to try to keep cool. (So I took my helmet off and took a nice long break, and poured some water onto my Coolwings.)

I will probably set the alarm very early tomorrow, and maybe I'll go for an hour ride here in my neighborhood. But then again I might just look at the thermometer and decide to stay indoors and work on cleaning out a closet instead. And hope that the giant thunderstorm that arrives with the approaching cold front doesn't knock out anyone's electricity...

[Bike Writer]

Hot Hot Hot just like every place else. 100 or more 3 times in the last week. Since I'd been sidlined I have had a little re-entry back into riding, however nearly all of my riding has been confined to campaign riding (door to door) in neighborhoods. I've been out some in this heat for an hour or two max, a couple of weeks ago when it was just hot out but not exactly insane hot I was out for a few hours but it really wacks me out.

Plus I pour water out of my body, it's so much it's hard to call it sweat, it just pours. I take towels to wipe myself off but they only work so well.

Like ny biker says, after so many days of heat, everything outdoors is overbaked. I was out early today for a bit and later in the evening too for a bit. The rest of the time was spent in AC doing very little.

The heat wave is supposed to break overnight. Looking forward to normal temps.

[lovelygamer]

111 heat index here today. I have ridden maybe 10 miles in two weeks. I miss my bike. I can't ride when it's over 95 degrees, heat index over 100. Just can't. I did swim one afternoon.

But, I hear that tomorrow is only 94 and after that in the 80's. I plan to ride as much as I can this week. I have two cycling advocacy events early in the week, and they will end at night. Those will be some of my first night rides. I have only done one night ride so far.

I am especially looking forward to fall's cooler weather and a new bike fit right to me.

[PamNY]

I think I'm probably about to contradict some of what I said earlier in this thread, but after a 10-day heat wave with one more day to go, I have absolutely no desire to go out and ride my bike, at any hour, regardless of the temperature.

I'm starting to feel the same way. I did a short, slow ride a few days ago and felt I'd done 100 miles. I don't know if it was physical or psychological.

Looking forward to predicted high temps in the 80s next week.