First bare arm ride of the season

[marni]

did 50 miles today with bare arms. First time since mid september that I haven't needed a long sleeve jersey or arm warmers. Still in my gaudy spring tights and not quite ready to give them up because of arthritic knees but the arms are tougher. first spring flowers (goat thistle and alfalfa are out.) I'm sure we are due for at least one more cold spell and lots of March winds, but slowly slowly spring is verging on us. Time to ride daily as in a few weeks it will be hot and humid. Sigh....

[Catrin]

Wow, this sounds fantastic! We have a high of 14 today, current wind chill is < zero. It really helps to read about other places where you can ride without looking like a pedaling polar bear!

[tulip]

I got sick of winter so my BF and I packed up the car and drove to Florida a few weeks ago. I got a cycling tan! And rode nearly every day. Spring is coming, just not fast enough.

[Helene2013]

Lucky you. But I won't envy you when your temperature rises to a way too hot for my comfort zone (past 20c I find too hot). Still stuck inside for bike ride but the sun rays are getting stronger and warmer. Although with the little snow that fell this morning and colder than the norm, you'd never think we're a month away from spring here!

[tulip]

Lucky you. But I won't envy you when your temperature rises to a way too hot for my comfort zone (past 20c I find too hot). Still stuck inside for bike ride but the sun rays are getting stronger and warmer. Although with the little snow that fell this morning and colder than the norm, you'd never think we're a month away from spring here!

We saw LOTS of cars from Quebec down there...LOTS and lots.

[ny biker]

I can feel that the sun is getting stronger and warmer when I drive in the afternoon. And my eyes are already starting to itch, so pollen is coming from somewhere.

But we had 3 inches of snow yesterday morning and another 1-2 inches this morning. Spring's progress is slow.

I picked up a white short sleeved LG jersey on sale for only $18 at REI the other day. It's a very airy fabric. I look forward to being able to wear it.

[AppleTree]

I took off my jacket sleeves yesterday, and rolled my jersey sleeves up to my elbows!! Woo hoo! It was sunny and maybe in the mid 50s, but it felt like spring to me.

[Dragonfly5]

I'm sooo jealous. We are a couple of months from a bare arm ride. Hell, it feels like it's going to be months before I can ride at all. So Marni, when it does get really hot do you still ride? Just go out early/late in the day? I'm asking, because we eventually want to move south to NC or VA and wondering how cyclists handle the hot humid weather.

[emily_in_nc]

Surprised you just now got to ride bare-armed in Katy, Marni. We spent the month of January in the Corpus Christi area and rode bare-armed (and legged) quite a few times. I guess it's such a large state there's a huge temperature variation.

Heck, I even wore a long-sleeve jersey (but shorts) today in southern AZ. Wind made it just a bit chilly, tho temps were in the 60s. My legs are much less sensitive to the temps than my arms, plus I have so much sun damage on my arms from cycling that I'd rather cover my arms and get Vitamin D through my legs at this point!

Spring is coming, y'all...just hang in there a leetle longer!

[ny biker]

I'm sooo jealous. We are a couple of months from a bare arm ride. Hell, it feels like it's going to be months before I can ride at all. So Marni, when it does get really hot do you still ride? Just go out early/late in the day? I'm asking, because we eventually want to move south to NC or VA and wondering how cyclists handle the hot humid weather.

Starting early is important on hot days. I'm finding that summer cycling clothing has improved a lot in recent years -- lots of feather weight, breathable jerseys (short sleeved or sleeveless) and tank tops are available, plus items like sun sleeves and DeSoto's Cool Wings shrug. Make sure you drink enough and have something to replace electrolytes from sweating (especially salt). Stick to shady routes if you can, and try to plan rest stops at air-conditioned places like convenience stores. During really bad heat waves, stick to short rides early in the morning or late afternoon/early evening, or take a day off.

It's much easier to dress for rides on hot days -- no worries about how many layers you'll need or whether you'll be over- or under-dressed. You do need to be weather-aware, and avoid being outdoors when thunderstorms are rolling through.

[emily_in_nc]

I'm sooo jealous. We are a couple of months from a bare arm ride. Hell, it feels like it's going to be months before I can ride at all. So Marni, when it does get really hot do you still ride? Just go out early/late in the day? I'm asking, because we eventually want to move south to NC or VA and wondering how cyclists handle the hot humid weather.

I lived in NC for most of life, and cycling in the summer, you just have to get up and get going early. But you do acclimate. It's never as hot riding, because of the breeze you create, as it would be walking, hiking, jogging, or running. But you definitely don't want to wait until 11 am to head out. I also did many after work rides (5pm or later start), and by then, even though it's still humid, the sun is low enough that I found it pretty tolerable, so long as the temp was not above 92 or so. NC and VA are not as hot as some of what they have in TX, at least!

[marni]

dragonfly,

I live in SW Texas so I can tell you that by mid May or the beginning of May I will start riding earlier and earlier in the morning to get used to the heat. The stinky hot humid begins in June and goes through August. In those months I hit the road very early 6:30-7:00 AM and am absolutely off by 11:00 after which I go hibernate in the AC for the rest of the day. The heat is bearable only if you ride into it in the spring and then accept that you are going to be stinky hot and dripping for most of your ride, and that you will leave sweat circles on the garage floor when you dismount and walk into the house. I usually keep a beach towel on the bike rack so I can wipe down enough so as not to drip on the rug. Of course then the trick is to get out of the wet clothes and into the cool shower before you start chilling from the ac. How hot is it? Fully frozen insulated bottles are thawed within two hours and tepid by three. I tend to ride in an ranch area that has a lot of small stores and gas stations so I make frequent AC breaks and buy cold water which helps. It is doable but definitely not the best riding conditions. The good thing in the summer is that out on the plains there is usually enough breeze to help cool a little.