Living Car Free - Hot tips for the hot weather

I just make sure it's a leisurely ride. Well, more leisurely than usual, anyway. Tons of water. Some gatorade or even thermotabs keep my brain functioning in the heat. And I carry bus fare. Those buses are an air conditioned life saver when the heat starts to get to me!

Let me know if you have ever come across a plastic bike bottle that was made of PET Plastic with the #1 on the bottom like every plastic water bottle. Or if you ever smelled any odor from an empty clean PET bottle? I have not. You are comparing orange plastics with apple plastics.

"The longer water is stored in plastic bottles, the higher the concentration of a potentially harmful chemical, a new study suggests.

The research, by a Canadian scientist now working in Germany, involved 132 brands of bottled water from 28 countries produced in containers made from polyethylene terephthalate, or PET." (http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2006/12/21/bottle-study.html)

A Little trick RAAM riders use in the desert:

2 sweat socks filled with ice and tied together. Hang it over the back of your neck and it cools the blood flowing to the brain. It helps stave off the disorientation occurring with extreme effort in a hot environment. Also HYDRATE and replenish the electrolytes!

When it approaches 100 just can't hack it. I'd have to have someone standing over me constantly constantly pouring that water bottle over my helmet

I use a Polar insulated bottle for drinking water and a refilled water bottle for pouring over my head. The "pouring" water helps wash the salt out of your eyes as well.

Let me know if you have ever come across a plastic bike bottle that was made of PET Plastic with the #1 on the bottom like every plastic water bottle. Or if you ever smelled any odor from an empty clean PET bottle? I have not. You are comparing orange plastics with apple plastics.
I have this (http://www.nalgene-outdoor.com/store/detail.aspx?ID=82). It's a 7 on the bottom, but it has never smelled or tasted funny. Anyway, I can fit regular ice cubes in it, so it suits me just fine.
http://www.nalgene-outdoor.com/store/images/2590-2024L.jpg

I also have a metal one that is really leakproof. That's what I keep in my bag if I go out for long enough that I need more water.

I'd be interested to know of any ideas for those of us who do not bike to work but to meet friends for lunch or to go shopping, etc. In other words, situations where one would like to look nice when they arrive at their destination without having to change clothes, wear bike specific clothes, or don a hat. Make sense?Someone pointed out to me the bicycle skorts (http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&partNumber=747721&cm_mmc=cse_froogle-_-datafeed-_-product-_-na&mr:trackingCode=911FD991-EC15-DC11-8462-001422107090&mr:referralID=NA) as one option. And some of the wicking shirts don't look as "EXERCISE! I'M EXERCISING!" as a bike jersey might.

Sew the opposite corners of a bandana together with opening for Ice cubes and tie it around your neck. Got that from a hiker.

Just Recalled the comments of one cross country rider going across Arizona in April. He said the black of his lycra shorts bleeched into his legs. Had to scrub to get the color out. That is what he said.

I have this (http://www.nalgene-outdoor.com/store/detail.aspx?ID=82). It's a 7 on the bottom, but it has never smelled or tasted funny. Anyway, I can fit regular ice cubes in it, so it suits me just fine.
http://www.nalgene-outdoor.com/store/images/2590-2024L.jpg

I also have a metal one that is really leakproof. That's what I keep in my bag if I go out for long enough that I need more water.
I suppose those that suffer from some form of environmental hypochondria would worry about ill effects from your plastic and metal containers too. :) Wonder what such worry worts do about all the lead joints in any older public or home water system.:eek: Maybe they only drink distilled rain water gathered and stored in palm fronds or goat skins.

A Little trick RAAM riders use in the desert:

2 sweat socks filled with ice and tied together. Hang it over the back of your neck and it cools the blood flowing to the brain. It helps stave off the disorientation occurring with extreme effort in a hot environment. Also HYDRATE and replenish the electrolytes!
This is an OT question but since you mention RAAM riders and their tricks as well as disorientation. Answer if you can by PM if you wish.

Do you know if they are subjected to any sort of drug testing? Reading about a RAAM fatal accident where the cyclist was Very disoriented I suspected amphetamine reaction, but never read about postmortem tests. The extreme endurance required seems ripe for people looking for a pharmacological edge.

This is an OT question but since you mention RAAM riders and their tricks as well as disorientation. Answer if you can by PM if you wish.

Do you know if they are subjected to any sort of drug testing? Reading about a RAAM fatal accident where the cyclist was Very disoriented I suspected amphetamine reaction, but never read about postmortem tests. The extreme endurance required seems ripe for people looking for a pharmacological edge.
PM coming

About 6 months of daily refilling. Costs 50¢ each with water. Investment: $2.00/year to have two bottles available at all times.

No, it would not be more practical for me to use/refill off-tasting, smelly "permanent" plastic bottles or expensive, heavier metal bottles.


you dont have a squirt top, how do you drink while riding?

you dont have a squirt top, how do you drink while riding?
Easy. . I pick it up out of the bottle cage, (remove cap before the first drink from the bottle) tilt it so that gravity does its thing, swallow; tilt and swallow a few more times as required. Then put bottle back in bottle cage without cap, repeat each time I get thirsty which is about every 5 minutes when hot.

Water does not spill out when riding.

I'd be interested to know of any ideas for those of us who do not bike to work but to meet friends for lunch or to go shopping, etc. In other words, situations where one would like to look nice when they arrive at their destination without having to change clothes, wear bike specific clothes, or don a hat. Make sense?
I wear nice shorts over my bike shorts. A dark color is better if you attract grime like I do.

I wear a fast-dry T shirt in a nice bright color. It dries within 5 minutes of stopping and still looks nice and fresh. The bright color is good for visibility and shows off your great bike tan.

I don't wear a hat, but I wear my hair short and natural so I don't have much problem with helmet hair.

Cycling is usually the coolest way to travel. (Coolest in more than one way:)) You go fast enough to dry most of the sweat and you always have a nice breeze. I get much hotter and wetter when I walk. Even taking the bus with AC, there's usually a walk involved to and from the bus stop.

Wear light-colored clothing during the day. The difference between wearing a black shirt and a white shirt is actually pretty significant. That goes double for helmets. And speaking of helmets, get one with a ridiculous amount of ventilation. (In fact, on particularly hot days, I don't wear one at all; the risk of heat stroke sometimes outweighs the risk of falling on you noggin.)

(In fact, on particularly hot days, I don't wear one at all; the risk of heat stroke sometimes outweighs the risk of falling on you noggin.)

I don't think that modern helmets, which are lightweight and well-ventilated, increase the risk of heatstroke. Do you have any studies to back up your assertion?

I don't think that modern helmets, which are lightweight and well-ventilated, increase the risk of heatstroke. Do you have any studies to back up your assertion?
Speaking of modern helmets and your previously stated environmental concerns: What about all that nasty non recyclable Styrofoam going to the landfill every couple years, eh? :rolleyes:

BTW I suspect the increased risk to bicyclists for heat injury from wearing a bicycle helmet during normal bicycle activities is about the same as its actual risk reduction powers for the same bicycling activities, i.e. insignificant.

Speaking of modern helmets and your previously stated environmental concerns: What about all that nasty non recyclable Styrofoam going to the landfill every couple years, eh? :rolleyes:

BTW I suspect the increased risk to bicyclists for heat injury from wearing a bicycle helmet during normal bicycle activities is about the same as its actual risk reduction powers for the same bicycling activities, i.e. insignificant.

Are you really concerned about the environment or do I detect a touch of cynicism in your reply?

I am heat phobic. Today I plan on an early evening ride. And it's only in the mid 80's. But a little humid. Charging my lites in case they are needed.

http://store.haloheadband.com/Default.asp?Redirected=Y

+1
Just started using it this year. Quite a difference!
Also, Potassium pills for me. I sweat a lot and get enough sodium salt but potassium is hader to come by. I pop 1-3 100mg pills per day with meals. 100 pills at x-mart is ~$4. really helps a lot, cut way down on desire to eat myself silly - it was a salt craving.
cheers

Are you really concerned about the environment or do I detect a touch of cynicism in your reply?
I am cynical about posters confusing the claim of potential health effects of drinking water that is stored in plastic bottles with an argument about the environmental effects of disposing of the bottles. Also quite cynical about those who obsess over negligible hazards and counterproductive countermeasures to reduce an already insignificant risk.

And besides, what does happen to all that Helmet Styrofoam that the manufacturers claim needs to be replaced every 3 years or so due to its "natural degradation."

Well I am a little different, so just bear in mind I am in a arid climate.


Listing at least your state/country in your profile would help greatly here :)