Northern California - Heat

At 7:18 this morning it was 84 degrees in Contra Costa. It's obviously going to be another scorcher today. How do you guys handle the heat while riding?

last year I rode one day when it was 110 in Sacramento. My only complaint was my water being too hot. It usually doesn't bother me. Same thing with elevation. That doesn't bother me too much either. Not sure why in either case.

If you live on the peninsula, climb up to Skyline in the morning before it gets too warm. Roll down to the coast where it is always cool. Ride back on a shaded road like Tunitas Creek. Heat is no problem.

I bike commute, and at least Wednesday was my late night (advising the college newspaper) so I didn't ride home until 1am. It was still very warm. Yikes.
I go in today to teach at 11, but I think I'll go soon before it heats up.

When i ride in the heat, water, water, more water, HEED and more water. And try not to stop because the lack of wind sends my body temp off teh charts. Keep moving!

Ahhh, you baby. It's like this all the time over here in Stocktontucky. I drink a lot of water though out the day to stay hydrated. If it's a hot day day like we've been having, I'll start my ride after 5:00. That way the heat has peaked. Just ride sensibly and you'll be fine.

BR

lots and lots of extra water. and salt tabs . like 2 times normal water intake

It was a 115 while I was falling through the air in lodi. Felt good. I should share the picture of me glistening in the light that we took. Never sweated that bad in my life.

Fortunately/unfortunately for me, I don't get to start my weekday rides until after 6:30pm. By that time, the temps this week have dropped down into the bone chilling high 80's/low 90's. Actually quite nice but would be nicer if I had some sleeveless jerseys. Like cccorlew said, keep moving and drink plenty of water.

I ran this morning at 6 am to beat the heat. As I passed by my neighbor during my cooldown around the block, I told him that it was going to be a warm one today. He told me that he worked in Pleasanton. If I know it's going to be hot while I'm riding, I'll mix Cytomax and put ice cubes into the bottles, but the cubes usually don't last that long. I also try to go on a route that has water fountains.

I don't ride when it's over 85 outside. If I'm already on a ride and the temps rise while I'm on my bike, I tend to fade really fast. Doesn't mater if I have cold water, energy drink or not, my body can't tolerate the heat. When I was in basic training in Texas, just standing around awaiting further orders, I passed out from the heat. Yep, I'm a baby.

It was a 115 while I was falling through the air in lodi. Felt good. I should share the picture of me glistening in the light that we took. Never sweated that bad in my life.

Skydiving? Have you posted the photo?

How about riding a spin bike in an air-conditioned fitness center?

I lived in TX from '01 to '06... try 100+ for one week straight. Not fun when you are used to Daly City fog! Although hanging out in the backyard in the evening on the hammock was nice!

We did Hotter-N-Hell Hundred in Wichita Falls, TX last year and it reached 116 or so. Worst part was when the last few rest stops ran out of ice. So drinking warm water wasn't very helpful.

Yeah, yesterday was hot, today'll be tough for sure...looks like it's with us at least through the weekend but today'll be the worst.

I just ride easier - e.g., I pace a 6 mile commute like I was going to be out all day - and carry two bottles of water, one for drinking and one with ice water for squirting into the vents of my helmet. OOOOOH, holy crappopotamus that feels nice. Doing that cresting a typical Marin County hill allows for great evaporative cooling on the descent! That, starting early and heading home late are all extremely helpful!

Best way to get used to the heat is ride more in the heat. I ride to work regardless of temps. Stay hydrated and before you know it you won't think twice when the mercury is above 100.

The heat does'nt seem to bother me while riding. I climbed up Mt Hamilton last year in 104 deg heat. Just drink alot more and Im fine. I usually ride in the Los Gatos Hills after work and there is alot of shade too. Actually the heat keeps the muscles real loose as long as ya hydrate.

Skydiving? Have you posted the photo?

I posted 1 of them. Been really lazing in posting them.

I drink like a fish and sweat like a pig. :D

Why do people say, "Sweat like a pig", anyway? Pigs don't sweat. That's why they wallow in mud.

During the week, I ride at 7:30 AM, and get home by 9:15, so it's never hot. Weekends, OTOH, can be brutal. I fill two 24 oz. bottles with Cytomax, and take powder for two more. I design my rides to loop through Woodside, and refill the bottles at the fountain at Roberts' grocery store. If I want to climb, I'll do OLH instead of Kings Mountain, and I won't go farther south than Arastradero.

I think my record was 4 x 24 oz bottles of Cytomax + 2 bottles of plain water, and STILL lost about 3 lbs during a 65 mile ride. That's about a gallon and a half of sweat - now THERE'S an image for you!! :eek:

I sweat. A lot.

JB

*edit* I'm heading up Mt. Diablo in a few minutes - early lunch. If you're following behind me, be careful - the road may be wet.

I just try to keep moving, this is one reason I switched from running. It's difficult to run fast enough to get the air cooling evaporation effect that I need during hot days, but on a bike it's not too difficult to do 17-20mph and get a nice breeze going to cool me down.

I just try to keep moving, this is one reason I switched from running. It's difficult to run fast enough to get the air cooling evaporation effect that I need during hot days, but on a bike it's not too difficult to do 17-20mph and get a nice breeze going to cool me down.

+1 Unless you're grinding up Overgrown or Montebello at 5-7 mph.

I freeze my water bottles and I have one Polar bottle that works pretty well too.

Really easy to overdo it so when it's as hot as last night, I just go slow.

One year I did the Marin Century on a tandem (stoker) on the hottest day in history. There were people scattered on both sides of the road in whatever they could find for shade (like a telephone pole). At the last rest stop there were paramedics there treating people for heat exhaustion. One guy next to us was eating his snack in that park and he suddenly got heat cramps - balled up like a bunch of rubber bands and started screaming in pain. My captain and I agreed that we wouldn't leave the park until we both peed - took almost an hour. We were both pretty dehydrated and the next day we were both in bad shape... like a wicked hangover.

So respect the heat, but don't let it stop you from riding.

Sunblock and lots of water works very well. When my body temp gets up there I usually squirt my water bottle on my head and shoulders.

I don't ride when it's over 85 outside. If I'm already on a ride and the temps rise while I'm on my bike, I tend to fade really fast. Doesn't mater if I have cold water, energy drink or not, my body can't tolerate the heat. When I was in basic training in Texas, just standing around awaiting further orders, I passed out from the heat. Yep, I'm a baby.

*holds cantdrv's elbow and buries face into his back, hiding...*

Drink lots of water and sports drinks. I don't ride every day, but work outside 5 days of the week. Some of my customers come out and give me cold water. One lady on Tuesday must have given me a bottle that was 33 degrees----I owe her.:D

I spent most of my summer in Africa where the lows at night were around 95. The "hot" 90-100 degree days we've been having are great, and I have no problem chugging up the mountainside. I do, of course, regularly check myself for signs of dehydration.

Me? I don't live in places where people are not intended to survive.
In anything in the triple digits, you are not living, you are roasting. Literally.

How about riding a spin bike in an air-conditioned fitness center?

That's what I'm doing tonight.

Last night I climbed up Kings Mtn to Skyline and then came back down 84. Left the house at 7:30pm and it was almost completely dark by the time I got to Skyline. This is the second time in a week I've ridden up there after dark and it's really very pleasant during this little heat wave :).

Normally I don't like riding on Skyline because there's too much traffic and the road isn't particularly "interesting" like say Page Mill is. But at night there are hardly any cars (and you can see them coming a long ways off due to their headlights) and the smooth, wide, predictable lanes are a real boon with the limited visibility of night riding. Having a 15 watt halogen headlight helps out a lot in this regard too :)

We usually don't ride when it gets too hot. Cycling to us is recreation.......not suffering! :)

I live in Half Moon Bay. Doesn't get hot here :)

** ducks for cover **

Wear less clothing ... but then again, you don't want to see my fat gut!

........ala Blast Radius.......:eek:

Live on the Peninsula - I just drink a lot of water - I recall the awful hot humid weather when I lived in DC, and the cold winter bike rides when my hands are frozen, and relish this great summer weather.

velo...where is the peninsula?

Wear less clothing ... but then again, you don't want to see my fat gut!

Oh no! Not another fat thread!

velo...where is the peninsula?

Bicycling Heaven! The San Francisco Peninsula in California separates the San Francisco Bay from the Pacific Ocean. On its northern tip is the city of San Francisco. On its southern end is part of Santa Clara County, including the cities of Palo Alto, Los Altos, and Mountain View. San Mateo County, located south of San Francisco, includes Atherton, Belmont, Brisbane, Burlingame, Colma, Daly City, East Palo Alto, El Granada, Foster City, Half Moon Bay, Hillsborough, La Honda, Menlo Park, Millbrae, Montara, Pacifica, Pescadero, Portola Valley, Redwood City, San Bruno, San Carlos, San Gregorio, San Mateo, South San Francisco, and Woodside.

Bicycling Heaven! The San Francisco Peninsula in California separates the San Francisco Bay from the Pacific Ocean. On its northern tip is the city of San Francisco. On its southern end is part of Santa Clara County, including the cities of Palo Alto, Los Altos, and Mountain View. San Mateo County, located south of San Francisco, includes Atherton, Belmont, Brisbane, Burlingame, Colma, Daly City, East Palo Alto, El Granada, Foster City, Half Moon Bay, Hillsborough, La Honda, Menlo Park, Millbrae, Montara, Pacifica, Pescadero, Portola Valley, Redwood City, San Bruno, San Carlos, San Gregorio, San Mateo, South San Francisco, and Woodside.

I just went into sensory overload....trying to read that reply...sorry...must be the sauvignon blanc

Bicycling Heaven! The San Francisco Peninsula in California separates the San Francisco Bay from the Pacific Ocean. On its northern tip is the city of San Francisco. On its southern end is part of Santa Clara County, including the cities of Palo Alto, Los Altos, and Mountain View. San Mateo County, located south of San Francisco, includes Atherton, Belmont, Brisbane, Burlingame, Colma, Daly City, East Palo Alto, El Granada, Foster City, Half Moon Bay, Hillsborough, La Honda, Menlo Park, Millbrae, Montara, Pacifica, Pescadero, Portola Valley, Redwood City, San Bruno, San Carlos, San Gregorio, San Mateo, South San Francisco, and Woodside.

whoa.

I just went into sensory overload....trying to read that reply...sorry...must be the sauvignon blanc

Sorry - must be my cabernet sauvignon.

Sorry - must be my cabernet sauvignon.

sounds like sulfite headache..to me!

Tuesday's group ride started at 106 degrees, and ended at 97 degrees as the sun went down. Drink, pace yourself, drink, make sure you are acclimated to the heat, drink, and drink. It was cooking. I have no idea why I have fun doing this.

Bicycling Heaven! The San Francisco Peninsula in California separates the San Francisco Bay from the Pacific Ocean. On its northern tip is the city of San Francisco. On its southern end is part of Santa Clara County, including the cities of Palo Alto, Los Altos, and Mountain View. San Mateo County, located south of San Francisco, includes Atherton, Belmont, Brisbane, Burlingame, Colma, Daly City, East Palo Alto, El Granada, Foster City, Half Moon Bay, Hillsborough, La Honda, Menlo Park, Millbrae, Montara, Pacifica, Pescadero, Portola Valley, Redwood City, San Bruno, San Carlos, San Gregorio, San Mateo, South San Francisco, and Woodside.


Sounds like a train conductor announcing the stops...

How to beat the heat? Like cantdrv55, I'm a wimp and know it. Moved to Puget Sound, where Seattle has never officially been over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Two records of 100 degrees, both in July. One in 1941, the other in 1994.

East Hill

I especially like it when the heat radiates from the road as you ride along. :eek: Mmmm, torture!

We lived in Texas for a number of years, and spent a year in Baton Rouge. I rode my bikes there, too, except when it rained. I'll take a ride of 106* and 15% humidity over the aforementioned locations any day. Just stay hydrated if you ride, or take cantdrv & East Hill's advice and stay out of the heat.