Guess I chose the wrong time of year...
 

... to get started running and cycling again. About a month and a half ago I decided it was time to get off my butt and start training again. I began by running because I could get more workout in a shorter time. It's also easier for me to stop somewhere on the way home than it is to get out of the house once I'm home. Since I'm older and a bit heavy, I've been going easy and not too far. There are some nice trails in a nearby forest that provide a little relief from the heat.

Then we went to DC and NY to be tourists for a week. Since we were doing quite a bit of walking, I didn't get in any runs. Just before we had left I decided that when we got back I'd begin riding again. Returned from the trip, tuned up my bike and got in my first ride in a long time. Two days later I took another ride, but felt terrible. Next day realized I was ill (picked up a summer cold, possibly due to a lack of sleep during the trip). The cold migrated to my chest, so it's been over a week since I've been able to ride. My chest has finally cleared to the point where I want to ride again, but now I have to contend with the weather shown in the picture. I've thought about riding in the morning, but since I live in a rural area with a good number of people who commute to work, I'm a bit concerned about being on the road with sleepy drivers.

I may have to move the bike indoors, which I hate. Hopefully the heat will break soon...

Edit: my mid-August time trial and weight checkpoints are going to be pretty pitiful.

No excuses! The weather is fine! Pack an extra water bottle and some gatorade! Wear sunblock and a hat! Bring your cell-phone! Don't let nature beat you down!

I hear ya. Sunblock isn't a problem during the week, I don't get to ride until after 5 or so, but it's still way too hot. I am curious how one wears a hat in combination with a helmet? :)

Buy a cowboy hat about four inches larger than your head and some glue. Attach it to your helmet. The brim will keep the sun off of your face and neck! A sombrero would also work, if you prefer the way it looks. Should also help with safety, since passing motorists will stop to laugh at you!

The only downside is that you will be somewhat less aerodynamic...

Ya just have to bear through it. I just moved in FL and had high 90s all the time with very high humidity.

I found the best time to ride was as late as possible. If you think you want to do a 2 hour ride, ride 2-2 1/2 hours before dark.

The reason I like nights better is because it starts out hot, but gets cooler as you go along. So it might start rough, but ends nice(r). Morning rides are the opposite which is why I started enjoying evening rides better.

If its still pretty unbearable, don't be embarrassed to stop at somewhere you can run some cool water over your head. And make sure you take plenty 'o water.

Once you get used to it, it'll be a non-issue. I really hate the heat, but it takes me toughing it out over a couple miserable rides to get over that hate. Once I beat it I'm game!

Here, in Nebraska, the big killer is the #$!@!@# humidity. My ride in this morning was in 75 degree weather with 79% humidity.. I probably sweated a gallon in the 20 minutes I was on the bike.

+1 on the evening rides

I tried the morning route, but found while the temperatures are down the humidity goes right back up. In the evening it seems to cut down a bit, making it at least tolerable. There's a "sweet spot" between dusk and dark where it's generally really nice outside.

funny thing is that as much as I dislike the heat, sub freezing is worse, give me a 90+ day any time over a sub freezing day ;).

Get a cycling cap like my Bianchi Team racing cap, it fits nicely under the helmet and if you wear it backwards under the helmet, it helps protect your neck and brain stem area from heat. It wicks the sweat and when you take off the helmet, flip it back the right way.

I haven't ever riden in a 100 degree heat, but I would try it. But I'd make sure I was really prepared.

It's not too bad, as long as you plan for it and hydrate. Just take care, because the "Bonk" will hit you a lot faster and harder.

Man, does that hit home! Last night I went out faster than normal on a 10 mile ride on one of our gravel trails. There is a relative short but VERY steep hill right at the 5 mile mark that I had been making just fine. Last night I only made it half way and then had to push the bike the rest of the way. The second half of the ride was slower than normal. The temperature was right at 97 degrees. I don't know what the humidity was but the heat index was about 103 at the time. The heat really doesn't make me that uncomfortable but I was suprised at much strength it sucked out of me.

To the OP: Drink lots of water all the time, not just before a ride. Most people are chronically dehydrated and don't know it. If you drink at least 64 oz of water every day your body will regulate temperature much better and the heat will not bother you nearly as much. Trust me!

Joe

Yep, I did a little 25 mile recovery jaunt yesterday at 109 heat index (97 and MUGKLY). I felt pretty good, but had sweated so much I could wring watrer out of my jersey!

I hear you on the water. I've got a 24 ounce insulated cup at work. It gets filled, and emptied, 3-4 times per day. I'm hoping to ride this evening, so I just downed my 3rd cup since lunch time.

I rode 7 miles to a friend's house a couple Sundays ago. Couldn't get my usual early start to my ride. When I got there he said, "Isn't it a little warm for riding?" My response, "Yeah. I'm going to keep it under 2 hours because of the heat today." It was 105.

One does indeed get used to it.

Well, I survived, but it was not at all fun. Managed to ride 9.5 miles. The worst part was the hills, which can't be avoided around here. Maybe things will be better if I can get in a month or two of riding...

Hey, ya done just fine! It's bloody hot this week, so no worries and I bet you'll do it sooner than you think. Likely by complete accident the first time.;)

EDIT: The big thing is you tried! That's further than 90% of the population ever gets!

After the support in here, there was no way I could face everyone if I wimped out and didn't ride. :) One of my problems, a bike that's no longer appropriate for me, will be solved soon. Just have to finish choosing among the finalists.

Managed to get in another ride today. Two in one week, wohoo! Worked from home today, so I took a ride this morning before the real heat set in. By the time I got back home it was still only 95 degrees. :) Since this week's rides have gone fairly well, considering the heat and how out of shape I am, tomorrow or Sunday I plan to take my first hour plus ride since about 1997. It's a loop that's about 18.5 miles and has a long stretch that's flatter than my shorter loops.

It is brutal right now in Florida (and the South). I get up at 3:30AM and ride from 4AM-6AM. Even then it is 80' with 80% humidity. Sometimes you have to sacrifice something. I sacrifice sleep. :(

I hear you, last night it was actually cooler in my non-air conditioned garage than it was on the road. I did 20 miles last night and only did 10 of them outside. I did the other 10 on the trainer. It is really brutal right now. Heat index today in Jacksonville was about 108, which was lower than the 113 from yesterday.

We had a brief break from the heat. Saturday's ride was in the mid-80s. Yesterday afternoon I got in a ride and it was only in the low 90s and the humidity seemed down. Today's forecast is for a high of 99 and tomorrow is supposed to peak at 100. :cry: Oh well, it's supposed to be good for me, guess I have to just have to suck it up and deal with it. :)

Actually cold is easier to deal with, you can dress for cold, you can deal with heat, your internal chiller is probably good to about 45C [B]if it's dry/B] problem in many areas of Eastern North America is that as it gets warmer, it gets more humid, and since your internal chiller is dependant on evaporative cooling, and evaporative cooling breaks down in high humidity conditions, many of us suffer.