EKW in DC

Thanks alan! I'll be careful. Powdered Gatorade is already in the pile of stuff to pack into the panniers tonight, and I imagine I'll avail myself of opportunities to stop regularly. I'm more worried about quality sleep since the evening temps will still be in the 90s down to the 80s by morning. Hopefully I'll be tired enough that it won't be an issue.

alan s 

As a backup plan, you could reserve a hotel room in Harper's Ferry in case you decide it's too hot. You can always cancel, but may not be able to get a room if you wait until the last minute.

Igo

I cut out a little early today to add a couple miles to my ride home. 104 in Las Vegas today with humidity at 4%. That made the heat index of 97. Sorry all but I just had to. The coolest part of the country today is in the middle of the Mohave Desert. HAhahahHAa

Bud Bent

I took a day of vacation on Tuesday, so only rode to work 4 days this week. It was 100 degrees as I rode home this afternoon, our 21st straight afternoon of 100 or higher temperatures here.

I seem to have finally reached my target weight this week. I would have suffered less on my early summer rides if I'd reached this weight in May like I did last year, but I guess better late than never.

mjw16

Yesterday and today were tough ones, due to the extreme heat of course. I was very well prepared both days; well hydrated, increased calories, increased electrolites/salts, carried additional water, etc. Even at that, it seems, the body starts to shut down when the temps are above 96/97F, today set records with (evidently) a reported 103 F in Alexandria. I downed an entire litre of Gatorade plus 16 ozs of water just before departing in the afternoon. In addition, I bought a cold pack from CVS and placed it in the freezer at work, this went in my backpack and worked well in lowering the heat trapped againts my back. So, even though my left leg cramped slightly as soon as I got on the bike and, breathing was tough, I had a decent ride home without being forced to stop to rest (had to do it 4 times yesterday). I averaged only 15 mph and did my best to exert as little as possible. I took a 20 minute cold shower as soon as I got home and napped this evening. I believe today's heat was a new record in my commuting history, I'm glad it wasn't so bad. And, I didn't get the headache, nausea that I have gotten in the past in similar situations. So, no riding this weekend and, hopefully, we'll get a break next week. Be safe out there.

idc

I rode every day this week, but did half-drive/half-rides because of the heat and bad air quality, so it's less than 4mi each way. Going back home from work in DC uphill in the 100+ was a bit tiring but not too bad. I pre-hydrate so I don't have to carry water. And I have a pollution mask.

Going for a 20-30 mi ride tomorrow before 10am.

fletchh

Another warm morning at 78 F ( 26 C). We are expecting storms today, and some cooling. Friday was the hottest that I have ever seen it, anywhere, where I have been. Breathing in hot air is rough, not to mention dealing with cars and more heat.

making

Wonderful. Glad to be riding again. Screw the hot weather, I am riding from now on.

Surrealdeal

A good ride in this morning. Looking at my computer after I got to work I saw that I went faster than I thought.

dcb23

Muggy days continue. Gave my bike a sponge bath yesterday, nice to see the rims again. Went to inflate my tires and I notice the air gague on my almost-new Serfas FP200 pump is not working. Grrr. I have no receipt anymore.

Aeneas

After the heat and humidity of last week, which I'm certain will return later this week, today's ride was quite pleasant. Low to mid 70s, mild breeze and clouds to keep the sun down. Made decent time without pushing too hard. No incidents to failures to report.

eofelis 

Most of my bike riding this summer has been commuting. I had not been doing much regular road riding. Yesterday I dusted off my road bike and did a 40 mile ride with lots of climbing and I pushed myself harder than I usually do. After the ride I took a 2 hour nap and then went to bed at 9pm. I was tired.

But I rode to work this morning as usual. A bit slowly. I will go out for my 1 mile run on my break today and do my long route (with 1/2 mile hill climb) commute home.

On the way to work I rode past a dead little kitty that had been hit by a car, lying in the middle of the road.
Had to stop and move his little body off the roadway into the brush. Otherwise it would be turned into a kitty pancake that I'd have to ride by everyday for the next couple of weeks.

HardyWeinberg

60F, gray. Boy, summer was short and sweet, I'm glad it was on a weekend this year.

Rode geared today after doing a century fixed, w/ a lot of climbing, on Saturday.

EKW in DC

Compared to 75 miles on Saturday and 71 yesterday (overnight on the C&O canal) in the heat of the weekend, my 7 miles in to the office were a relative breeze and seemed to be over so soon after I left home. The bike was considerably lighter without camping gear, extra food, and the large quantities of water I was carrying over the weekend. That being said, my legs didn't want to take me as fast as they normally do. I think they're still tired.

Disheartened to see 90s forecasted for highs for as far as the eye can see. Bring on fall!

dygituljunky

Hot and muggy. I was faster than I realized. I was aiming for somewhere around 9 mph average speed but wound up doing about 10.25 mph average speed.

MattFoley

Thankfully the torrential downpour I saw during lunch was well over by quittin' time. Weather was actually somewhat pleasant coming home and I felt nice and cool at speed. However, the humidity was still in full effect and I was dripping wet when I got home since evaporation just wasn't happenin'. Hoping to get one more commuting day in this week to put me over 500 miles for the month, but the work/social schedule are interfering.

fletchh

Nice morning at 73 F (23 C). I road home yesterday afternoon in that downpour, fortunately after hearing some thunder I ducked into a liquor store in a shopping center. I waited out the storm discussing the world of cricket for about an hour, then picked up some wine and I was on my way. This morning was interesting. I was riding down one of the darkened neighborhoods, and saw a cyclist standing at an intersection with on light in the front. I yelled, "Good Morning," but there was a slight delay in a response, then I heard a woman's voice. I just wanted to make sure she was not broke down in the dark. As I continued down a hill, I saw in the shadows what looked liked a cyclist in the dark. Before I could greet with good morning, I heard "Jennifer?" I replied, "no," and that Jennifer was waiting at the next intersection. Hopefully, they get lights and agree on a more lighted area to meet.

Mithrandir

After 2 weeks of one successful commute each week, I bought a gym bag and decided to shoot for 2 commutes this week, so I packed 2 sets of clothes and brought them in on Monday.

Last night the weather said 0% chance of rain so I prepped my bike and set my alarm for 5:30. Woke up and suddenly the forecast had changed to "MASSIVE DIRE THUNDERSTORMS RAWRRRR, ESPECIALLY IN THE MORNING! REPENT!" (you know how the local news overplays everything...). Was about to go back to sleep and just drive in, when I decided to go outside to look... clear skies as far as the eye can see. Got my bike ready, and took off at 6:30. Arrived at work in 1:19:59, fastest commute yet: by a whole 5 minutes this time... and the weirdest thing was that I was against a heavy headwind too, whereas the first two times were with a tailwind. I guess my training is paying off? Dunno, but I'm pleased with the time.

No rain, no incidents. Clear skies all around, hope it doesn't rain on the way home.

Was amused when I beat a city bus over a 5 mile stretch by a long shot.

https://connect.garmin.com/activity/101865214

Fizzaly

61f Slow painful ride in, took a three day weekend to move into the new house, and I still hurt my lower back is toast right about now and my shoulders and knees are sore. I think what did me in was trying to push a 1500lb toolbox up a uhaul ramp and then getting it down said ramp.

Surrealdeal

Cool morning, afternoon forecast to be mid-80's.

Tomorrow was already a planned rest day, and as it turns out t-storms are in the forecast. So I got that going for me.

scottsmith

Great commute this morning, beautiful and sunny out, nice temp, bit of a head-wind but not bad. Light traffic with no super-close passes.

The roads were wet from overnight rain, but not very wet.

Cheers!

jdgesus 

actually had to "commute" today... man i miss the daily grind.

road over to the eastside... what an cycle-unfriendly place it is over here :/

jdgesus 

oops dblpst

Aeneas

Last night's ride home was in a light rain that made me kinda miss early spring commutes. Too much fair weather, aside from the heat, around here. Need more rain to feel more hardcore.
This AM, I jumped on my go-fast bike which made the trip seem faster. No comp or notes on time on that bike, just saying it felt faster. Cutting today short to meet the cable guy this PM, so will get to ride back home midday, which is something I rarely get the chance to experience.

BlankTim

Today was my first commute on my new Specialized Sirrus Sport. What a cluster.
I had everything ready to go last night, I was soooo excited. I walked out the front door, wheeled the bike over to the car, Bent down, picked up the bike, had it over my head and was ready to put it on the roof rack when I realized I hadn't put the rack on yet. Popped back into the house to grab the rack, and spent 10 minutes in the dark swearing at the fiddly bits on the rack while thinking "I wish I had a flashlight". It took 3 or 4 minutes to come to the realization that I have a light on my helmet.
I thought my helmet was in the back of the car. Nope. Back into the house, grabbed the helmet and ran out the door. Put on helmet, fiddly bits lined up on the first try, put bike on rack, good to go.

I was just cinching everything down when I felt something furry brush against my leg. I freaked out thinking it was a woodland critter trying to eat me. Looked down and saw my cat. Looked at the wide-open front door of the house. Said the F word a couple times really loudly, grabbed the cat and ran back to the house. Put cat inside, locked and double checked door. Jumped in the car and hit the road. Got to office #1 where I park the car, got everything loaded on the bike and took off. Heard someone yell at me that I left my lights on. Back to the car, turned off the lights, locked up again, headed out.

The ride itself was good. The bike felt great, and did well up until the point the seat clamp loosened up and I was suddenly half a foot lower than when I started. I got that adjusted quickly, and was on my way again. I made it to about 6 blocks from work when I heard the Train. The street I ride down to my office has train tracks right down the center that I have to cross to get to my office. I hit the stop sign at the intersection just in time to get blasted off my bike by the train horn. Cripes those things are loud. I made my turn and was pacing the train, resigned to being late for work, or at least later than I would like, when I thought, "screw it, I can take this guy". I geared down and started hammering. I had a 2 block lead on the train when I crossed the tracks right in front of my building. I'm pretty sure the train engineer was laughing his ass off at me, because he was probably doing all of 5 miles an hour and I was riding like the seven horsemen were chasing me.

So, anyway, I love my new bike!