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Old 06-26-13, 08:31 PM
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Originally Posted by Colorado Kid
It's been around 93F here in South Central PA for a few days. I'm drinking a lot but the heat is starting to get to me. Any ideas to put up with the heat?
Come to Louisiana for a couple of weeks, then go home. You'll realize what heat is lol. Just hydrate, you'll be fine. I commute to work at 6:30am and over here it's getting pretty warm at that time. No way I would ride at 1pm. Oh yea, if you stay in the heat enough you'll get use to it.
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Old 06-26-13, 08:48 PM
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ice cold YooHoo?
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Old 06-26-13, 08:58 PM
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Lots of water all day. Eat light too.
A burger and coke at lunch will suck the power out of you in the heat later.

Last edited by PartsMan; 06-26-13 at 08:59 PM. Reason: spelling
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Old 06-26-13, 09:05 PM
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Originally Posted by demoncyclist
Cotton gets wet with sweat and stays wet (and smells). Wicking fabrics move the moisture away from your skin where it evaporates. The evaporative effect can actually keep you cooler, and you don't smell like wet dog when you reach your destination.
I don't agree. I think a cotton shirt is advantageous in hot weather. A wet shirt functions like a swamp cooler. How good would a swamp cooler function with a dry filter?

As an example: When wearing wick clothes at a red light you sweat and the wicking properties cant keep up. But when the light turns green and you take off you get refreshed as the breeze blows through your wet shirt. It doesn't last long though in polyester. You dry off quick. But with cotton ..... :>)

It's winter when you must have clothes with wicking properties; otherwise you'd freeze.

Matt

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Old 06-27-13, 05:07 AM
  #30  
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Here in East Texas the humidity feels, at times your trying to breath under water... It's something you just never get used to, you learn to tolerate.. I'm in agreement with others drink plenty of fluids and slow down...
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Old 06-27-13, 05:30 AM
  #31  
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Drinking more water, wearing wicking clothes, staying in the shade as much as possible can all help. However, the bottom line is that you just have to acclimate to the heat and humidity. The first week of 90+ temps is always hard for me, and our humidity in NC is almost always high, so it can be tough in early summer. You get used to it after a few weeks and it merely becomes miserable rather than unbearable.
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Old 06-27-13, 05:52 AM
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The way I understand it, the swamp cooler thing depends on low humidity....a sweat soaked cotton shirt in high humidity will never evaporate rapidly enough to have a cooling effect
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Old 06-27-13, 06:29 AM
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Today - 99 with a heat index of 105... humidity above 70% most of the day ughhhh

Next week though, highs in the mid-upper 80's all week, only 83 on Sunday!
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Old 06-27-13, 07:57 AM
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Originally Posted by lenA
The way I understand it, the swamp cooler thing depends on low humidity....a sweat soaked cotton shirt in high humidity will never evaporate rapidly enough to have a cooling effect
You are correct. Thanks for clarifying

Matt
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Old 06-27-13, 08:40 AM
  #35  
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104 F is the predication here, today.
And many other days.
Just stay acclimated to the temps in which you ride........
Drink water, lots.
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Old 06-27-13, 08:59 AM
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For me:
long, loose, breathable.
-Long sleeves, pants, cover your neck (a wet bandana works wonders there). I like cotton for the breathability and looseness. *I* am much more comfortable with a loose fitting long sleeved shirt flapping around me in the heat, than a tight "wicking" jersey. But different strokes for different folks. What I find helps more than anything (except water) is keeping the sun off and the air moving.

Drink when you're thirsty. Don't be afraid to slow down or just take a short break in the shade.

Don't forget the sunscreen
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Old 06-27-13, 11:18 AM
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drink 'before' you're thirsty....eat 'before' you're hungry
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Old 06-27-13, 01:36 PM
  #38  
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Now that I have moved to NC from the bay area, it helps to channel my childhood in the inland empire, where it was often 80F at breakfast in the summer. Just go outside and play and deal with it.
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Old 06-27-13, 05:29 PM
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Originally Posted by Hangtownmatt
I don't agree. I think a cotton shirt is advantageous in hot weather. A wet shirt functions like a swamp cooler. How good would a swamp cooler function with a dry filter?

As an example: When wearing wick clothes at a red light you sweat and the wicking properties cant keep up. But when the light turns green and you take off you get refreshed as the breeze blows through your wet shirt. It doesn't last long though in polyester. You dry off quick. But with cotton ..... :>)

It's winter when you must have clothes with wicking properties; otherwise you'd freeze.

Matt
Interesting point.
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Old 06-27-13, 05:48 PM
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Just got home. 107!!!
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Old 06-27-13, 07:39 PM
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Heat is much harder to deal with than the cold. Like others mentioned, you have to learn to tolerate it as you really cant get used to it or change the fact that it will get hot in the summer. I cant give much advice here as our weather is always good in northern New England. We have those occasional days of upper 80s and high humidity but for the most part, every morning commute is never above the 60s. The afternoon commute can be warm but nothing like what you guys have to put up with in the south. Not anxious for snow and cold yet though.
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Old 06-27-13, 09:29 PM
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106 predicted high tomorrow, here.
Still 92 at 10:30pm.
Surprisingly acclimated, though.
Will be riding in the heat of the day again, maņana.
Good news is that I saw a female cyclist leaving downtown on Wed afternoon, wearing teeniny running shorts, bikini top, helmet, and cycling sandals. Taking the lane on the Congress Bridge in rush hour on her commuter Surly w/ panniers. Good to see.
Also, yesterday, my wife rode everywhere in her bikini, helmet, and Vibram FiveFingers. She said it was too hot for anything else. Rode all over town and to her checkup/appt at her dr.'s.

At least we have women cycling in the heat here in austin......

Tips, many already covered in this thread, from PeopleForBikes.

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Old 06-27-13, 10:15 PM
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I'm a clyde commuter here in Tampa Bay. I HATE our summer weather (though February is pretty F...ing nice!), so I have carefully considered my summer commuting outfit. I wear a polyester workout top similar to the C9's though I got mine at Walmart (Target doesn't carry my size usually). I wear Lycra bib shorts from Aerotech, and I wear closed toe sandals. The kind that are sort of a hybrid between walking shoes and sandals.

As a side note, I use my iPhone to keep track of mileage. A few weeks ago before it got really hot like it is now I was trying to convince myself that it wasn't that bad (riding home from class at 1pm), when my phone informed me that it was going to shut down because it was overheating!. Its not so bad here until about 11, but by about 12:30 until 6 it just isn't fun.
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Old 06-27-13, 10:25 PM
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62 F here
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Old 06-27-13, 10:45 PM
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Originally Posted by fietsbob
62 f here
shut up :>)
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Old 06-28-13, 01:36 PM
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We just got this in our work inboxes... good stuff.

The note about getting acclimated is a good one. It's hard to do when you work in the A/C all day and then step outside and it's thirty degrees hotter.

To All,

The National Weather Service is predicting an extended period of hot weather in the Sacramento area beginning today through the middle of next week, with temperatures over 100°F each day. In addition an Excessive Heat Watch is forecast for Sunday through Tuesday. This indicates the heat will be coupled with high humidity, which will increase the likelihood of heat illness.

The first heat wave of the season serves as a reminder that it is critical for all employees to understand the dangers of heat-related illness, how to recognize the symptoms, and to learn ways to avoid it. Remember also that it takes time to acclimatize your body to hot weather, and many heat stress symptoms are more common during these first hot days of summer.

Symptoms of Heat Illness:
Heat Cramps
  • Caused by a loss or imbalance of electrolytes in the body due to excessive sweating
  • Symptoms include muscle spasms or pain in arms, calves, or abdomen
  • Do not usually result in permanent damage
  • Can be alleviated by replacing electrolytes by drinking sports drinks and eating foods rich in potassium, like bananas
Heat Exhaustion
  • Caused by a loss of blood volume due to excessive sweating
  • Symptoms can include headache, dizziness, fainting, fatigue, nausea, dark colored urine due to dehydration. The body temperature is usually 100-104°F.
  • Profuse sweating is present
  • Heat Exhaustion is not in itself life threatening, but if left untreated it can progress to Heat Stroke
Heat Stroke
  • A LIFE THREATENING CONDITION
  • Caused by breakdown of the body’s natural heat regulation system (sweating), and a body temperature over 104°F.
  • Symptoms include hot and dry skin, confusion or delirium, rapid shallow breathing, seizures, and unconsciousness
  • REQUIRES IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION

If someone is exhibiting symptoms of heat cramps or heat exhaustion, immediately move them to a cool shaded area, give them small amounts of water, cool them down with wet cloths, and notify Health Services. If someone shows symptoms of Heat Stroke, call 9-1-1 immediately.

How To Prevent Heat Illness:
  • Acclimation – you are more susceptible to heat illness if you have not been exposed to hot weather recently. It takes 7-14 days to get used to the heat. Take extra precautions to access water, rest, and shade.
  • Drink plenty of water, even if you are not thirsty. A good rule of thumb is to drink a cup of water every 15 minutes. Do not try to “catch up” by drinking large quantities of water at one time.
  • Alcohol, caffeine, and certain prescription drugs can increase the likelihood of heat illness. Avoid consuming alcohol and caffeine starting 24 hours before an expected heat event. Consult your doctor about possible effects of prescription drugs you are taking.
  • DO NOT drink “energy” beverages or mistake them for sports drinks. Energy beverages contain caffeine and taurine, which can both worsen heat illness.
  • Try to time outdoor activity during the morning hours.
  • Take frequent rest and shade breaks. Short breaks every 15 minutes are preferable to infrequent longer breaks.
  • Wear lightweight, loose fitting, light colored clothes and wide brimmed hats.
  • Pay attention to heat stress even if you spend most of your time in an office environment. Employees who have to walk between buildings on hot days are also susceptible to heat illness.
  • Practice the “Buddy System”; watch out for each other when working in the heat.

Here is a link to an OSHA quick reference card on heat illness, which you can print out:
https://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3154.pdf
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Old 06-28-13, 02:17 PM
  #47  
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Originally Posted by Hangtownmatt
shut up :>)
+1 for all the NW people rubbing it in. haha
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Old 06-28-13, 03:39 PM
  #48  
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Originally Posted by jazzgeek79
I'm a clyde commuter here in Tampa Bay. I HATE our summer weather (though February is pretty F...ing nice!), so I have carefully considered my summer commuting outfit. I wear a polyester workout top similar to the C9's though I got mine at Walmart (Target doesn't carry my size usually).
I am a clyde too. The sizing on those specific C9 shirts is way off, so you might try one on if interested next time you are in a Target. I'm normally a 3XL for most shirts, but an XL fits me fine on those C9 "running" shirts. Go figure....
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Old 06-28-13, 06:00 PM
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Thats good know. Thanks
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Old 06-29-13, 03:23 AM
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Originally Posted by fietsbob
62 F here
Pffft, it's 52F here today with snow in the mountains. On Thursday morning, it was low 40s here and low 20s at the local ski resorts. Way too cold for late June. I can't wait for summer to start.
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