Originally Posted by
d2create
I'm in Houston so I feel your pain... and more.
Water water water.
Take it easy, don't push yourself.
Then I wear a tank top of Merino wool, and a long sleeve seersucker shirt on top.
Sounds crazy but the seersucker material won't stick to your skin. It provides protection from the sun and as you move the air moves under it and over your skin/sweat and feels like air conditioning. It's almost like riding in the shade! And you'll be able to wear the wool base layer a bunch of times without washing it before it even starts to get the funk.
And for the same reason I WOULD wear a helmet. Helmets have plenty of ventilation and will still give you some protection from the sun.
I got a good deal on the Ibex Ventoux sleeveless, so I ordered it. I think it comes in Wednesday. I was wondering if anybody was wearing light wool for riding in this Central Texas heat and humidity. I like your formula and may have to try the long sleeved shirt thing.
OP - I agree with the person who said you should get yourself in shape riding early and late, start commuting normal hours when it cools off, and leave the survival criterion commuting madness for next summer, when maybe it won't be so damn hot. There are days when pushing yourself, on a bike or otherwise, has a high probability of doing more harm than good.
I ride the same days every week b/c of my wife's schedule, so I only do 3 days a week lately but it's those 3 days regardless of rain or shine or whatever. But a couple of weeks ago I shut it down for the whole week when it was 105 on the pavement at 5 pm and so humid the sweat wouldn't leave my skin. I rode home one day going really easy and drinking lots of water, stopped multiple times... this is on a 8 mile commute that is usually gravy for me... and am pretty sure I was heat exhausted until sometime the next day. I hung up the bike for the rest of the week. Live to fight another day, etc...