Evening Heat
 

Went out for a ~10 mile ride tonight, just to relax. What with the heat we're getting (high 90's earlier today, around 85 when I was out.) I was surprised to see as many bikers as I did. But most of the joggers and folks walking were nowhere to be seen. there were even fewer cars than normal.

I did come across three baseball games. And three people fishing - around a duck pond that had them, myself, and three others. The BMX/skateboard park was pretty active, though.

i havent ridden in 3 days,because of the heat. however,i am going out today. EARLY,EARLY,EARLY.
I just am not comfortable with the heat or,with the idea of rolling my skinny little tires on pavement that hot.
but,today im back in the game.

I always go early morning to beat the heat, but lately it has been 80' with high humidity. yuck!

The heat index was about 100 on our Tuesday nighter last night. Lots of humidity from the rain storm that came through at 5PM.

meh.

Yeah, its been hot & humid in FL. I just suck it up and head out around 5:30p, at least there is a little shade.

For cryin out loud, it's JULY! Heat and humidity and ticks and chiggers come with the territory. This weather is why they invented Gatorade. None of us are going to melt, just hydrate and slow down a bit if you need to. No need to stay indoors.

I agree (although it's relatively easy for me to talk, since I'm in New England and we rarely top 100), but I think one problem that lot of people have is that they spend most of their time in air conditioning. Air-conditioned homes, air-conditioned cars, air-conditioned workplaces...if that's where you spend most of your day, the heat is going to hit you much harder when you do go outside.

Agreed, except you forgot to mention to pack a water bottle of water to dump on the head. Our Tuesday nighter's not a slow ride, by any stretch. 40 miles of attacks, it usually finishes in about 100 minutes. Last night was the slowest it's been in a looong time (only 22.5mph average).

As I mentioned to one of the guys, while we were screaming along the roads attacking each other, "if you can't do it at 6pm in July, there's no way you're going to be able to do it at 3:30PM during the next race in August"

Man, all you guys are going to kill me, but when I walked out the door this morning it was 62 degrees. I took the long-long way (8 miles as opposed to 2) to work, made it in record time, and was barely sweaty. I could get used to this again.. but it won't last long :).

I think everyone is riding. The question is whether riding in the morning is better than evening, in either case its better than riding at noon. For me mornings are worse, the temp is cooler but the humidity is much higher. I prefer doing evenings even though it is hotter because the humidity is generally 10%-20% less. Recently though that has not been the case the humidity in the evening has still been >60% with temps in the mid 90s, that makes it a bit harder to enjoy ones self. I still ride every day though.

Yeah, people complain bitterly about how hot it is lately but since I don't use the AC in my apartment and am only in AC at work and stores, I can go out in the heat and it doesn't bother me much at all. Now the humidity will, sometimes, especially when I'm riding along the riverfront and the air is so thick with the humidity coming off the river I swear I could drink water just by opening my mouth... That gets to me sometimes, but the heat, rarely.

I don't know if the rest of you have noticed, but the more I ride in the heat, the less it bothers me. Before I was active at all, I would hate going from the parking garage into work - I'd be sweaty by the time I got inside. Now, however, I still sweat in the heat, it just doesn't bother me as much. I wonder - Is my mentallity towards sweating/heat changing, or is my physiology changing to acclimate to the heat?

I think it's a bit of both. I have a friend with a saying ...."and smile while you're doing it" about whatever it is at hand. He's right, attitude means a lot. And I truly believe that the more time you spend in whatever condition it is, cold or heat, your body tends to acclimate and have you suffer less. It hates it at first but finally gets the idea that the stupid brain in charge is not going to give in so why not give in and get used to it.:D

I hear ya!! I hadn't had time to ride yet this week, so I got up early and went for 11 miles before work. On my way to the lake that I normally ride around I was going down hill a bit and pedaling like mad to go fast. My fingers were COLD!!!!:eek: I was smiling from ear to ear!


Remeber this:
Riding in the heat is better than not riding in the heat!

Amen man! I'll ride whenever! now that i learned my hydration lesson i'm good to go!

Trich - I also notice that the more i'm out in the heat the less power it has over me.. i still of course notice
that riding in the heat uses up more energy but not to the point were i'm bonking or getting gettin sick.

Manly men don't fear the heat. :)

If you want to ride here in Phoenix in the summer; you best be prepared to ride in 100+ weather. You get used to it. Just make sure that you keep tons of fluids flowing. I usually switch my water bottles out for the camelback; especially on long rides in the summer.

Shawnj73 - I was in phoenix in april/may of last year shooting with MTV and my goodness!! it wasnt fun when it got to 102-103 in MAY!! So i can imagine riding in the sun there...just crushing! yeah i'd imagine a camelback would be almost a nessesity.

Agreed. I don't let heat stop me, as long as I know I can take a shower when I'm done. Just drink a lot and lather on the sunscreen. I do notice that my heart rate tends to shoot up rather quickly in the heat though, but after a while it settles back down.

I don't mind riding in the heat. If it's dry enough my cooling system works great. The last 3 afternoons it's been in the upper 80's with high humidity with the threat of thunderstorms. For northern Vt this is about as hot as it gets. Tuesday I went out at my usual time (3:30 ) with blue skys and puffy clouds. When I was at my turn arround point the skys looked nasty. I cranked it up so I could beat the rain but I doubt that rain could have gotten me any wetter!!!! Took a cold shower and was still sweating for 10 min or so after. To quote fifthcircle riding in the heat is preferable than not riding in the heat!