10 Wheels

I have enjoyed some very nice rides up till now.
The Hot Texas Sun is Shinning.
78 miles today with a temp of 98*, Humidity 37*

c_m_shooter

Just think, it's not even hot yet.

Wogster

Wanna send some of that heat my way, it barely got into the 50's today.......

Lets see send me 24 degrees, we both end up at 74, perfect riding weather.....

v1k1ng1001

Jeez, I hate riding here. My physiology doesn't adjust. I just joined the gym so that I can start working out indoors. The bike may have to go in the storage shed until next fall.

jaxgtr

you got to ride in that heat V1K, it really the only way to get use to it.

Jtgyk

Gotta wake up early in the morning to get those rides in when the heat isn't too oppressive!
Used to do Summer camp with my scouts in 104+ temps....after awhile you get used to it.

v1k1ng1001

Well my one big problem is that I don't get up in the morning and if I do I usually spend the morning hours writing. The other option is to ride later in the day but even then it is still pretty hot and humid. I used to do a lot of night trail running during the hottest summer months in PA but there is nowhere to do that here. The gym will work for me this summer, mostly because I'm taking up jiu jitsu this fall and need to drastically improve my upper body strength.

thaetviking

+1 on that. I ride during the hot parts of the day to get used to the humidity here in Iowa during the summer. The big benefit from it was that the days heat did not bother me as much when I would just go outside to do stuff.

evblazer

I rode in at 4:30 am (60 degress or so) and home at 6 in that heat and found it was pretty comfy. (roughly took 2 hours to get home due to traffic)
Evercool Heatmax cooling bandana
"EverCool Cooling Bandanas will help keep you cool in the hottest of weather at work or play.
Soaked in water for 15-20 minutes the polymer absorbs the water and expand to over 100 times their original size."
Note: Color can initially bleed a bit on some versions so just be aware.

I found they worked pretty well in the texas heat last summer. You gotta make sure you drink the water still and then drink some more. And lotion. I got some really nasty burns and am currently looking into some lightweight long sleeve stuff. That Texas sun never sets and shines hard all day and then all of a sudden wham darkness

57clyde

i had the POLAR opposite today, at 11am my ride started at 52 degrees headed north with the headwind off of lake Michigan. after 42 miles it warmed up to 56 at 2 pm!. that lake is a large air conditioner! its nice to have when summer get here! just a little chilly now

v1k1ng1001

Texas is a little more intense than Iowa. When I lived in North Dakota and Minnesota, riding at mid day, every day was not a problem. August in central TX is like 110 degrees with 80%-100% humidity.

wayne pattee

Now I remember why I live where I do. I can't imagine riding in that kind of heat.

Big_e

It was 99 degrees here in Dallas and I did 18 miles along the Trinity River bottoms yesterday. Took a bottle of ice water (it was hot when I was finishing!) and put on plenty of lotion. I rode the bottoms with little ill effects, other than being really tired.
I went to Katy trail Sunday and after my third lap (about 14 miles) I began to feel dizzy and weak. I got off my bike and saw stars dancing before my eyes. A young lady jogged by and I made a show of strength but could only muster bending over and resting my hands on my knees. As soon as she went on I collapsed into the shade of some nearby shrubs and rested there for a few minutes. It's a good thing that the trail wsn't so busy 'cause that was embarrassing! Now I always drink water and eat a very lite snack before heading out (like an orange or banana).
I mean to do the Trinity River bottoms again next week, I'm gonna kick that trail in the ass!
Ernest

10 Wheels

Thanks the tip on the bandanas. Rode 73 miles today. Covered my head, neck and ears with a cloth for protection from the direct sun. Made 2 later stops for ice and water. Did much better today.
Had leg cramps both days about 4 hours afer riding. These were the first cramps in 3600 miles.
Do you have any tips on preventing the leg cramps?

idig

Pickle juice (seriously). I don't know how much electrolyte replacement drink you took on your 73mi ride, but you probably need at least 3 bottles in that heat. I would also pack a few Endurolytes in the saddle bag and take one about every 25-30 miles. YMMV, depending on your level of fitness.

10 Wheels

I drank 3 @ 24 oz of Gatorade. Mix my own, like it strong. Drank Three bottles of water.
Thanks for tip on pickle juice.

thaetviking

It can help a lot to eat a lot of salty food a couple of days prior to a hot weather work out. A lot of people bonk because they do not have enough salt in their system to begin with. That is one of the reasons why pickle juice helps.

Of course if you are working out really hard in a hot weather conditions you may want to talk with a nutritionist to see if there is a healthy way to supplement it in your diet.

idig

Gatorade is better than plain water in this situation, but something that is specifically engineered to prevent cramps would be better. Heed by Hammer Nutrition has kept me cramp free for the past year. If you find the taste lacking (many do), add a half packet of unflavored Kool-aid to each bottle. That said, you could likely get by with the Gatorade if you took a couple of Endurolytes during the ride.

StephenH

Big E- where is that you're riding along the Trinity? Is that unpaved trail or what?

Big_e

StephenH, I go to the bottoms on Mondays when I'm off. I park in Sylvan park which is close to that canoe rental place on Irving Blvd. I've been riding the North side of the levee from Sylvan and all the way Northwest up to I-35N. The trail ends at the southernmost edge of Bachman Lake. I havent found a way to get up on the lake as there was some construction. The surface is gravely and sandy at some spots and compact dirt. Not an easy trail IMO but I like the challange. The tops of the levee is best to ride and the climbs up the levee makes for a great workout. On weekends the park is quiet but dirty 'cause everybody and their dog drinks beer there at nights but Mondays it's clean and quiet. You could also park in the industrial district of Westmoreland/ Mockingbird between the bridge and Irving Blvd and ride up onto the levee as well.
Ernest

Big_e

I just took a water bottle last time. This may be a job for my camelbak and some nutri-bars as well.
Ernest

mesasone

Chop 15 degrees off and you have eastern Iowa. Not everyday is that warm, but many are. I don't think I could do 100+ with high humidity like that on a regular basis. We get a day like that everyonce in a while up here, and it's just miserable. I suppose it's a trade off for having relatively nice, temperate winters.

I can't speak for North Dakota as I've never been there, butwhen visiting relatives in Minnesota, the weather is pretty bearable. I guess it depends on where you are in Minnesota, but both of those states are north of us, and so you would expect them to be cooler.

idig

I used to do a lot of variations of that same ride about 20 years ago. I loved riding the levees.

10 Wheels

My cramps were just a twinge occurring 4 hours after riding. I am 66 y/o and ride with a group of experienced riders. One is nutritionist. I may be low on calcium and magnesium.
Will try the Hammer Nutrition. Thanks

evblazer

A few people who I started to randonuer with swear by sports legs for avoiding leg cramps. Another likes perpetum and they just got their second consecutive R12 (so 24 months with an official 200k+ ride each month) so I really gotta pick his brain more.

Edit: Sports legs is just vitamin D, calcium and magnesium which is just what that nutritionist said so maybe there is some truth to it.