Treespeed

That has to be the shortest stem I've ever seen.

Lucky07

I rode in this a.m. Not too bad (I have a short commute). But I don't think I'd want to be a bike messenger this week. 8+ hours biking around in this weather can't be fun.

In other news, the office building I work in is sending out emails asking everyone to turn off extra lights and appliances to avoid a blackout. The funny thing is, I'll ride home past loading bays of various buildings on my way home, after riding in the park at 8 or 9pm. These bays are 30 ft wide & 20 ft high, and they are BLASTING out cold air from the building's air conditioning... Do loading bays really need to be air conditioned, 24/7? Just saying...

EGreen

Is it only my observation that local truck drivers are losing their mental capacity presumably from their brains being fried in un-air conditioned cabs?

All over (especially Bklyn) I've found trucks to be moving either lethargically or erratically. Too many times of late I've found myself completely blocked in waiting in this heat for them to figure out which way to turn the wheel.

2manybikes

They may really be getting heat exhaustion.

It was 110 in the shade here over pavement,about 2:00pm. I ran a short errand on the bike in my street clothes. It was hot but not unbearable, I took it easy and felt fine.
Right after that I had to run another errand in the car. The inside temp in the car was off the dial past 150 when I got in. It never went below 120 with all the windows open and driving about 30 minutes.
It could be 120 or higher in some of those trucks. Watch out for drivers passing out. It might be a better day for a bike.

EGreen

Unless one winds up under the wheels of a truck unmanned due to a conked out driver!

SMN21601

Here in Maryland we are expecting heat index of 115 degrees F. I just got back from a trip to Lake Placid in upstate NY, where it was much cooler (85?)...where the MTN biking was fun and the scenery was awesome. Remember to stay hydrated...each 2lb loss of water wgt = 48oz of fluid intake needed to be replaced. Stay cool!

slvoid

It actually wasn't as bad as I thought it would be commuting in the heat.
It was much worse working upstairs on the shop floor in 100 degree heat with no ventilation, khakis, and a button down shirt after forgetting to bring in shorts and a t-shirt.

newbojeff

I ran into a great way to beat the heat on the way home yesterday: get pulled by a roadie!!

Caught up to him at a light, followed him through some traffic, then, once we were on a wider road asked if I could draft. He said, "sure, how far you going?" I told him. I drafted. Nice getting pulled along at about 20 MPH. After about a mile, I asked if he wanted me to pull. Nope. Got to hang on his wheel for another 2 miles and gave him a "thanks for the lift home!" when we parted ways. Thanks roadie!

maximusvt

yesterday was the hottest day here all summer so far, and my boss sent us home at noon due to the heat. of course, I took advantage of the day by going on a ride, and it turned out to be my longest yet, 40 miles. Had some pretty nice hallucinations during the final stretch!!

*new*guy

Nice of you to ask. Few things more annoying than realizing you've got some crap stuck on your wheel.

newbojeff

Who you callin' crap!?

If that happens to you, give "the look," dial up the watts, and drop the crap.

chipcom 

The temps and humidity ain't nuthin...today GWB is coming to town, closing down a bunch of roads on his route, so in addition to the heat, the humidity, the headwind and normal rush hour traffic, I gotta deal with a bunch of pissed off drivers who flood the 'alternative' routes...of which mine is one. STAY THE F HOME, GEORGE!!!

2manybikes

Your ride will be the worst. You win !!

genec

Sure, and you plan for it and are equipped for it... How well could you handle a hurricane? How about a snow storm?

I know in my area we went through some massive heat wave over the past couple of weeks... my house and car are not air conditioned... it was uncomfortable to say the least. In the state, I believe some 130+ people died from the high heat.

I know record temps were set all over the area, with something like 127 degrees in the desert communities (which of course are prepared for heat... but perhaps not that much.)

Laika

My favorite thing, though, is when I'm at work, I usually walk three blocks down Hudson Street to this Cuban place to get my lunch and on the way there, for the first fifty yards, all the cool air trapped in my clothes gradually gets chased away by the heat. It's kind of the exact opposite of putting on clothes right out of the dryer on a cold day.

Laika

My co. has an office on Hudson Street and one on Mercer Street and if I have to go frm west to east, I ride past all the boutiques on Spring Street which have open doors and ice-cold AC, so on hot says, even fifteen feet away from their doors, it's a checkerboard of blistering, wet heat and dry, arctic cold. It makes you feel kind of vertiginous.

Laika

It was ok early...though I am on vacation I got up early and did the loop in Prospect park for two hours, from 7 to nine. I never ride that early, and was surprised at how much type-a behavior there was, but it was a nice easy ride for me and the heat, such as it was, just kept me loose and limber.

inja

There's a difference between "dry heat" and "swimming-in-the-swamp-humid-as-hell-heat".

slvoid

It was probably the group of regulars...

Laika

maybe. i think that most of those guys show up around ten or so, after the whole loop is closed. me, i went early to avoid the worst of the heat. Also, I kinda already miss riding with cars to keep me company.

EGreen

Strange to say, I do know the feeling. The absence of aggravation and hostility makes me feel kind of empty inside.

Laika

if all i have to think about is my spin, the tranquil peace of the park and a medium-sized hill every 3.4 miles, the space inside my head for woolgathering becomes kind of limitless. I'm prone to infinite reverie and find a little something else external to have to keep track of helps keep me a little more focused. I just have to find the sweet spot between the empty park and flatbush avenue.

EGreen

I have that inclination as well, though drawing on generalized anger then focusing intently on a particular object of loathing -such as a car ahead that came too close to me - can really get me hammering those pedals like nothing else.

maximusvt

Limitless space inside the head for woolgathering? Whatever it is you're smokin, I would love a puff.

Listen to SLAYER!!! Your blood will boil, the sweat will pour, but you will not be able to stop under pain of DEATH!

Laika

Believe me, if I was puffing I'd end up not with woolgathering but rather a sort of endless feedback loop concerning either doritos or ice cream (or both).