Hot
#3
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 110
Likes: 2
From: Tampa Bay
Bikes: Trek 8.4DS
Move to Florida and become acclimated to that type of heat and high humidity 4 ~ 5 months out of the year ? It is 9:15PM and the temp is 83.5° with 60% humidity right now. I ride in 90° + heat seven days a week this time of year. You get used to it.
#4
Take a plastic soda bottle you have used and freeze water in it prior to the ride. If you freeze a half-full bottle on its side, you can add cold water just prior to the ride and have cold water along for 30+ minutes, as the ice melts in the heat
Sandals as footgear can keep your feet cooler, if your cycling approach would allow sandals
Stay cool and keep riding!
#6
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 251
Likes: 30
From: Panama City, FL
Bikes: 2018 Specialized AWOL, 2013 Surly Pacer, 2011 Raleigh One-Way, 1973 Raleigh Super Course, 2020 Surly Big Dummy
Slow down, commuting isn't a race... You end up creating most of the heat, don't be afraid to drip some water on your head..
#7
Ice!
Get or make an insulated water bottle. Fill with ice cubes, then water. When you start feeling the heat, fill your mouth about half full of ice water and hold it there for 30 seconds, then swallow a tiny bit at a time to cool inside your throat. Mouth and throat are loaded with blood vessels that will cool a large part of your upper body, neck, and head. Wait five minutes. Repeat. If you run out of ice water, add another bottle to your collection, only freeze this one overnight and save for last.
Wear a hat or helmet to shade your scalp and head. Radiating sun heats you up like the surface of Mercury. I wear full zip bike jerseys made of very light fabric, or very light long sleeve dress shirts from Goodwill. Cotton will stay damp but is much cooler than synthetics. I never button or zip a shirt or jersey at all June through September in South Louisiana. Like riding under a shade tarp. Try to avoid backpacks.
Spend time in the heat other than on your bike. Stay acclimated to the heat as much as possible this way.
Get or make an insulated water bottle. Fill with ice cubes, then water. When you start feeling the heat, fill your mouth about half full of ice water and hold it there for 30 seconds, then swallow a tiny bit at a time to cool inside your throat. Mouth and throat are loaded with blood vessels that will cool a large part of your upper body, neck, and head. Wait five minutes. Repeat. If you run out of ice water, add another bottle to your collection, only freeze this one overnight and save for last.
Wear a hat or helmet to shade your scalp and head. Radiating sun heats you up like the surface of Mercury. I wear full zip bike jerseys made of very light fabric, or very light long sleeve dress shirts from Goodwill. Cotton will stay damp but is much cooler than synthetics. I never button or zip a shirt or jersey at all June through September in South Louisiana. Like riding under a shade tarp. Try to avoid backpacks.
Spend time in the heat other than on your bike. Stay acclimated to the heat as much as possible this way.
Last edited by JoeyBike; 06-25-13 at 08:17 PM.
#8
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,850
Likes: 0
From: Lancaster, PA, USA
Bikes: 2012 Trek Allant, 2016 Bianchi Volpe Disc
#10
Yeah, it's been hot. Drink lots of fluids, get plenty of rest, and eat lots of carbs and protein. Also, these shirts: https://www.target.com/p/c9-by-champi...m_1_49&term=c9 have made a huge difference in how hot I am when I get to work.
#11
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 5,720
Likes: 111
From: North of Boston
Bikes: Kona Dawg, Surly 1x1, Karate Monkey, Rockhopper, Crosscheck , Burley Runabout,
#12
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,850
Likes: 0
From: Lancaster, PA, USA
Bikes: 2012 Trek Allant, 2016 Bianchi Volpe Disc
#13
Abuse Magnet
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,881
Likes: 188
From: Colorado
Bikes: '91 Mtn Tek Vertical, '74 Raleigh Sports, '72 Raleigh Twenty, '84 Univega Gran Turismo, '09 Surly Karate Monkey, '92 Burley Rock-n-Roll, '86 Miyata 310, '76 Raleigh Shopper
What's wrong with cotton shirts? I thought cotton was supposed to be cooler.
#14
Senior Member

Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,727
Likes: 0
From: Medway, MA
Bikes: 2011 Lynskey Sportive, 1988 Cannondale SM400
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.
#15
Roadkill

Joined: May 2013
Posts: 208
Likes: 2
From: Dayton, OH
Bikes: Novara Verita, Novara Buzz, Radpower Radwagon
It's been 100°F + for a couple days here in the past couple weeks. I got a polyester jersey (on sale at Performance Bike if you are interested) and it has made a big difference. The only time I really feel hot on the way home now is when I stop. I guess the moisture wicking is doing its job - I am dry as a bone on the bike and sopping wet when I stop at home. I also got lycra shorts which helped with keeping cool/dry below the waistline...
102°F high predicted for tomorrow - Oh boy!
102°F high predicted for tomorrow - Oh boy!
#16
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 7,391
Likes: 13
From: Memphis TN area
Bikes: 2011 Felt Z85 (road/commuter), 2006 Marin Pine Mountain (utility/commuter E-bike), 1995 KHS Alite 1000 (gravel grinder)
Hot here as well. Like others I really only feel the heat when stopped, or when going slowly while climbing hills. And we have some big hills here, sometimes I can only manage ~7 MPH going up them.
My biggest problem I've had lately is sweat from my head dripping down my face, into my eyes, and behind my clear safety glasses. I'm not sure if a simple bandanna or "do-rag" under my helmet would do much for me. I'm thinking about getting one of those Sweat Gutr contraptions to send the sweat from my forehead around and down the sides of my face.
My biggest problem I've had lately is sweat from my head dripping down my face, into my eyes, and behind my clear safety glasses. I'm not sure if a simple bandanna or "do-rag" under my helmet would do much for me. I'm thinking about getting one of those Sweat Gutr contraptions to send the sweat from my forehead around and down the sides of my face.
#17
Roadkill

Joined: May 2013
Posts: 208
Likes: 2
From: Dayton, OH
Bikes: Novara Verita, Novara Buzz, Radpower Radwagon
#18
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 3,782
Likes: 1
From: Atlanta, GA. USA
Bikes: Surly Long Haul Disc Trucker
Turn up the thermostat on your AC at home. I keep mine on 80. It feels cool when I get home in the 90s. Being used to warm air makes you shed heat more efficiently.
#21
Abuse Magnet
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,881
Likes: 188
From: Colorado
Bikes: '91 Mtn Tek Vertical, '74 Raleigh Sports, '72 Raleigh Twenty, '84 Univega Gran Turismo, '09 Surly Karate Monkey, '92 Burley Rock-n-Roll, '86 Miyata 310, '76 Raleigh Shopper
...I smell like a dog, regardless.
#22
Senior Member

Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 919
Likes: 15
From: South Austin, Texas
Bikes: 2010 Origin8 CX700, 2003 Cannondale Backroads Cross Country, 1997 Trek mtn steel frame converted commuter/tourer, 1983 Univega Sportour, 2010 Surly LHT, Others...
Keep moving, keep drinking, keep acclimated to the heat all of the time, best as possible.
100+ last 2 days and next several, here.
100+ last 2 days and next several, here.
#24
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,180
Likes: 0
From: Sunnyvale, California
Bikes: Bridgestone RB-1, 600, T700, MB-6 w/ Dirt Drops, MB-Zip, Bianchi Limited, Nashbar Hounder
Sorry, no advice here. I'm in the Bay Area. Currently 79F, 82F max about an hour ago. 58% humidity (a bit muggy for us... should dry up tomorrow and get a little warmer). It's about 60F over night and cool. My office is A/C'ed and the lab is freezing with all the servers and storage we got there. Free sodas, ice water, iced tea in the fridges on each floor. Showers on each floor too, for those of us who get a little too ripe after our rides. If you find a gig like that, work hard to keep it!
#25
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,982
Likes: 11
From: Puget Sound
Bikes: 2007 Rocky Mountain Sherpa 30 (bionx), 2015 Cannondale Synapse Carbon Ultegra
Yep.. it's brutal here, too. 69 degrees at 5:00 pm. Our time to enjoy... we pay for it all winter/spring with cool, wet weather.




