How do you guys keep cool...
#26
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2008
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From: Chico, Cali
#29
contiuniously variable

Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 2,280
Likes: 9
From: Southeastern Pennsylvania
Bikes: 2012 Breezer Uptown Infinity, Fuji Varsity
I don't skip days because of temperature, though below 5 degrees and over 92 degrees I worry about how the tubes are gonna fare.
How do I stay cool? On scorching dangerous hot days I drink very cold water to keep my core temperature and brain temperature down. I also dress in loose light coloured clothing, tight dress socks that keep my feet cool and dry through wicking and evaporation, I also try not to push myself as hard, though sometimes I get into auto pilot mode and just muscle through till I am where I need to be. I think that last part is the real trick, don't exert so much. More exertion means your muscles produce more heat that your body then has to deal with.
2 years ago we had a day with 101 temp with a heat index of 108 due to humidity. I exerted too much and looking back I was way above safe zone and the effects lasted several days. Only my crazy level of all weather endurance kept me out of the hospital.
So yea, definitely on top of anything else you do, watch how hard you're pushing yourself.
- Andy
How do I stay cool? On scorching dangerous hot days I drink very cold water to keep my core temperature and brain temperature down. I also dress in loose light coloured clothing, tight dress socks that keep my feet cool and dry through wicking and evaporation, I also try not to push myself as hard, though sometimes I get into auto pilot mode and just muscle through till I am where I need to be. I think that last part is the real trick, don't exert so much. More exertion means your muscles produce more heat that your body then has to deal with.
2 years ago we had a day with 101 temp with a heat index of 108 due to humidity. I exerted too much and looking back I was way above safe zone and the effects lasted several days. Only my crazy level of all weather endurance kept me out of the hospital.
So yea, definitely on top of anything else you do, watch how hard you're pushing yourself.
- Andy
#30
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,306
Likes: 22
From: Mooresville, NC (Charlotte suburb)
Bikes: Cannondale Synapse, Trek 5000 TCT, Giant OCR
The sweat evaporates with whatever wind I'm creating by riding. The sweat gets worse when I get home and stop. That's when I go stand under the ceiling fan.
Also, I got me a pair of sunglasses that make me look pretty cool, so there's that too.
#32
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 4
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From: Colorado Springs
Bikes: Bianchi Axis, Bianchi Denali, '87 Jamis Dakar
Staying out of the sun is key. Long sleeve shirt or jersey, preferably white and whatever kind of hat is appropriate for the speed you're riding. Keep your water bottles in the freezer about half full. Keep a pace fast enough to be breezy but slow enough to be eezy. I rode year round a couple years ago in Kansas City, and it was 85 and 100% humidity at 430am when I went to work and 100infinity and still humid when I went home in the afternoon. It wasn't too long a ride, but mostly you just get used to it.
Then I moved to Colorado. Even when it gets hot out here, as long as you have some kind of sun amelioration it's not bad at all.
Then I moved to Colorado. Even when it gets hot out here, as long as you have some kind of sun amelioration it's not bad at all.
#35
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Joined: Apr 2010
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From: Nanaimo, BC
Bikes: 1997 Kona Hahana Race Light, 2010 Surly LHT(deceased), 1999 Rocky Mountain Turbo
#36
Honestly there have been 90+ humid days here, and to cool off I will GO bicycle riding. I was surprised that it was so refreshing! I thought I would cook to death, but I ended up getting cooler.
The air movement takes heat away from your body, like sitting in the breeze of a huge fan. As long as it is below 98 degrees and you are moving over 9 MPH, you should cool off substantially.
The air movement takes heat away from your body, like sitting in the breeze of a huge fan. As long as it is below 98 degrees and you are moving over 9 MPH, you should cool off substantially.
#37
Other Worldly Member


Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,540
Likes: 139
From: The old Northwest Coast.
Bikes: 1973 Motobecane Grand Jubilee, 1981 Centurion Super LeMans, 2010 Gary Fisher Wahoo, 2003 Colnago Dream Lux, 2014 Giant Defy 1, 2015 Framed Bikes Minnesota 3.0, several older family Treks
#39
#41
contiuniously variable

Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 2,280
Likes: 9
From: Southeastern Pennsylvania
Bikes: 2012 Breezer Uptown Infinity, Fuji Varsity
Eh, i dunno. mid to upper 90's and above, really anything at or above body temperature is potentially dangerous due to less cooling from sweat. Yea, on dry heat days sweat helps, but on days when its 98 and 80% plus humidity..... you gotta be careful.
I have recently changed my cool down procedure when arriving home. I put my box fan on "3" the highest setting, and let the air cool me off. The cooler & dryer the ambient air, the better... my ideal is 30% and below and 70 degrees. I do this while drinking water. Doing this has cut my cool-down time from up to an hour to less than 15 minutes on the hottest most active days. It should be mentioned again that i do not ride to and from an office, but ride around to places all day, so this may not be a solution for A to B commuting.
- Andy
I have recently changed my cool down procedure when arriving home. I put my box fan on "3" the highest setting, and let the air cool me off. The cooler & dryer the ambient air, the better... my ideal is 30% and below and 70 degrees. I do this while drinking water. Doing this has cut my cool-down time from up to an hour to less than 15 minutes on the hottest most active days. It should be mentioned again that i do not ride to and from an office, but ride around to places all day, so this may not be a solution for A to B commuting.
- Andy
#42
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 2,114
Likes: 3
From: Garner, NC 27529
Bikes: Built up DT, 2007 Fuji tourer (donor bike, RIP), 1995 1220 Trek
Me, I sweat a lot, even when it's cool out. I'm a clyde, ok, a pachy...
I'm born and bred north of Syracuse and now gratefully living in NC. I've acclimated somewhat after 17 years. I try to cheat the heat as much as possible.
Frozen insulated water bottles. Frozen camelback... They thaw fast.
touring sandals
at least a bottle of clear water and soak:
hair, in back so it runs down the back. It is most critical to keep brain and spine cool...
gloves
shirt, especially shoulders and back. You can loose a lot of heat in small of back due to blood flow
thighs of cycling shorts, this can feel particularly marvelous!
and of course feet (touring sandals!)
stop in stores for cool down and get more water and ice...
Don't forget the sunblock!
Couple weeks ago took a day off based upon weather prediction of 91 and gorgeous. Was gonna do a challenging century. By the time I woke prediction was 93... I turned around when Garmin broke 105... It hit 110 before I got home. Glad I turned around!
#43
Thread Starter
Senior Member

Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,106
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From: Hammonton, NJ
Bikes: Dawes Lightning sport, Trek 1220, Trek 7100
[QUOTE=mgw4jc;16922018
Also, I got me a pair of sunglasses that make me look pretty cool, so there's that too.[/QUOTE]
I like that!
Also, I got me a pair of sunglasses that make me look pretty cool, so there's that too.[/QUOTE]
I like that!
#44
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 437
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From: Chicago, IL
Bikes: Surly Steamroller FG, Trek 800 SS MTB, Omega Tandem Sport
#45
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 193
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From: texas
Bikes: '86 Raleigh marathon, '09 Fuji newest 4.0, 2001 Cannondale R600
#46
♋ ☮♂ ☭ ☯
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,902
Likes: 2
From: 40205 'ViLLeBiLLie
Bikes: Sngl Spd's, 70's- 80's vintage, D-tube Folder
Last year I wet a white t-shirt and put it in the freezer for a half an hour or so . . . it was crunchy with frost, combined with frozen peas in the backpack. Worked well for my four miler.
This year, I just sweat and bath myself in wintergreen alcohol when I get to work.
This year, I just sweat and bath myself in wintergreen alcohol when I get to work.
#48
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 108
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From: Jefferson City, MO
Bikes: LHT, Giant Defy2, 83 Fuji Del Rey
I don't like hot, humid weather but I'm stuck with it about 4 months out of the year living in NC. Here are my strategies:
- Ride early in the morning if possible.
- Wear breathable, wicking cycling clothes.
- Drink plenty of fluids. Cold water works much better for me, so I use insulated water bottles largely filled with ice.
- Choose routes that stay in the shade as much as possible.
- Avoid routes with lots of traffic lights. The hottest part of my commute is sitting at red lights.
- Try to avoid hills if possible. You generate a lot of body heat riding up hills.
- Wear bright clothes, not black or other dark colors.
- Keep moving as much as possible. The wind generated from moving helps cool you down.
- Ride early in the morning if possible.
- Wear breathable, wicking cycling clothes.
- Drink plenty of fluids. Cold water works much better for me, so I use insulated water bottles largely filled with ice.
- Choose routes that stay in the shade as much as possible.
- Avoid routes with lots of traffic lights. The hottest part of my commute is sitting at red lights.
- Try to avoid hills if possible. You generate a lot of body heat riding up hills.
- Wear bright clothes, not black or other dark colors.
- Keep moving as much as possible. The wind generated from moving helps cool you down.





