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How hot is too hot?

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Old 08-25-11 | 08:49 AM
  #26  
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several weeks ago I rode a new route while it was 90+ with high humidity. there was a hill coming into one town that just about did me in. the next week I rode the same route with low 80's temp and moderate humidity. hardly even noticed that hill.
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Old 08-25-11 | 09:08 AM
  #27  
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Wised up some

Got out early this morning. When I left it was 67 and when I got back home it was 71. Very nice, but looking forward to heading out when it is 55-60. The heat/humidity will try to kill me today, but at least it will be from mowing. Takes 4-5 hours to walk it.

Bradtx-I know all about Harleys, road heat, stop and go traffic, etc. After 30 years and 4 Hawgs I have nothing to prove any more. Too hot or cold I just stay off the thing.
I will say this; in extreme heat I would rather be on a bike vs. motorcycle.
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Old 08-25-11 | 09:17 AM
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And with a Harley you are likely to be walking in that heat too
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Old 08-25-11 | 09:37 AM
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Hey Wulf, I wish I could tell you to go pound sand, but having to wait for the truck & trailer to come get me in super miserable heat by the road twice in the last 5 years all I can say is you are correct! First time while waiting a guy in a car passed me by and when he came back he gave me a gatorade. Second time I was stranded in front of two houses. Could not hold it any longer so knocked on a door. I went and then they fed me lunch. Back outside to wait. A guy comes out from other house and invites me in where his wife has just made pecan pie! YUM!

Last edited by Rider98Glide; 08-25-11 at 11:05 AM.
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Old 08-25-11 | 10:11 AM
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It is a combination of heat, sun and humidity that works together. A low humidity day that is over cast could be endurable into the low 100s. A relentlessly sunny day in the low 90s with nearly 100% humidity can be pretty brutal.

The ultimate judge on this is you. Some people can endure more heat than others. If it is too hot for you, it is too hot.
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Old 08-25-11 | 10:42 PM
  #31  
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Yesterday I was riding in 85-90 degree weather and that is fine as long as it is rolling hills--but on long steep hills it is no fun--and more so on a mountain bike with the sun beating!

It is easy and quick to get in trouble in the heat--heat strokes are dangerous!
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Old 08-25-11 | 11:14 PM
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Did a mountain ride on Wed, 53 miles 4600 feet and boy the 100 degrees was hard on the body this day. So hot and dry that I appeared to not be sweating. I think the sweat was evaporating as it left my skin.

100 on a flat ride is ok, on the climbs, it's a little tougher. Don't think I'd ask for more than that.



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Old 08-25-11 | 11:18 PM
  #33  
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Originally Posted by teachme
If my tires melt on the pavement... I'm going home!
When I lived in the desert, I had that problem with my Kenda's. I discovered that when I came to a stoplight, I had to dismount and lift my bike off the ground or the tires would get soft and start blowing the sidewalls out as the tube tried to come through the threads of the tire. I contacted Continental who claimed that that wouldn't happen to their tires, but I never had the chance to check it out.

The tires were okay when I was rolling since no one part of the tire was in constant contact with the street, but stop at a light and there could be problems.
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Old 08-26-11 | 03:34 AM
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Living in North Pole, Alaska I just shake my head at this. I doubt I've ever ridden above 85...and I'm not sure I've even ridden over 80 degrees. August 12 I did a long ride after my 60th birthday and it started out about 38F degrees . Todays ride started about 55F and ended about 68F or so. Those are nice temps for me.
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Old 08-26-11 | 05:01 AM
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Originally Posted by bigbadwullf
And with a Harley you are likely to be walking in that heat too
Which is why my Honda CH125 just happens to be water cooled

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Old 08-26-11 | 08:04 AM
  #36  
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Originally Posted by dbf73
several weeks ago I rode a new route while it was 90+ with high humidity. there was a hill coming into one town that just about did me in. the next week I rode the same route with low 80's temp and moderate humidity. hardly even noticed that hill.
I've spent the summer training for my first century. Twice I had tried to finish the hundred, each of those attempts were cut short at 81 and 82 miles due to the 95deg heat and humidity. The second attempt I finally came to my senses and purposed only to ride if the highs were in the low 70's. The "engine" was doing great throughout the trip but there was overheating....wasnt even a little stiff in the legs the next day. This last monday was the day.

My temp limit for training is only affected if going above 60mi here in the northern Michigan area. This summer has been hot.
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Old 08-26-11 | 08:13 AM
  #37  
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North of Houston, we have had 50+ days with temps over 100 degrees. The humidity is also high, often 70 to 90%. I am soaked with sweat, even before I get on the bike. It has not stopped me from my daily Clyde ride of 17 to 25 miles. I just make sure I stay hydrated, before, during and after the ride.

Got up at five-thirty this morning, and it was already 78 degrees.
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Old 08-26-11 | 08:57 AM
  #38  
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Got out at 7 this morning and it was 59. Dang near perfect! Now just waiting for the day to start being light at 6:30.
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Old 08-26-11 | 01:46 PM
  #39  
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The hottest air temperature I've cycled in this summer is 113°. As long as I was moving it was tolerable. When I stopped at a traffic light, not so much.
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Old 08-26-11 | 02:12 PM
  #40  
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Originally Posted by digibud
Living in North Pole, Alaska I just shake my head at this. I doubt I've ever ridden above 85...and I'm not sure I've even ridden over 80 degrees. August 12 I did a long ride after my 60th birthday and it started out about 38F degrees . Todays ride started about 55F and ended about 68F or so. Those are nice temps for me.
I hear Alaska is getting warmer because of global warming and that the ice sheets are melting faster. Has the temps been rising in Alaska in August as compared to other years.
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Old 08-27-11 | 09:21 PM
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Today was a good example of being too hot to ride... we tied our all time record high of 109 degrees F. A new clue to when it's too hot to ride is when there are no birds flying. BTW, as I type it's still 97 degrees F, 101 is the heat index.

Brad
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Old 08-28-11 | 12:30 AM
  #42  
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I laughed outloud at the "no birds flying". I can't even comprehend that level of heat. It hit 70F today and I thought to myself, "maybe I should go back and start the ride later when it cools off". Those were almost my exact thoughts but it wasn't worth it to turn around and I didn't notice the heat much after all. Still..."no birds flying". That's funny.
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Old 08-28-11 | 05:14 AM
  #43  
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Originally Posted by BikeWNC
I rode in the 50s this morning. I think that temp is about right and almost too warm too be climbing hard. Anything more than 85º is too hot. I will say if the humidity is really low, like desert low, I can stretch the comfort range up a few degrees. I've never liked hot weather.
That's one of the benefits of being down here in th NC flatlands (relative). I can drive up to BikeWNC's world or head toward the 'Dawg's and warm up. Have ridden in 100+, though not my thing, it can be done. As to climbing temps, for me 65-75deg. is about right, otherwise I'm too cool on the descents.
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Old 08-28-11 | 03:34 PM
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My avg. morning ride in the Dallas area starts out around upper 80's and when I finish about 40 minutes later (11.5 mile normal morning ride) it's about low mid 90's. I typically am just not comfortable riding in the upper 90's and beyond (where it reaches every day).
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Old 08-28-11 | 03:51 PM
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Its 101 in the shade right now. Its too hot to ride. I'll wait til early morning when the temps dip to the mid 70's.
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Old 08-28-11 | 04:32 PM
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I am just off the motorcycle. 104F/heat index is 109F. The glue attaching some rubber trim to my helmet melted... goodbye trim.

Brad
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Old 08-28-11 | 09:08 PM
  #47  
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It was 99F at 6pm and dropped to 97 during my 1 hour ride. I rode hard, sweated profusely and felt great.
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Old 08-29-11 | 07:05 AM
  #48  
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I got up at 7AM this morning to go riding, the temp was already in the mid-80s. Pass.

I think I'll do some treadmill work instead.
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Old 08-29-11 | 09:40 AM
  #49  
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I live in Phoenix and am trying to build my miles in preparation for brevets. My only option is to get up early and get in the miles before it gets too warm. Weekend before last, I was on the road at 0430 and off at noon. I wanted my miles to be higher than the temps but failed by just a couple of miles. Yesterday, I was on the road by 0400 and it was very, very nice out. By 11, I was well over 100 miles so I called it a day. The humidity was about 35% for what it's worth.

During this year's Ragbrai, the heat and humidity was tough but not overbearing. I managed to stay hydrated and only had issues on the very first day. I treated myself to a massage and that seemed to help tremendously.

I don't mind heat and humidity but all things considered, I'd rather tackle them early in the day and get off the road by noon. That keeps the fun factor in the right range for me.
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Old 08-29-11 | 10:34 AM
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Originally Posted by jmiked
I got up at 7AM this morning to go riding, the temp was already in the mid-80s. Pass.

I think I'll do some treadmill work instead.
Oh no, not the treadmill!

Around here riding the dawn patrol is so great it's worth hauling the carcass out of bed as early as necessary. I like to start about half an hour or more before sunrise.
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