Went out for an easy 13 miles ride at lunch time today. Air temps probably 96 with over-the-road temps somewhat higher. I can ride in the flats with hydration, but there is no way I would do any sort of a climb; high temps, senior citizen status, a few extra lbs. Thank goodness we only have two of these short hot spells a year. Come Tuesday the temps will start to drop and it will be more than a month before we sniff 90 degrees, 70's more the norm.

There is a 51 mile club ride on Sunday along the coast and I'm sorely tempted to drive over there to escape these high temps. I'll have to get a day pass, however

hot here too; but felt nice riding - not so nice after stopping.

When it's that hot around here, I either ride early AM or around 6 PM. Once the sun is up high, fageddaboudit!

I did a spin class at the gym last night and thanks to the "Renovations" the normal room was not available so we were put into a smaller room with no Air conditioning. Still 17 bodies that were getting warmer and warmer and wetter as the class progressed. Now I can take heat and as far as I am concerned- If I get hot in a spinning class then so much the better. In fact I even choose a bike that is not taking any advantage of the additional fans that are there for the wimps. Even with air conditioning the temp normally starts at around 20C and on a good night will get to 24C. Last night and it started at 28C and rose to 32. I was leaking like a sieve and it did not even bother me till I left. Soaking wet wicking jersey and a dry fleece over the top into the cool air at 25C and a slight breeze and it was cold.

It is the same on rides. All the time I am moving on the bike- any moisture is being wicked away by the action of the moving air. Stop and within a couple of minutes and I am sweating like a pig and cool. Get back on the bike and I am cold.

Hydration is the key while riding as all the time you sweat you are keeping cool. Stop and allow the sweat to accumulate and when you start again it takes a few extra miles before I warm up and am ready to go.

Night riding dude. Night riding. It's another whole world. Sun screen not needed, but you will need insect repellent. I like Cutter's Backwoods. Seems to do the job.

Too busy this morning to get in a ride, too hot now i guess it's my rest day !

Where in San Jose do you ride? I was born and raised in South San Jose used to love riding Bailey rd and back behind Morgan Hill uvas rd.

Would be cooler at night, but I work Central time so I'm normally up at 4 am. Also, night riding on what are essentially no-shoulder, rural roads would be suicide. I grew up on the East Coast and spent 10 years in the Boston area (school and work) so I'm familiar with the insect situation, but we don't have no stinkin' night insects hereabouts.

We live on N 17th; and I commute to/from work just off of N 1st; north of 237 - almost Alviso. In the mornings I generally take N 1st; and in the evening the Guadalupe Trail to Brokaw, but with the restriping of Hedding this weekend, I am planning on taking the trail to Hedding, then Hedding east.

It takes a while to become acclimated to the heat. I did almost 50 miles yesterday. When I got back, it was 100 F (106 with the heat index). Some things to remember:

In higher temperatures, you body requires more energy for cooling. That means you need to eat more. Limit the amount of exposed skin by keeping your jersey zipped up. I also wear white arm coolers. Yes, exposed skin makes you feel cooler, but your sweat is evaporating quicker and you'll dehydrate quicker. I also use a Camelbak so I can drink more, and I have a water bottle for external cooling. If you have a HRM, watch you heart rate. It will normally be higher in the heat, but should recover when you slow down or stop. If you stop, and your heart rate stays higher than normal, its time to quit or rest for awhile because this is a sign that you're becoming dehydrated.

Ok Nigel, never did much riding in north SJ stay safe.

72F/22C here..

Bikepro....good info thanks for sharing

Last week I was in Canon Beach Oregon and the weather was depressingly cloudy and rainy--drove back to California and it was over 108 in Redding and it is still way too hot at around 100 in the bay area, yesterday went for a MTB ride and I was miserable at 9:00 a.m.!

And I have had enough of a "too much of a good thing!"

now have the house that a friend bought in the summer of '07, then the Normal Marine Coastal climate

made her long for the home town of Fresno, moved back a month ago.. 98F there ..

Central valley not the Air Quality of the coast , either..

We have had 3 days in a row with 117 degree heat. It looks like the same for the next two days. Our overnight LOW was a chilly 96 last night. 96? That makes for a Stinky morning ride.

Well, in the SFBA it's been in the 90-100 range the past couple days or so, with a couple more days of 90something projected. If I don't get out early enough I'll just soak myself from head to toe before starting and the rest of the ride consists of riding from hose to hose for more of the same. It's actually pretty comfortable as long as you don't get caught short on a re-hosing. I can definitely see how Landis spanked his buddies back in the '06 Tour and I don't know why all the other contenders didn't do the same.

Aw--------------its just pay back time for all the time you guys in the southern tier of states tease us snow belt riders about how you are riding in Jan. And isnt it just a dry heat????

BTW nice day here in Nebr. The temp was 79 degrees, and I got in a nice 32 mile cruise on my bent.

The gods have the ocean have smiled upon us, the high pressure area has moved a snitch and cool marine air is making its way inland. current temp is 84 degrees, 10 degrees lower than forecast.

We just finished the hottest June on record in an area not noted for June being cool in the past. I rode 22 miles today beginning around 6:15 am and finished up soon after passing a business sign listing the temperature as 100 degrees. That's about the same mileage as I was doing before the latest heat wave arrived in earnest.

It is possible to ride comfortably if there are lots of places to get water and to douse yourself and stay wet. This was actually the first day that I had to resort to riding in a wet t-shirt in order to be safe and comfortable. I'll take this weather any time over the increased humidity we often get in late July and August.

You remind me of how often I have thought northern and southern Californian cyclists are like two different species. But then if you are below North Fork I guess you are a Southern cyclist. As long as it doesn't bust 100 I am ok. After 100 degrees the rides get down to about 20 miles. But if I am anywhere that it rains or heaven forbid snows the bike stays inside and the 4X4 comes out. As long as I have on a wicking jersey and one water bottle with just water I can ride comfortably in anything at double digits.