1800SUICIDE

My name's 1 800 SUICIDE.. Driving in 94 degree weather with 57% humidity is perhaps a suicide, or else you can be like Richard Prayer, and set your ....


I max out at 26 MPH (middle on tripple and 7th or 8th rear, cadence around 100), average at 10 MPH because of heat.. I covered 18 miles today, almost in two hours. Fun.. I had to spend 4 bucks on two drinks, sprite and some milk, or else I'd die. At speed I get wind, but it's hot wind, and I just keep raising my body above my crocked handle bars to get more air. All in all, I was able to keep it ok, HR bellow 100 I believe, more like 80 or 90.. I was able to sprint to 25 mph in an intersection worth of distance, perhaps a little more. Not bad, but I can not sustain that speed.

The most fun I had today was riding down a big hill, off a draw bridge. Riding up wasn't much fun, riding down I was able to go up to 25 without pedaling. At 25 I really get nice air, cool enough to enjoy myself.

Here is the deal, in this heat, and the fact that I'm not used to it, and I'm not used to biking, well.. I need an AC!!!!

Any solutions? I saw some neck ACs back a few years ago. I need something that I can carry with me and be cool, the cooler the better. I don't want a fan. I get my own fan when I drive at speed..


Another thing I gotta tell you. You haven't been drinking, untill you drink and ride - in traffic. I had the most fun today. 1 can naughty and off I go. Not enough to get you buzzed, but enough to get you relaxed, where you enjoy the scenary, instead of worrying about traffic.

What kind of cheap drinks can I carry with me? I don't want to buy expensive drinks at gas station. I need something cheap I can make at home. Water does not appear to give me what I need. I had to buy chocolate milk and sprite.

Buglady

Get 2 water bottles (and cages for both on the bike). Three if you can. Put at least one bottle in the freezer the night before - it'll melt in time for you to drink. Mix up a powdered sport drink mix of some sort (or your favourite instant drink mix with a bit of salt added) in one of the bottles.

Get a cotton bandanna. Soak in cold water. Tie it around your neck. Repeat as needed.

If you start feeling at all dizzy, or have a headache, STOP, get in the shade, and cool yourself down. Those are warnign signs of heat exhaustion. Give yourself a chance to acclimatize to being more active in the heat.

Oh, and don't drink alcohol in the heat unless you want it to hit you three times as hard...

All of the above are things I learned the hard way while working and hiking in the West Kootenays a few years ago. I went from not terribly active, sea level, very temperate coastal climate, to 40C, 3500 ft altitude, hiking 20km a day. OUCH.

JeanCoutu

Well, an electric bike kit would effectively work as AC if you have the discipline to hold yourself back.

1800SUICIDE

Please elaborate.. I don't understand what hold myself back means, and I never heard of electric bike kits.


Thanks.



I already have 2 24 OZ bottles, yes! I gotta make them cold and mix something better than water. Thanks to BC poster. I'm going to practice that right away. Uhhh. I'm not aware of any mix drinks, please name something.

mirage1

Hey, do you remember those things they were selling for a few years that were like bandanas, but they had some sort of water-absorbing beads in them, that you could soak in water and then tie around your neck like that?

Oh, Google to the rescue! Here's what I mean: Kool-Downs. At a whopping price of $2.29, I think I might get one. I remember them working pretty well--they stay wet longer than just plain cloth.

gawnfishin

95°F & 57% humidity. Thats an acrid dessert type environment for me. Come on down to South Louisiana where it's a comfortable 95°F & 95% humidity on a normal day!

-gawnfishin

joe_5700

Last week I rode in 90+ temps with high humidity and I was hardly sweating at all. That all changed once I got off my bike after 15 miles and out of the breeze from riding. Freezing a water bottle is an excellent idea. My ice packed water bottle of Kool-Aid quickly became as warm as tea. I have heard the insulated water bottles don't offer much help either. I prefer riding at dusk/night to keep cooler.

edp773

Suggestions:

1. Ride in early morning or late evening when temps are cooler

2. Wear moisture wicking clothes

3. Drink plenty of fluids and pre-hydrate before riding