YoUnG_RiDeR_31

Well as many of you know the heat he in Australia is averaging about 38 degrees celsius, which most oof u will know is bloody hot,and was wondering,should i go out and bear the heat or just go on my trainer for a while, all help will be much appreciated
thanks
Beau

Odin

Go out in the mornings... around 6am is nice atm. Evenings are good too but there are more pissheads out on the road at that time.

ken cummings

38 C is close to 100 F. If it is very humid you would have serious trouble on a long ride. If it is very dry ride with caution. I supported a 160 Km ride in Americas' Death Valley that started at 117 F at night in very dry air. Half of the very fit cyclists did not finish. Early AM sounds good. If you are not already adapted to the heat build up to it gradually.

rollin

Get out but take it easy. You never really get used to heat but you can make it easier on yourself. Here are a few things that work for me.

- Hydrate before riding, I start the night before.
- Water alone is not enough use an isotonic drink. I find the "Nuun" tablets great to carry and add to water I find along the way.
- Pour water on yourself during the ride, the evaporation is very cooling.
- Freeze one of your bottles, then you'll have a cold drink in an hour.
- Ride early, the nutters come out in the evening
- After the ride I take at least another ltr of fluid. I mix in a electrolyte mixture.
- On a 4 hour ride I can drink 3 to 4 ltrs and not have to stop to take a leak.

If I didn't ride when it was 38C or when it was over 80% humidity then I would hardly ride at all

Good luck, take it easy to start with.

Ride safe.

brad06ag

If you are fairly used to the heat, it should be no problem. I routinely ride in that type of condition here in the summers in the afternoons. I definitely support the idea of some kind of electrolyte intake. For my afternoon ride, I make sure that I'm well hydrated all day and then I don't need anymore water than I normally would. Make sure you keep drinking after your ride though. Hitting a cool (not cold) shower after you get back will really help get your temperature back down. Just listen to your body and don't push it too hard in the heat (but still push it).

johnny99

Some people can stand the heat. Some people can't. Body weight (or excess thereof) has a lot to do with it. Use lots of sun screen and drink lots of water.

grolby

Body weight can have an influence, but its definitely not the biggest part of the picture. I'm a little skinny guy, and I tend to wilt pretty badly in extreme heat. 60 miles with a loaded bike on a mid-August day in Massachusetts (pretty hot and pretty humid... for MA) left me with some nasty heat exhaustion. That was with what I thought was good hydration. Learn to recognize the signs - nausea, fatigue, disorientation or even dizziness. I didn't know what was happening. Things could have gone much worse. I didn't feel better until hours after I got home. Be careful out there!

asmallsol

Werd Pretty much. I did quite a few hammer fest rides in heat like that last summer. You end up going through water REAL fast, so I would throw an extra bottle in my jersey. With all my fluids, I would put as much ice as I could in the bottles, which would keep the water some what drinkable for about an hour. You may want to pick up some Polar bottles or equivalent (insulated bottle). I would even add a pinch of extra salt to my electrolyte drink, or make it super concentrated. Also remember to eat a little more in your ride. Finally don't forget some sunblock (spray on stuff is the best for cycling)

-Collin, who is currently in -9*C Detroit area with lots of snow

caloso

Really depends on the humidity. If it's dry, shouldn't be a problem as long as you drink, drink, drink. RH over 50%, I'd stay inside and ride the trainer.

zonatandem

As stated, depending on humidity, riding in those temps is quite do-able.
We live in the desert in Arizona, US and all previous advice is good.
Ride at sunup . . . even the pavement is cooler. Drink lots, carry a frozen bottle of liquid that will melt (most assuredly), wear a wet bandana, in low humidity it'll dry in 15 minutes), wear light colored clothing,
wear and wet down your cycling cap. Listen to your body and slow down a bit; take a break in the shade (if available).
Have ridden in 117 Fahrenheit with 2% humidity. Fun? No, but can be done.
Have also ridden at 98 F with 98% humidity . . . prefer the dry heat anytime!
Pedal on into 2008!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

lotek 

You can get adjusted to the heat, it just takes a while.
Stop using the airconditioner in you car (if you have/use one). spend
more time outside in the heat without doing strenuous excersize.
Although it's a balmy 2degrees C right now, 30's are quite common during the summer.
(and spring and fall).
As noted Hydration is a big factor. the other thing I strongly recommend is a good base layer
even in extreme heat something like this
https://www.competitivecyclist.com/ro...2BCraft%2BSale
works wonders and helps wick sweat away and keep you cool.

Marty