dealing with heat?
05-22-13 | 10:59 AM
#26
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,741
Likes: 17
From: Gaseous Cloud around Uranus
Ride at night.....If you can't do that,ride in the morning and evening.Take a break mid day and rest/cool down.Night riding is safe with decent lights.If your going to get run down.....your going to get run down,day or night.I have been riding at night for many many years,it's different.Mostly just you,the drunks and the cops.The cops look at you like Nipper the RCA dog.....
Bring your own shade.A nylon tarp is light,packs small.....it will save your hiney Trying to find shade in the desert is not always possible.
Waters heavy and it sucks having to carry it.....if you run out,you won't care how much water weighs from then on!......Carry more than you think you need.
I like light colored lightweight long sleeve button up shirts for the desert or hot weather.I can adjust them how I want,I wet them if I'm overheated,I have neck protection with a collar if needed,long sleeves if needed.....they just work well for me.Some people hate them and would rather have technical shirts and shorts......to each his own,whatever works for you.
I wear a funny cycling cap,so I don't have any helmet issues....If my head/bodys hot.I wet my cap/bandana around neck and my shirt.....whatever it takes.
Slow down.....your going to lose alot of water without realizing it.....no need to speed up the process.If your in a hurry....fly.If you start getting cramps,it's too late,find somewhere and eat and drink and rest.Bring something you like that's salty,peanuts,crackers,Campbells soup..,whatever.....eat a few every hour or so during the day.It'll help you from getting cramps during the day/night.
If you have trouble with your bike,put up your shade(you brought it right?) and work on your bike there.Your bike and tools will get so hot in the sun,you won't be able to touch them without full fingered gloves...trust me! And if you happen to like black bikes like I do.....not the best color for hot weather....
If water is availible,take it.Don't count on it being up the road somewhere.
The desert is wonderful at night,have fun!
If you want some entertainment at night,bring a small blacklight flashlight and go for a walk in the desert with it at night.....SURPRIZE! SURPRIZE! so that's why Booger1 likes tents in the desert.....
Bring your own shade.A nylon tarp is light,packs small.....it will save your hiney Trying to find shade in the desert is not always possible.
Waters heavy and it sucks having to carry it.....if you run out,you won't care how much water weighs from then on!......Carry more than you think you need.
I like light colored lightweight long sleeve button up shirts for the desert or hot weather.I can adjust them how I want,I wet them if I'm overheated,I have neck protection with a collar if needed,long sleeves if needed.....they just work well for me.Some people hate them and would rather have technical shirts and shorts......to each his own,whatever works for you.
I wear a funny cycling cap,so I don't have any helmet issues....If my head/bodys hot.I wet my cap/bandana around neck and my shirt.....whatever it takes.
Slow down.....your going to lose alot of water without realizing it.....no need to speed up the process.If your in a hurry....fly.If you start getting cramps,it's too late,find somewhere and eat and drink and rest.Bring something you like that's salty,peanuts,crackers,Campbells soup..
,whatever.....eat a few every hour or so during the day.It'll help you from getting cramps during the day/night.If you have trouble with your bike,put up your shade(you brought it right?) and work on your bike there.Your bike and tools will get so hot in the sun,you won't be able to touch them without full fingered gloves...trust me! And if you happen to like black bikes like I do.....not the best color for hot weather....
If water is availible,take it.Don't count on it being up the road somewhere.
The desert is wonderful at night,have fun!
If you want some entertainment at night,bring a small blacklight flashlight and go for a walk in the desert with it at night.....SURPRIZE! SURPRIZE! so that's why Booger1 likes tents in the desert.....
Last edited by Booger1; 05-22-13 at 11:05 AM.
05-22-13 | 11:53 AM
#27
Senior Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 8,896
Likes: 7
From: Raleigh, NC
Bikes: Waterford RST-22, Bob Jackson World Tour, Ritchey Breakaway Cross, Soma Saga, De Bernardi SL, Specialized Sequoia
My suggestion? Find another route in cooler temperatures. I tour for fun and riding in 100+ heat is not my idea of fun.
However, I have ridden on tours where we had temperatures in the upper 90s-low 100s with high humidity. What we did was get up as early as possible and try to hit the road as soon as it's light, usually about 6 am. If you leave that early, it is very possible to ride 60-80 miles by noontime. However, that could leave you sitting around a campground all afternoon in the heat.
As others said, drink plenty of fluids -- including some electrolyte replacements. Make plenty of rest stops to replenish water and cool down. When I rode Bike VA a few summers ago, the weather was extremely hot and broke the record high temperature on the second day (102 F if I recall correctly) -- which was also the longest day of the tour. I had planned to ride the century but cut it shorter to about 80 miles due to the heat. I survived pretty well but foolishly passed up the last rest stop because I wanted to get the ride over by that point (about 70s miles). Big mistake. I had massive cramps in my legs about 2 miles past the rest stop and had to sit in the shade under a tree until they subsided, plus I ran out of water.
However, I have ridden on tours where we had temperatures in the upper 90s-low 100s with high humidity. What we did was get up as early as possible and try to hit the road as soon as it's light, usually about 6 am. If you leave that early, it is very possible to ride 60-80 miles by noontime. However, that could leave you sitting around a campground all afternoon in the heat.
As others said, drink plenty of fluids -- including some electrolyte replacements. Make plenty of rest stops to replenish water and cool down. When I rode Bike VA a few summers ago, the weather was extremely hot and broke the record high temperature on the second day (102 F if I recall correctly) -- which was also the longest day of the tour. I had planned to ride the century but cut it shorter to about 80 miles due to the heat. I survived pretty well but foolishly passed up the last rest stop because I wanted to get the ride over by that point (about 70s miles). Big mistake. I had massive cramps in my legs about 2 miles past the rest stop and had to sit in the shade under a tree until they subsided, plus I ran out of water.
