90/70

[Avg_Joe]

90* (32* C) and +70% humidity will be the death of me.

I am still trying to ride every day, but this weather is miserable - it takes so much out of me that I almost dread going for a ride. Weekdays, I have to ride after work, weekends I shoot for the mornings. But when it's like this, I tend to take it easy and still feel exhausted afterwards.

I realize this weather is typical for many, but having grown up in NE Ohio, temps/humidity like this used to be unusual; whereas here in the south it starts in May and ends in September. Even with 24 years living south of the Mason-Dixon line, I simply cannot get used to it. In fact, I hate it! (but Sept - April are perfect!)

Was going to cuss a lot, whine, bemoan my wimpiness - but then remembered this is a family-friendly and international forum. So I'll ask: for any other delicate flowers like me, how in the h**l do you deal with riding in this? Or does it simply not bother you?

 

[sc00ter]

I just purchased a new ebike and have only 15 miles on it. I work nights, so getting up early enough before the heat starts is hard. I quickly went thru my 2 water bottles in 10 miles and I was only going around 14mph on my maiden voyage.

I feel your pain though. Either its hotter outside now then when I was younger or being older makes the heat seem more intense! And I can't forget mosquitoes! They are out in force this year!

 

[ChezCheese:)]

I have never lived more than 90 minutes from the Canadian border, so I can't speak from experiencing Dixie climate, but I have traveled a lot in Asian climes.

Firstly, I have found that as I age, I can no longer take tropical weather. My fingers and feet swell, so it is not mere imagination. Used to be I was not that bothered by heat, but now I am.

Secondly, if you really want to ride, get up at 6am and get out there on your bike. The air is cleaner, the traffic less, and it is the perfect temperature. Even in Thailand! You will get your chi moving, and be energized for the day.

Thirdly, always ride downhill. Fast.

 

[rich c]

Just adjust the time you ride. When it's hot and humid here, I leave the house about 15-20 minutes before sunset. I ride a 10 mile loop and get home with the headlight on, but not in total darkness. My friend and I always call this kind of "problem" as "P cubed". A Privileged Person Problem. You have seen children riding bicycles in what is basically a desert, right? But it's a problem for adults riding recreationally on an assisted eBike because they sweat. Just a general observation and not making a personal attack on anyone. Just a suggestion to put the problem in perspective.

 

[mschwett]

….

Was going to cuss a lot, whine, bemoan my wimpiness - but then remembered this is a family-friendly and international forum. So I'll ask: for any other delicate flowers like me, how in the h**l do you deal with riding in this? Or does it simply not bother you?

i feel for you. i simply cannot function in those kind of conditions and would not ride a bike. it’s a primary reason i live where i live - i made a deal with myself long ago to never live anywhere that the weather by itself could kill me or made it unpleasant to do outdoor activities for any decent stretch of time.

i think a lot of this must be up to an individual’s genetics, because no amount of sucking it up would overcome my body’s reaction to high heat and humidity. maybe try some short, flat ride just as the sun is rising?

 

[Avg_Joe]

Just adjust the time you ride. When it's hot and humid here, I leave the house about 15-20 minutes before sunset. I ride a 10 mile loop and get home with the headlight on, but not in total darkness. My friend and I always call this kind of "problem" as "P cubed". A Privileged Person Problem. You have seen children riding bicycles in what is basically a desert, right? But it's a problem for adults riding recreationally on an assisted eBike because they sweat. Just a general observation and not making a personal attack on anyone. Just a suggestion to put the problem in perspective.

Yeah I know this is a 3P, just venting. I rode all fall and winter in the dark, suppose I could do so now; but the chance of those unexpected thunderstorms lingers. Getting up earlier just isn't in my DNA.

I consume at least 48oz of water throughout the day (before I ride), sometimes over 64oz, and we have almost eliminated salt from our diet. I'm overweight (5'11", 200lbs) but not obese. Both my father and I suffer hyperhidrosis, yet all of my medical checkups/bloodwork have been very good for several years now.

Ok, I am just a whiney*****. Would love to move to a drier climate, but the whole water availability thing really bothers us and we don't want to exacerbate the problem.

 

[Avg_Joe]

I just purchased a new ebike and have only 15 miles on it. I work nights, so getting up early enough before the heat starts is hard. I quickly went thru my 2 water bottles in 10 miles and I was only going around 14mph on my maiden voyage.

I feel your pain though. Either its hotter outside now then when I was younger or being older makes the heat seem more intense! And I can't forget mosquitoes! They are out in force this year!

Aha, Nahf**k! My wife is from Hampton, her father is retired Air Force, her sister retired from the Newport News Shipyard. Know your area well. I think it's even worse for you all, with all that water.

 

[Pine_marten]

It has been like that here yesterday and today. Good for swimming and not much else. Also good for the wild blueberry harvest which is about a month out. But e biking? no!

 

[mschwett]

It has been like that here yesterday and today. Good for swimming and not much else. Also good for the wild blueberry harvest which is about a month out. But e biking? no!

86 degrees here today, not a cloud in the sky. ride cancelled.

 

[harryS]

When you live full time in the upper midwest, you embrace summer and the heat, because the winters suck. Just came back from a great day at the golf course, 88F when I got there, and 100F when I left, per my car. It was worse driving in my car than out on the links, with a nice breeze keeping us cool, Around 6 PM tonight, we'll take the bikes out for a 15-18 mile ride.

 

[Gionnirocket]

1.28571429

 

[Catalyzt]

Just adjust the time you ride. When it's hot and humid here, I leave the house about 15-20 minutes before sunset. I ride a 10 mile loop and get home with the headlight on, but not in total darkness. My friend and I always call this kind of "problem" as "P cubed". A Privileged Person Problem. You have seen children riding bicycles in what is basically a desert, right? But it's a problem for adults riding recreationally on an assisted eBike because they sweat. Just a general observation and not making a personal attack on anyone. Just a suggestion to put the problem in perspective.

This is my solution as well. For my longer rides, I do come home in full dark, because even if I leave the house at 5:15 or so to start my ascent of Verdugo peak at 6:50 PM, it's easily 90+ on the trail. I stop all the time, and in any patch of shade I can find.

On the top, it's much cooler-- so much cooler that it's sometimes a problem. I had one ride I had to abort due to the fast temperature drop at sunset...suddenly I've gone from near heat stroke to being soaked with sweat, the temperature has dropped about 30 degrees, and there's a 10 MPH breeze, and you can see the clouds roll in from the north and west.

One thing that also helps if you're returning at night is really knowing the road surface-- where the potholes are, where the road is cracked from tree roots-- exactly the kind of thing that it's easy to miss, even with good lights. Just make sure to charge up those batteries!

 

[Avg_Joe]

I am losing my mind. When I went for my daily ride today, it was 95* - but only 40% humidity. It was actually kinda nice, but much happier being inside w/ AC right now....

 

[PatriciaK]

I also grew up in NE Ohio, but now live in the great Pacific Northwest, on the normally cooler, "rainy" side of the Cascades. Pretty nice cycling here at this time is year - 16+ hours of daylight right now! Have a second home in NC to be near the grandkids, but could not survive summer there! I can't breathe in that heat and humidity. Riding in the fall and spring when we're there is lovely (except for the city traffic).