m@Robertson
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
We already had a mini heat wave last week where the temps were 105-107 and I was out in it every day. Most I have ridden in is about 112. This coming Wednesday is scheduled to crack 100 again at 102, and Thursday and Friday are both set for 110. I'm a commuter rider. I have a couple of cars, so I could drive, but that is a surrender - and a loss of exercise - I am not willing to make. I rode in all weather as an analog cyclist too. You just have to sack up. And be smart about it as there are consequences if you don't take the heat seriously.
Riding an ebike vs. an analog bike in high heat is quite a bit easier but not for quite the reason you think. The higher speeds of an ebike generate a breeze - even if its a blast furnace - that is extremely beneficial versus the old-school 5-10 mph slog. 110 and managed pedal effort/cadence/breeze on an ebike is easier than 95 and grinding on an analog bike.
Bring a lot of water. I do a single 1L Camelbak bottle if and only if I know I am passing some parks with working water fountains for refills. I plant the big bottles on the top tube, up front, as they are too big for bottle cages. But there are bottle holders for them and their MOLLE strap mountings work great on the front of the top tube, especially if there is internal cable routing to hold the pouch up forward. You can see one in this pic and if the sun looks bright and hot... it is. I am alone on what is usually a crowded mixed-use bike path. Everyone is indoors hiding from the heat.
If I am just running errands thru the city with no definite refill spots, I'll pack along a 3L hydration bladder. This bike has one netted to the rear deck. I used a nozzle kit and 6+ feet of food grade silicone hose (Ebay) to run it up thru the handlebars. After these pics were taken, I subbed in a magnetic mount for the velcro you see here.
If you wait until you are thirsty to start drinking, you've set yourself up for heat exhaustion. Start sipping occasionally, immediately on ride start.
Heat is tough on the motor and battery. Put a wired temperature sensor on your battery and pay attention to it. Learn what is normal in terms of temperature so you can tell when its going overboard. Also your motor gets hot when the weather is cool. When its super hot and you are on a sustained pedelec cruise that is probably eating a sustained 5 amps, that motor can get blistering. Help it. Heat sinks work wonders. I've had motors reach casing temps of 165 Fahrenheit, but with heat sinks attached with double-stick thermal tape (special stuff - cheap on amazon - designed to conduct heat thru itself) I've gotten motor surface temps down to 130. This goes for mids especially but also for geared hubs. Nylon gears can become peanut butter with the right amount of sustained heat.
EDIT: Big one: Helmet has to have vents, vents... VENTS. Those solid Bern helmets and similar are egg cookers. Motorcyclists wear solid helmets and can because they are not exercising.
And of course, its important to be mindful of the weather forecast so you know what you are getting into before its too late.
Riding an ebike vs. an analog bike in high heat is quite a bit easier but not for quite the reason you think. The higher speeds of an ebike generate a breeze - even if its a blast furnace - that is extremely beneficial versus the old-school 5-10 mph slog. 110 and managed pedal effort/cadence/breeze on an ebike is easier than 95 and grinding on an analog bike.
Bring a lot of water. I do a single 1L Camelbak bottle if and only if I know I am passing some parks with working water fountains for refills. I plant the big bottles on the top tube, up front, as they are too big for bottle cages. But there are bottle holders for them and their MOLLE strap mountings work great on the front of the top tube, especially if there is internal cable routing to hold the pouch up forward. You can see one in this pic and if the sun looks bright and hot... it is. I am alone on what is usually a crowded mixed-use bike path. Everyone is indoors hiding from the heat.
If I am just running errands thru the city with no definite refill spots, I'll pack along a 3L hydration bladder. This bike has one netted to the rear deck. I used a nozzle kit and 6+ feet of food grade silicone hose (Ebay) to run it up thru the handlebars. After these pics were taken, I subbed in a magnetic mount for the velcro you see here.
If you wait until you are thirsty to start drinking, you've set yourself up for heat exhaustion. Start sipping occasionally, immediately on ride start.
Heat is tough on the motor and battery. Put a wired temperature sensor on your battery and pay attention to it. Learn what is normal in terms of temperature so you can tell when its going overboard. Also your motor gets hot when the weather is cool. When its super hot and you are on a sustained pedelec cruise that is probably eating a sustained 5 amps, that motor can get blistering. Help it. Heat sinks work wonders. I've had motors reach casing temps of 165 Fahrenheit, but with heat sinks attached with double-stick thermal tape (special stuff - cheap on amazon - designed to conduct heat thru itself) I've gotten motor surface temps down to 130. This goes for mids especially but also for geared hubs. Nylon gears can become peanut butter with the right amount of sustained heat.
EDIT: Big one: Helmet has to have vents, vents... VENTS. Those solid Bern helmets and similar are egg cookers. Motorcyclists wear solid helmets and can because they are not exercising.
And of course, its important to be mindful of the weather forecast so you know what you are getting into before its too late.
Last edited:
