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When is It too hot to go cycling?

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When is It too hot to go cycling?

Old 08-08-20, 10:29 PM
  #26  
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When you can't see because the sweat is constantly pouring into your eyes and burning and no amount of wiping will stop it. Anything above 90 with any kind of humidity I'm not riding except for work, which is only 2.5 miles.
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Old 08-09-20, 06:26 AM
  #27  
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Originally Posted by tomato coupe
Yes, it's too hot to ride when fonts swell to double their normal size.
Yep, OP was probably overheated, blurred vision, sweat in his eyes, etc. OP, whatever your temp, it's evidently too hot to POST.
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Old 08-09-20, 08:01 AM
  #28  
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I don’t enjoy biking when temps are 90+ with high humidity. As a Clydesdale, hydration and recovery become too challenging.

On days where it’s going to be those conditions, I’ll do a shorter AM or PM ride. Today I’m going Kayaking instead.
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Old 08-09-20, 01:09 PM
  #29  
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I go by feel rather than temp. Sometimes when it’s humid it’s too taxing. My temperature/distance/intensity tolerance is more influenced by how hot the water in my uninsulated bottles get.
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Old 08-09-20, 02:31 PM
  #30  
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Yesterday it was 90F with 87% humidity. The heat index was almost 110. Typical day in Guam for me. I am not sure what I am going to do when I move to Connecticut next summer and not have the same heat and humidity year round.
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Old 08-09-20, 02:36 PM
  #31  
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Since it is usually pretty humid here, (40 miles west of Chiraq) 90 degrees starts getting pretty uncomfortable for our usual 30 mile loop. Given a choice, I stay home.

I would take it under advisement, for 10 or 15 miles.
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Old 08-09-20, 02:47 PM
  #32  
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I would say the answer to this question is "today" 104 in the central valley, di go out this morning between about 8:00 and 9:30 Nice ride then.
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Old 08-09-20, 03:02 PM
  #33  
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At this time of year I go riding early in the morning before the heat and morning traffic becomes an issue.
You have to make the determination for yourself as to when or what is too hot for you.
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Old 08-09-20, 03:05 PM
  #34  
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Originally Posted by basscadet
These threads just attract try-hards with their glorious stories of 110F texas heat century rides. (Nobody cares)
You called that one right.
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Old 08-09-20, 06:24 PM
  #35  
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Don't try to bike on the sun.
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Old 08-09-20, 06:46 PM
  #36  
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when your tire melts & can fill a pothole permanently, then thats too hawt.
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Old 08-09-20, 07:18 PM
  #37  
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As long as I can maintain a steady pace, it would s never too hot for cycling. If I can keep moving, the air passing over and around me keeps me cool enough to continue riding. However, in really hot weather (riding across the Everglades in August) I find it difficult or dangerous to stop. Once the air stops flowing, my body temperature spikes, which has made me dizzy, and can cause people to faint. It’s miserably hot here in Tokyo today, but a good ride would cool me down.
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Old 08-10-20, 01:49 AM
  #38  
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Originally Posted by 50PlusCycling
As long as I can maintain a steady pace, it would s never too hot for cycling. If I can keep moving, the air passing over and around me keeps me cool enough to continue riding. However, in really hot weather (riding across the Everglades in August) I find it difficult or dangerous to stop. Once the air stops flowing, my body temperature spikes, which has made me dizzy, and can cause people to faint. It’s miserably hot here in Tokyo today, but a good ride would cool me down.
I've noticed that too = that as long as I'm moving the air help[s to cool but stopping can cause a sudden spike in body temperature. That's greatly exacerbated the higher the humidity is. Sometimes when both the heat and the humidity are quite high the moving air as you bicycle simply can't cool you as the humidity stops the sweat from evaporating. Heat stroke is a very real possibility on such days.

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Old 08-10-20, 02:20 PM
  #39  
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When it's so hot that cycling is no longer fun, that's too hot. And that's subjective.
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Old 08-11-20, 12:24 AM
  #40  
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Depends what you're used to. I prefer cool rather than hot (UK).

My insulating layer of fat doesn't help in the current hot and humid weather.
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Old 08-11-20, 12:54 AM
  #41  
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I lived in west Texas for a while, cycled there in the stupid hot summer. It's true it was a dry heat, so 90F was not as bad as 90F with humidity, but it got way the heck hotter than 90F. Eventually, even dry, it's just too damn hot.

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Old 08-11-20, 07:50 AM
  #42  
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That is really a personal question. I do not like any temperature above 65 (and I am living in Florida) and I still ride no matter what up to around 95. I know people that are not comfortable below 80.If you can hydrate and handle it, then ride.
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Old 08-11-20, 08:32 AM
  #43  
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Yes, its really dumb.

I do it all the time. Last year rode a century and it was 100 º at the end.
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Old 08-11-20, 08:40 AM
  #44  
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Tucson AZ, summer, 2015: I had just gotten back from a 3.5 hour ride.

This is the temperature, in the shade, on my back porch.

I jumped in the pool to cool off right after snapping this picture.

But I've ridden from Tucson to Phoenix in the middle August a couple of times. It's just a matter of being prepared, and what you're used to.

I hate the cold though, and cold for me is anything below about 65F.

summer 2015
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Old 08-11-20, 08:40 AM
  #45  
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Originally Posted by showlow
I live in AZ. I went out riding during the heat wave the other week. Looked down at my computer and it said 119 at 1:19pm. The next week I did 70 miles in over 100 degrees with a lot of dirt roads and singletrack. So the answer to your question is 'depends'. I tend to tolerate heat well. I sweat a lot and it's dry here. If you're not sure how you'll do then go slow, be careful, and drink lots. Know the signs of heat stress.
Curious if you feel like the temp reading on your Wahoo is accurate. Mine always seems to read high.

I think the answer to the original question is I know it when I feel it. When the humidity is so high that sweat just pours out of my helmet, it's too hot. When I stop sweating even though I'm drinking as much as I can, it's too hot.
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Old 08-11-20, 08:41 AM
  #46  
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Originally Posted by billyymc
Curious if you feel like the temp reading on your Wahoo is accurate. Mine always seems to read high.

I think the answer to the original question is I know it when I feel it. When the humidity is so high that sweat just pours out of my helmet, it's too hot. When I stop sweating even though I'm drinking as much as I can, it's too hot.
Keep in mind your computer will probably read high because it's also feeling the sun (like you). The official temp can be 15-20F lower than what you're actually experiencing, especially with direct sun, and humidity. I hate humidity.
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Old 08-11-20, 08:44 AM
  #47  
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Originally Posted by derrickhulsey

Is It ever too hot to go cycling?

Yes. Right now in northeastern CT.
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Old 08-11-20, 10:43 AM
  #48  
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Originally Posted by Notso_fastLane
Keep in mind your computer will probably read high because it's also feeling the sun (like you). The official temp can be 15-20F lower than what you're actually experiencing, especially with direct sun, and humidity. I hate humidity.
Good point but it seem to read high if I turn it on inside my house.
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Old 08-11-20, 11:29 AM
  #49  
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Depends on how I'm feeling and how motivated I am. I've ridden in the mid to high 90's with high humidity. Other times I've opted out because I couldn't face a ride that felt like I was peddling my way through hot soup.
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Old 08-11-20, 11:53 AM
  #50  
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Originally Posted by derrickhulsey

Is It ever too hot to go cycling?

No. I worry a lot more about the UV index than I do about the temperature. Most of my rides lately are starting about 30-45 minutes before sunset with the temps in the 105-110 F (40.5-43.3 C) range. I take two 0.75 L water bottles and only stay out for 90-120 minutes. It's amazing just how much of a difference the lack of UV exposure to overall comfort.

On the weekends, I go out in the morning well before the heat of the day sets in, and I aim to finish around 10:30-11:00am. The strongest UV index in my area tends to be from 11am-5pm.
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