What was your hottest day for a bike ride?
07-21-20, 09:19 AM
#26
Rolling Vintage Only
That would have been in Dubai, back in ‘38.
Well into triple digits.
Lead swaged ends in our brake and shift cables would pull off, causing all kinds of havic.
Dickie Haverson, one of my riding partners, Oxford ‘32, had two of his chain pins melt around mid-day.
Heat was so bad it caused the tubes in our tires to swell and burst, had to dip them in the river from time to time or they would explode.
Never did have the blistered paint resprayed.
Well into triple digits.
Lead swaged ends in our brake and shift cables would pull off, causing all kinds of havic.
Dickie Haverson, one of my riding partners, Oxford ‘32, had two of his chain pins melt around mid-day.
Heat was so bad it caused the tubes in our tires to swell and burst, had to dip them in the river from time to time or they would explode.
Never did have the blistered paint resprayed.
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07-21-20, 09:27 AM
#27
Rolling Vintage Only
I don't know what the temperature was, because in 1970 you couldn't check your phone for it and mercury thermometers tended to bust in jersey pockets. We were heading back from the youth hostel in Hemet, California, headed the 90 miles to La Jolla. Approaching Temecula, it got so hot that our Clement rim glue melted and started flowing. Streamers of glue were flying through the air. We were leaving indented tracks on the asphalt. There were some sprinklers running on a lawn near the edge of town -- best feeling ever.
07-21-20, 09:57 AM
#28
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2011 Lighthouse Century on ""cool" California central coast. It was 104 or so, though a friend's Garmin was showing 108°. The highest Ive seen on my Garmin was 104.9 in Pasadena last sumner.
Last edited by Slightspeed; 07-21-20 at 10:04 AM.
07-21-20, 10:17 AM
#29
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When I was fixing aircraft in Yuma, AZ back in the late 70's, I recall the flight line getting up to 124F.
I think I was smart enough to not ride at those temperatures, but I know it took a few bad experiences to start riding either at dawn or dusk.
In fact, even back in the midwest, I'm still fond of riding either early or late in the day when it is hot out.
off topic.... one benefit of Yuma was that the sunsets could be quite impressive!
Steve in Peoria
I think I was smart enough to not ride at those temperatures, but I know it took a few bad experiences to start riding either at dawn or dusk.
In fact, even back in the midwest, I'm still fond of riding either early or late in the day when it is hot out.
off topic.... one benefit of Yuma was that the sunsets could be quite impressive!
Steve in Peoria
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07-21-20, 11:01 AM
#30
I never finish anyth
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RAIN 2019. I made it to the lunch stop, 95 miles in, and called it there. Temps were in the triple digits by then. I was lucky enough to find a good samaritan that could take me and my bike on to Richmond (where my truck was parked). I saw @nomadmax come in, and @RobbieTunes was inbound but a couple of hours out. With a 5 hour drive waiting, I made the call to head for home. That was brutal. Rob and Allan are beasts for finishing that ride. Mental health professionals should probably schedule a session for both of them.
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Dale, NL4T
Dale, NL4T
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07-21-20, 11:10 AM
#32
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RAIN 2019. I made it to the lunch stop, 95 miles in, and called it there. Temps were in the triple digits by then. I was lucky enough to find a good samaritan that could take me and my bike on to Richmond (where my truck was parked). I saw @nomadmax come in, and @RobbieTunes was inbound but a couple of hours out. With a 5 hour drive waiting, I made the call to head for home. That was brutal. Rob and Allan are beasts for finishing that ride. Mental health professionals should probably schedule a session for both of them.
07-21-20, 11:14 AM
#33
Senior Member
119 F - July 22, 2006. Still the record for all of L.A county.
I was climbing a local legbreaker called Fernwood Pacific in the Santa Monicas that morning and suddenly realized that was the hottest I'd ever been,
Seems I was right.
I was climbing a local legbreaker called Fernwood Pacific in the Santa Monicas that morning and suddenly realized that was the hottest I'd ever been,
Seems I was right.
07-21-20, 12:10 PM
#34
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Back in the early 90's I rode the Hotter Than Hell 100 in Witchita Falls Texas....in August. Temps hit 107 with a strong south wind....The picture was taken in the morning, before the heat hit, and I still was on the high of starting the ride. I'm sure a picture at the end would have lacked the smile 
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07-21-20, 12:32 PM
#35
1/2 as far in 2x the time
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This!
This, and it was a day, not a ride...
nomadmax and speedevil and I.
88 at 5:20 when we took pics.
88 at 5:30 when Allan and I started at the IL/IN line, rode to the start, a brief stop to pick up Dale, and we were off, already dripping.
92 at 7:30 and heat index hit 100, but we were rolling well. Air went from dark and wet, thick like a shower room, to “Oh, crap, the sun’s up.”
By the metric stop (#2), SAG was active and people were having 2nd thoughts. Heat index was 104.
By lunch at 93 miles, heat index steady at 106; friends and family were already arguing with riders to stop. (The leaders went through at 2:29). By 100 miles, citizens were out with hoses, ice, water.
At 103 miles, I met a lady who had 74 centuries under her, including Hotter’n Hell, and by 117, she was done. At 120, she re-appeared and we took it to 130, a fire station where paramedics were pulling folks out of the event. She stopped there.
I don’t remember much from 130 to 165, other than most riders no longer riding; convenience stores being out of ice cups. We’d buy a whole bag, take some, leave it on the curb for the next riders.
I rolled into the end to see @nomadmax already showered, but since it had been his idea to go to the IN/OH line, he pulled the bike out of the truck and we did the sweltering last 5 to OH. It was still 96 and indexed 106. I burned my Legs, lips, arms, and scalp; got a good tan through the jersey. My carbon saddle sliced through the bibs on both sides, but not through the pad...
Most riders DNF, like 60%. I just remember being thrilled to be there, exhilarated to ride 40 with Allan, then making plans to sell all my bikes and just ride my motorcycle. Mostly, I remember being soaking wet all day.
The prize was the lady. We are still together.
nomadmax and speedevil and I.
88 at 5:20 when we took pics.
88 at 5:30 when Allan and I started at the IL/IN line, rode to the start, a brief stop to pick up Dale, and we were off, already dripping.
92 at 7:30 and heat index hit 100, but we were rolling well. Air went from dark and wet, thick like a shower room, to “Oh, crap, the sun’s up.”
By the metric stop (#2), SAG was active and people were having 2nd thoughts. Heat index was 104.
By lunch at 93 miles, heat index steady at 106; friends and family were already arguing with riders to stop. (The leaders went through at 2:29). By 100 miles, citizens were out with hoses, ice, water.
At 103 miles, I met a lady who had 74 centuries under her, including Hotter’n Hell, and by 117, she was done. At 120, she re-appeared and we took it to 130, a fire station where paramedics were pulling folks out of the event. She stopped there.
I don’t remember much from 130 to 165, other than most riders no longer riding; convenience stores being out of ice cups. We’d buy a whole bag, take some, leave it on the curb for the next riders.
I rolled into the end to see @nomadmax already showered, but since it had been his idea to go to the IN/OH line, he pulled the bike out of the truck and we did the sweltering last 5 to OH. It was still 96 and indexed 106. I burned my Legs, lips, arms, and scalp; got a good tan through the jersey. My carbon saddle sliced through the bibs on both sides, but not through the pad...
Most riders DNF, like 60%. I just remember being thrilled to be there, exhilarated to ride 40 with Allan, then making plans to sell all my bikes and just ride my motorcycle. Mostly, I remember being soaking wet all day.
The prize was the lady. We are still together.
Thanks for that. Cheers, and smiles, Eric
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I seem to have lost what little mind I had left before this all started.
I seem to have lost what little mind I had left before this all started.
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07-22-20, 06:55 PM
#36
Partially Sane.
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Swamp cows don’t care how hot it gets. 😎😎😎
This was earlier today, along the Yolo Causeway, between Davis & Sacramento.
This was earlier today, along the Yolo Causeway, between Davis & Sacramento.
