Daspydyr 

I can't ride in the heat, I hate the heat. This summer stuff is kicking my tail. I even resorted to calling the wife and getting a ride home this summer. My previous boasting was empty! Then again we did set an all time record high for the month of July for weather history in Southern NV. This morning we set a record for overnight low, 89. It was 92 at 6am when I left for my ride. I have failed, not made of the good stuff.

OK, sorry, just whining for a minute there. I know the drill, STFU and HTFU, I'm on it.

NOS88

I've found that each year the heat takes more of a toll in terms of motivation. However, once I'm out riding I tend to do OK. It's been upper 90s with 90+% humidity and real difficult to want to get on the bike. Yet, if I take enough water/sports drink I'm OK. I've learned to take an insulated bottle of ice water, not to drink, but to squirt into the vents of my helmet every 20 minutes or so. It makes a big difference.

RonH

The heat is no fun but hasn't really bothered me this summer. What bothers me is when its cloudy and overcast. Its been that way here for the last 4 days. I rode Friday and Sunday. We had company visiting Sunday and Monday and I was planning on riding today. This morning it was cloudy and overcast so I decided not to ride. I wish there was a cure for SAD.

10 Wheels

Same for me...

seemunkee

I'm going in the opposite direction. Used to love the cold, I would go snow camping, ice climbing, X-country skiing when I could and shoveling snow was a fun activity. Summers I would hide out in the basement. In the last 10 years I've gotten less tolerate of the cold and able take the heat. Been taking my yearly outings with my oldest friend out to the desert. This summer has been trying with lots of days in the upper 90s to 100 but it I've been getting out and riding with just taking some extra water along.

LAriverRat

The heat kicks my butt. Used to be fine but since a small dose of heat stroke about 15 years ago i have become less able to stand it. Lower 90's is about it with frequent cool off stops or ride to the beach for same. Ride early as possible also helps.

Louis

I never was affected too badly by the heat until two years ago when I ended up in the ER in Cincinnati, Ohio after a 70+ mile, hot, hilly death march out of Kentucky. Since then I've been avoiding riding under those conditions, if possible.

stringbreaker

S.A.D. You havent experienced S.A.D till you live in the Pacific Northwest from October to mid March, dark at 4:00pm and when it does get daylight around 8:00 am you still won't see the sun because it will be RAINING. Ok I'm exaggerating (just a little) but its really bad for S.A.D here in the winter. Even this summer for the most part its been cloudy or foggy in the mornings and then the sun comes out around noon ot 1:00 pm. Thats really odd even here.

Daspydyr 

I will try the water bottle for cooling as that seems to be the bigger issue. I carry a golf towel in a bottle cage to dry off with while riding. Keeping cool is the bigger issue.

I have had the opposite reaction to temperatures. I got hypothermia during a back country ride in CO. Cold knock me flat. I'm sure part is emotional.

Thanks for the encouragement and tips. I am coming up on my first anniversary of riding after a 12 year lazy period. This thread has been fun, helpful and encouraging.

RonH

Ha ha. I lived in Olympia for 3 years. Visited the PNW last May for 5 days as part of our cross country vacation. It was cloudy and overcast and rainy the 2 days we were touring the Olympic Peninsula.
Here's one of the sunny days we experienced there.


I've suffered with SAD for the past 6 or 7 years. My wife hates to hear me complain.
I'm not looking forward to fall/winter.

lhbernhardt

I like the heat. I was out in 30-degree Celsius plus weather for 100 miles last Saturday, probably went thru two regular-size bottles (one bottle refilled halfway thru the ride). But I did drink quite a bit after I finished the ride! Fortunately some of the ride was near the water, so I got some cooling winds, and I was wearing my full zip jersey totally unzipped. As long as you keep moving, you get "air-conditioning." Once I stopped, I had sweat all over my arms. I finished the ride coated with a layer of salt.

Some of my best road races were in Mexico and Guatemala, on the coast where it gets really hot. My body just seems to work better in the heat. Put me in the cold and I have a hard time warming up!

L.

stapfam

Anything over 80F and England melts. May- June and July was seeing temps in the 90's and I am afraid that I am one of those that does not relish the heat. But cycling and I have wicking clothing on and I stay dry and cool from the moisture evaporation. It's when I stop I have a problem so it is normally at a cafe with shade- or by a river or stream where it has been noted that I am not a good swimmer.

But we are back to normal for August. Overcast mostly with not too much sun and a cooling breeze. Just hope we get the thunderstorms shortly as the Landscape needs it.

Daspydyr 

Awesome picture! Did you see any Yeti' not the bike, the furry guy!

robtown

I've been commuting home in 90F+ heat this last month (9 - 26 miles depending on route) and it hasn't been too bad. Yesterday was an exception because I've been feeling poorly (start of cold). If I stay hydrated and keep moving I'm ok, the stopping causes the heat flashes. I suppose longer rides would be a problem.

AzTallRider

I just sip water constantly on my afternnon commute that is only 9 miles but pushes 110 many days. But did 54 miles Saturday in heat that was building past 100 and virtually no humidity. Went through 4 bottles of water, a gatorade, 3 gels, a bottle of OJ, and a root beer. Finally relieved myself several hours (and more liquids) later. Next ride, I'm pounding electrolytes starting the day before.

stringbreaker

I bought a Happylight made by Verilux. I sit in front of it for about 30 to 40 minutes a day from October to March and it does seem to help,well that and Clonazapam and this winter I'm not gonna eat myself silly, gonna join the YMCA so me and the wife can get some excercise in and not drown. I am gonna try to ride this winter to work too but probably not a lot. I hate riding in the cold and rain. Its no fun and if its not fun I'm not riding.

rck

As I have gotten less young, I have found that my tolerance for extremes of hot and cold (and many other things) has decreased.

Louis

Great pic, Ron. Looks like something out of science fiction.

Daspydyr 

I expect to see trolls from Lord of the Rings come around the corner.

RonH

Its a picture of Ruby Beach, on the west coast of Washington.

Daspydyr 

No its not! those two pictures don't look at all alike. C'mon are you lying now. Is this becoming a liars thread?

TRUTHFULLY, good extra DETAIL.

doctor j

I'll take the heat over what we had last winter. At least I can ride in the heat. I can manage my rides, fuel, and fluids and get along OK.

Dressing and looking like the Michelin Man and being bound up in all of those layers is no fun. I have an entire washing machine full of bike stuff after each ride. I'll take the heat.

Red Rider

We've had such an unusually cool summer that we're headed to TX next week to immerse ourselves in riding in stupidly hot temps and ridiculous humidity.

While I'm grateful for the dearth of rides starting at 6 pm and 100+ degrees, it seems that their absence is a harbinger of something worse to come. Like a summer of excessive heat.

What I've found after 12 yrs. in NorCal inland heat is that my tolerance of cold is at an all-time low. I rode my bike in NJ winters, and ran in CO winters. Nowadays a temp of 45* has me setting up the trainer in the house. Winter wussie I have become, I suppose.

10 Wheels

TX next week to immerse ourselves in riding in stupidly hot temps and ridiculous humidity.

Your going to die.

Last week was the Hottest Ever recorded for August.

overthehillmedi

S.A.D sufferer here also, my doctor suggested that I start taking Vitamin D starting in Oct. and it seemed to help,along with the light box and changing the fluoroscent lights to SAD lights. You might want to check with the doc about Vitamin D this fall.