When is It too hot to go cycling?
08-08-20, 10:52 AM
#2
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Depends.
08-08-20, 11:03 AM
#3
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I often use the misery index to determine when I'm going to be ok exercising. It is the current temp + dew point. If it's over 150F, I'm going to have a hard time, but I don't deal well with heat in general.
Give me 27* and 2' of snow on the ground and I'm in heaven.
Give me 90* plus high humidity and I'm a walking homicidal rage monster.
Give me 27* and 2' of snow on the ground and I'm in heaven.
Give me 90* plus high humidity and I'm a walking homicidal rage monster.
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08-08-20, 11:24 AM
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08-08-20, 11:50 AM
#5
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These threads just attract try-hards with their glorious stories of 110F texas heat century rides. (Nobody cares)
cycling is a hobby for me, I don't get paid to do it, therefore I stop riding when it is no longer enjoyable. For me, that is anything over 90ish. It's not the heat that bothers me, it's the constant hydration necessary and I don't like riding a bike with even 1 bottle much less multiple bottles.
cycling is a hobby for me, I don't get paid to do it, therefore I stop riding when it is no longer enjoyable. For me, that is anything over 90ish. It's not the heat that bothers me, it's the constant hydration necessary and I don't like riding a bike with even 1 bottle much less multiple bottles.
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08-08-20, 11:53 AM
#6
Senior Member
When is it too hot?
When the asphalt or chip/seal pavement softens to the point that you can see your tire imprint. BTDT, don't like it!
When the asphalt or chip/seal pavement softens to the point that you can see your tire imprint. BTDT, don't like it!
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08-08-20, 12:00 PM
#7
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Wow, I was just reading the same thread over on the R e d d i t biking forum. Was that you, too?
08-08-20, 12:21 PM
#8
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I quit early on a century yesterday, got 85 miles instead. It was pushing mid to upper 90s.
I had an early start and it was nice for a while but a wind slowed me down and I had one pass near my house at the end, so I just went back. No need to grind when I'd already had a full day.
For me it's a combo of speed, wind, and heat.
A 95+ day uphill or against the wind, moving slow, not fun and there's cold beer in the fridge.
95+ with a nice decent or tailwind on the way home from a good ride is just fine.
I'd never start a ride in those temps. Maybe 90, if it was cloudy.
One of the best race results I ever had was a 100+ day. I don't think I was particularly fast but everyone else started falling back. I suffer well, better than most, but I don't like to.
I had an early start and it was nice for a while but a wind slowed me down and I had one pass near my house at the end, so I just went back. No need to grind when I'd already had a full day.
For me it's a combo of speed, wind, and heat.
A 95+ day uphill or against the wind, moving slow, not fun and there's cold beer in the fridge.
95+ with a nice decent or tailwind on the way home from a good ride is just fine.
I'd never start a ride in those temps. Maybe 90, if it was cloudy.
One of the best race results I ever had was a 100+ day. I don't think I was particularly fast but everyone else started falling back. I suffer well, better than most, but I don't like to.
08-08-20, 12:25 PM
#9
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08-08-20, 12:25 PM
#10
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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.
Last edited by showlow; 08-08-20 at 12:38 PM.
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08-08-20, 01:09 PM
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Yes.
08-08-20, 02:03 PM
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08-08-20, 02:41 PM
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08-08-20, 02:58 PM
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Depends on the 3 H’s....Hills, Heat, Headwind. I draw the line at 85-87deg vs the distance of the course. I’ve been out riding and the temps suddenly spike to 95f and had to jump in a lake with my riding clothes on, put on the helmet and back on the bike for a hilly 12mi finish. I got some curious looks.
08-08-20, 03:11 PM
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For me it depends on the time of year. We sometimes get 95 degree days in April, before I'm acclimated to heat, and I won't ride then. But by September (when it gets hottest here), I'm willing to ride if it's under 100, provided there's a cold drink at the end!!
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08-08-20, 04:28 PM
#18
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Never too hot for a training ride where you control the pace and stops.
I learned the hard way a few weeks ago that a heat index of 115 is not good for a 100 mile gravel race. I'm pretty heat adapted, and have a low heart rate that is suited for long rides, but that was just too much. One of the few times ever I did not want to be biking because of heat exhaustion, cramps, and a stomach that felt like I ate a thousand small swords.
I learned the hard way a few weeks ago that a heat index of 115 is not good for a 100 mile gravel race. I'm pretty heat adapted, and have a low heart rate that is suited for long rides, but that was just too much. One of the few times ever I did not want to be biking because of heat exhaustion, cramps, and a stomach that felt like I ate a thousand small swords.
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08-08-20, 04:54 PM
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I look to the sky. If I see Turkey Vultures circling, I get the hint.
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08-08-20, 05:43 PM
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Another thread suggests that some brands of brake pads melt at 108F
08-08-20, 07:37 PM
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I'm glad I'm not trying to ride a bicycle in some areas of Iraq. They are getting temperatures of 50+C (122F). Some areas there are humid too.Johnny Cash summed it up pretty well in his song 'MEAN AS HELL'; "...too hot for the devil and too hot for men".
How hot is too hot depends a lot on the individual and what they're acclimatized to.
Cheers
How hot is too hot depends a lot on the individual and what they're acclimatized to.
Cheers
08-08-20, 08:37 PM
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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.
08-08-20, 10:28 PM
#25
Senior Member
Heat can be managed with proper pre-ride hydration and regular hydration intake during the ride. However, I'm talking about a lot of water, not energy drink, not Gatorade, not anything other than straight water. Your body can take a lot of the punishment that heat dishes out if your body is hydrated with a lot of water.
I've lived in the humid southeast as well as Arizona. I've ridden in 100/100 days in the south (100 degrees/100% humidity) and I've ridden in 117 degree heat when it was 135 two feet off the pavement in Arizona.
The only times I ran in to trouble was when I either A) ran out of water because I under-estimated how much I'd need or B) I didn't maintain a steady and consistent intake of water during the ride to balance and replace what my body was sweating or C) I didn't adequately pre-hydrate the hours before the ride...or a combination of all three.
Heat itself is uncomfortable to say the least but it is manageable with proper hydration if you are in reasonable physical conditioned state to start with.
I've lived in the humid southeast as well as Arizona. I've ridden in 100/100 days in the south (100 degrees/100% humidity) and I've ridden in 117 degree heat when it was 135 two feet off the pavement in Arizona.
The only times I ran in to trouble was when I either A) ran out of water because I under-estimated how much I'd need or B) I didn't maintain a steady and consistent intake of water during the ride to balance and replace what my body was sweating or C) I didn't adequately pre-hydrate the hours before the ride...or a combination of all three.
Heat itself is uncomfortable to say the least but it is manageable with proper hydration if you are in reasonable physical conditioned state to start with.
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