pdlamb

One more thought: maybe it's better to stand up.

A couple weeks ago I started overheating. I pushed on a few hundred yards, knowing there's a picnic table under a big shade tree ahead. Made it, sat down, and 10 minutes later I wasn't cooling off any. So I stood up, ready to get back on the bike and head home. Immediately I felt a breeze, not perceptible while sitting, and within a few more minutes I was, if not comfortable, and least functional.

So do what it takes to find a breeze!

rumrunn6

that time I laid down, I couldn't stand up

t2p

yes - end of day

most of my / our rides are toward end of day - especially weekday rides

yesterday was a little different - went out around noon ... forecast was for high of 88 - but I believe it maxed at 85 before clouds rolled in ...

rode through two brief / light rain showers that cooled things and actually felt good ... was somewhere around 80 at the finish

pepperbelly

When your body temp rises your bloodvessals dilate. That lowers your blood pressure. Standing up quickly can cause you to pass out. Just be careful.

pepperbelly

It’s getting tiresome now.

rumrunn6

holy cow

t2p

​​​​​​​indeed

rsbob 

When it hits the 90s, I hit the indoor trainer with the AC on. Heat never used to affect me but after hitting 60, everything changed.

rumrunn6

humidity prediction for today ... 100%

pepperbelly

Dew point this morning is 67*. It feels like walkingvthrough warm soup.

staehpj1

The dew point was 79 at dawn here and it was quite unpleasant. I did get a trail ride in though. Still better than staying in.

yeamac 

I call BS because you need more than 30 minutes post ride to cool down and stop sweating before you step in the shower!

And is that ice coffee, I hope? I can't imagine drinking a hot drink after coming in from a bike ride in the heat.

SpedFast

The shower is cold and the coffee is hot. No BS!

canklecat

I got stupid last Friday and paid for it. I did my usual 5 mile walk at midday, but for some reason thought it would be a great idea to extend my farmer arm tan to my chest and back. So after I reached the rural area with little or no traffic, I stripped off my sleeveless tee. But I should have put it back on after 15 minutes... 30 minutes, tops. But, noooo. I walked an hour without a shirt. No base tan on my torso. No sunscreen (which I rarely use because I rarely burn).

I never felt overheated and brought my usual liter thermos of ice cold electrolytes. But a few hours after getting home I suddenly felt blah... not quite sick... yet... but not good.

It got worse over the weekend. Pretty much all I did all weekend was sleep. The burn wasn't really bad. I've had worse as a kid. But I'm no kid anymore. Today it finally blistered.

So for the next week or two I'm riding my bike after midnight when the temperature dips to a balmy 90 degrees with only 50% humidity. And I'm limiting my daytime walks to short errands, properly covered up. But the nighttime rides have been pleasant, clear skies, full or nearly full moon.

Reminds me of fussing at my granddad and mom for overdoing it in the summer heat after they were over age 70. Physician, heal thyself and whatnot.

Calsun

Quite a few people have died from heat stroke and cardiac arrest as a result of being out in the heat. They did not plan on dying and they thought they would be OK as they were special.

Over the years I have taken the approach not to risk a situation that could prove fatal and I have not missed out on much other than hang gliding and wreck diving and motorcycles in my adult life.

Once your core temp goes above 102 degrees your body is going to shut down and first one will have trouble thinking and then trouble breathing and the heart is stressed to point a heart attack becomes likely and if dehydrated the blood is thicker and the heart does a lot more work to maintain circulation and by 103 degrees core temperature the organs start to breakdown. The air temp or humidity are of interest but the focus should be on your body core temperature.

This device is not cheap but it integrates with Garmin Edge and their sport watches. Consider it health insurance if you live in the country's hot zones.

https://corebodytemp.com/

canklecat

Yup. Locally a 74 y/o fellow was found dead on a school track where he walked for exercise.

t2p

even in the cooler areas / regions a long ride in full sun on a relatively hot day can be tough

we often plan rides in areas with shade when it will be hot with full sun

downtube42

It's 95 at the moment (noon), and will top out at 104.

The wife insisted I drive today instead of ride. The ride home is only 5 miles but climbing most of the way. Going from air conditioned office to out of saddle climbing in 104 degrees is not a good idea, so I drove.

This is frickin' Portland OR, not Texas.

pepperbelly

It is supposed to be in the low ‘70s tomorrow morning. I will be riding.

fooferdoggie 

ya I have to ride home tonight best to monitor my HR its only 8 miles but bringing water with me.

79pmooney

I was going to ride up to Bald Peak yesterday. Rode up 219 to Mountain Top Road, along it to the hang glider takeoff field. Stopped. Drank. And decided to just mosey to McCormick Hill Road and the easy ride home. Got home, showered and saw 100F on both outdoor thermometers. At 70 yo, these temps take far more out of me than years ago. In my racing days, I would not have canceled my weekly 120 mile ride from Boston to the top of Mt Wachusett.

The hot upwind stretch coming home was not fun. Doing a longer version of it later in more wind and hotter after the three short, tough climbs I didn't ride - well I am really glad I didn't!

fooferdoggie 

this is a day I don't feel guilty cranking uo the assists on my e bike.sucked I did not burn more calories usually around 200 only did 150 or so. had a 48oz bottle of ice water on my back. it was only 8 miles.

downtube42

I cranked up the assist all the way to the max, full 4-wheel EV mode with A/C in my wife's Outlander PHEV. Free charging at work ftw.

I did feel guilty though

rowerek

If during a break or after a ride I can see my face being bright red and hot to touch then that means that I am most likely overheated and close to heat exhaustion, Next time I will wait for cooler weather and maybe plan shorter less strenuous ride. The strategy here is to have more fun, short term and long term.

Calsun

People still do not get it. It is the heat that kills by raising the body's core temperature and by the time it gets to 102 degrees one should be heading where it is cooler than 80 degrees to start to recover. The heat waves in places like Phoenix are deadly in part as it stays above 90 degrees through the night and people who lack access to air conditioning get worse and worse until there hearts shut down. Even a rectal thermometer is an inexpensive way to determine body core temperature accurately.