Bald Paul

I'm registered for the Fabulous Forth of July ride, which this year is actually being held tomorrow, the 1st.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42954651
But, I think I'm going to consider my registration fee as a donation. Earlier this week I was doing yard work and strained my lower back muscles, which has given me a case of sciatica. Still a little sore, but I think I could ride (oddly enough, it doesn't seem to bother me when I'm on the bike) but now we have another round of unhealthy air thanks to the Canadian wildfires, and the "feels like" temps tomorrow will be in the low 100s, provided the thunderstorms and hail don't cool things off. Last time I rode in that kind of heat I ended up laying under a tree in the shade for almost an hour, and I was only a few miles from the finish. My cardiologist was not happy with me when I told him.
I think a ride in Zwift in my air conditioned home with a fan on me sounds good.

Polaris OBark

If I listened to cardiologists, I would be intubated in a nursing home.

TakingMyTime

I think the smoke from the fires would be my reason to drop out. We had the same thing her in California back in 2019 and although it may not seem that bad while you're just going about your daily routine you can really feel it once you settle down and realize how clogged your lungs really are.

Bald Paul

My cardiologist loves the fact that I ride and encourages me to do so - within limits. Believe me, I didn't need a cardiologist to tell me to lay down under that tree that day. My heart rate was way up and wasn't recovering as it usually does.
If I didn't listen to my cardiologist, I would be resting eternally inside a wooden box.

bruce19

If your sciatica is caused by compression of your spine and pinched nerves then the bike position will cause the spine to stretch out thus lessening impact on any nerves. This is what my Chiropractor told me. There's something called "Williams Flexion" exercise that can help. Really simple. Lie on your back and pull both knees to your chest. Hold, relax and repeat.

Bald Paul

Yes, I damaged a disc years ago. Not bad enough to require surgery, but now and then it acts up if I spend too much time bending over - like I did pulling weeds from the garden. I'll try that exercise. Right now I use an inversion table, and that helps, but hanging upside down can give me a headache at times.

shelbyfv

I've read and my personal experience seems to confirm, that once you have experienced heat exhaustion you may be more inclined to suffer it in the future. I've lived in the South my entire life and until the tail end of my 60s heat was no more than the inconvenience of sweaty wet clothes. I've since had a couple of episodes when I was so overheated I had to get off the bike and felt as if I was close to throwing up or passing out. The heat's a bummer but we have to take it seriously. Until a couple of years ago we had a network of country stores where we could cool off and have a cold drink. Now the proprietors are aging out and liquid replenishment is getting hard to find.

smontanaro 

I was an active runner (and rider) when at UCLA in the 70s. My measure of the air quality was how much it hurt to breathe deep after a run. I sometimes wonder how much damage that did to my lungs.

Milton Keynes

I've had a sore back for the past couple of months which has kept me off my bike until recently. I've had this happen before, my back will be sore when I get up in the morning, but after moving around it will feel fine. Eventually it will go away and hopefully not come back, at least for a long time. I'm pretty sure I strained it when I was working on a particular project, standing on top of a ladder reaching up trying to reach something. I didn't feel any pain then but later is when it kicked in.

Clyde1820

Back in my early 20s, I might have decided to ride in such an event. But, not these days. Back in the day, I did forego a handful of events, when I found certain aches or problems that hadn't quite recovered. With back issues? I don't blame you for being cautious.

Discretion? It's wisdom, my friend. IOW: after all that time, you've 'arrived' at last.