Comments on: Let’s Talk About Riding in the Heat

By: Michael Shinosky

Michael Shinosky — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 00:08:00 +0000

The best way to beat the heat? Ride at night!!!

By: Shawn McAfee

Shawn McAfee — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 23:33:00 +0000

Great topic Darryl!

Personally, when it gets this hot I just duck into some trees! Gotta love mountain biking.

Other than that, I try to keep my mid-day road rides short, under 1 hour and I’m good. If at all possible I ride at sun-up or sun-down to avoid the mid day scorching.

By: Bill

Bill — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 18:36:00 +0000

I just finished listening to that podcast on riding in heat. It’s really good. I’ll need to go listen to some of the other podcasts you did also. I agree with the people who said hydration is the most important for riding in heat.

By: BobRidesABike

BobRidesABike — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 17:23:00 +0000

After riding RAGBRAI last month (95-108 temps early in the week w/ 70-100+ mi/day), I say: “Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate!” You cannot drink enough water and other drinks when it’s stinking hot. Also be sure to eat – keep your body fueled! And don’t be afraid to stop and rest in the shade. The remaining miles will still be there. And unless you have a number pinned to your jersey, it’s not a race, is it?

By: Anthony Lussier

Anthony Lussier — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 15:53:00 +0000

Battling the heat is tough. You want to get your ride in early but sometimes it just doesn’t work out. I definitely need something other than just water to replenish glycogen cause once I start sweating in this heat my energy gets zapped quickly. As Melinda stated below I leave early in the morning as well but the ride home can easily hit 95 right now with the sun at my back. I try to be a minimalist as much as possible and not carry to much, like a backpack or anything to allow as much air as possible to flow through my jersey. The biggest thing I do before a hot ride his hydrate, hydrate, hydrate the day before I know I’m getting a long ride in.

By: Melinda

Melinda — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 14:54:00 +0000

Also, try tilting the bottles so that all of the ice isn’t in the bottom half. It keeps the water near the top cooler.

By: Melinda

Melinda — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 14:53:00 +0000

I can’t speak for myself, but my husband has been cyclommuting back and forth to work, about 15 miles one way. He leaves for work around 5:30, so it’s not been too hot at that time. When he leaves the office, he is carrying a Camelbak full of water. During the heatwave in July, he just took his time getting back home. Once he gets back, we have ice cold water ready for him. He takes as long as he needs to cool off and then he grabs a shower. He seems to have handled the heat okay.

By: Jake

Jake — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 14:10:00 +0000

If it is really hot I don’t go out for more than an hour and a half. I find that I get way too overheated when I go for longer on a hot day.

By: Ben

Ben — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 12:14:00 +0000

I really don’t mind the heat but it helps if you can get out early and stay hydrated.

By: Mark Beaconsfield

Mark Beaconsfield — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 11:32:00 +0000

Its the middle of winter here, I wish I had a little heat to ride in. Hydration is important at any time of the year. Freezing water bottles is great, also timing your rides to avoid the middle of the day when it is usually hottest. I know that a lot of people want to train and push themselves to the limit, but sometimes stopping and taking a 5 minute break in a shady spot helps.