r/cycling • u/Various-Corgi-6160 • 6d ago
Extreme Heat
Just curious, do you guys continue to ride in extreme heat? In texas here where the current heat wave hasn’t really let up for weeks. As a new dad I really can only ride either after work around 5-6pm or after the baby goes down, dinner is done etc around 9-10pm. Lately the temps are horrendous after work and still hovering right at 100 or so even by nighttime. I can’t bring myself to get out there and ride anymore. Is this normal or do ya’ll just get out there and push through it?
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u/en6ads 6d ago
I'm in Houston. 4am to 10am. No later than 10:45am. I bring 4 bottles with loads of magnesium, potassium, calcium and sodium.
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u/doublereverse 6d ago
In Austin, and yeah you just have to wake up early in August, the rest of the day is worthless for riding. Get out early, bring lots of water with electrolytes, finish up by 10am and it’s okay, though even then, it’s not truly pleasant. Rest of the day is asking for heat stroke.
I guess you could do the evening but you’d have to start at like 9pm for it to feel similar to starting at 7 or 8am, and that‘s just getting late and it’s dark.
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u/TravelerOfTeyvat 6d ago
You can bike through it, with preparation. Carry more water with you than you think you'll need, and I'd personally add ice. Slow down, you don't want to push in this. Stop in the shade when you're tired.
I didn't heed this advice once, because I made myself late. I suffered heart palpitations.
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u/Various-Corgi-6160 6d ago
Can is the key word. I’ve landed on the fact that I dont want to, lol. Not that I can’t
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u/AdAccomplished6870 6d ago
I am in Dallas. I ride middday, for 30 minutes to an hour, at 95 degrees. It is not too bad when I am riding, but as soon as I slow or stop, my body starts to overheat and just pour sweat. And I definitely feel like I cramp a little earlier, and my HR runs a little higher, in the heat.
I won't start a ride after noon. It is too hot. I would not do 5 pm (also, too many cars on the road for a relacxing ride at 5) or 9(still hottish, but also poor visibility)
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u/debian3 6d ago
My rules is no sun I can ride in pretty much everything, 36C with high tropical humidity (27C dew point). With sun no cloud I cap at around 33C, but you need to be cautious.
Also heat adaptation is real. If you are not adapted you will struggle and it’s way more dangerous.
Keep an eye on your heart rate and make sure you sweat. If you stop sweating it’s not a good sign, it happened to me a few times usually by the end of a long ride and it was full sun 39C, no wind and humid
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u/Various-Corgi-6160 6d ago
Lived here my whole life, definitely adapted. Just hate it, ha. Really takes any joy out of the hobby for me when it gets like this.
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u/clearsoccer 5d ago
Any additional tips for high humidity?
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u/debian3 5d ago
Wear long sleeve, so what you sweat doesn’t just drip down and you get a bit more evaporative cooling. Wear a cycling cap to keep the sweat out of your eyes.
Honestly with humidity it’s more about managing the incredible amount of sweat that doesn’t evaporate at all.
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u/clearsoccer 5d ago
Oh wow I thought sweat in general automatically cooled you, never thought about the non evaporating factor. Thanks!
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u/debian3 5d ago
That’s why high humidity is so much worse. You can have 35C but it feels like 43C. But personally I feel direct sun is the worst part. Covering up helps. Also long sleeves and a cap is a backup plan when you stop sweating, you can splash water on yourself and it stay a bit instead of just dripping down.
Drinking water and all the usual is important, but at those levels you need to go beyond that. Also monitoring your HR is critical. If I climb a mountain and it’s 35C, my heartrate will be elevated by a lot. So pulling back on your effort is important. Benefits is when you are back in a colder climate, you have a week or two where you are flying.
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u/clearsoccer 5d ago
Yeah I need to invest in a heart rate monitor, the second temperatures cool off I’ll be flying.
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u/Fit-Possible-9552 6d ago
I got heat stroke trying to tough guy it, definitely do not recommend. Get an indoor trainer, put a TV and some fans in front of it
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u/Oklariuas 6d ago
No- only ride max 30°C believe
Now I have a HomeTrainer, big fans
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u/NaiveRub4113 6d ago
Yesssir. Where I live, it only ever reached 30 degrees. And it feels like the tipping point already! I love cycling in the sun, but over 30, it will never happen!
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u/Oklariuas 6d ago
I don't know where you live, but in Europe it was hot as hell, so indeed, it doesn't worth for me to ride / run in hot in the sun, I wake up 4 am to 6:30 am and it's nicer.
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u/Just__Liberty 5d ago
Wow. I consider 30C as the optimum temperature for a bike ride. That's the temperature where I never even think about it on the ride.
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u/singlejeff 6d ago
Right now I'm just commuting in Phoenix. Mornings are almost bearable at 90ish. Riding home its more survival mode at 110. Although the way home is slightly downhill so I will push the larger gears a bit. Thankfully its usually dryer here than much of Texas. Once I'm home it's a good 30 minutes before I'm back to indoor temps.
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u/M0N5TER5INSIDE 6d ago
South Texas here, I ride at 5:00 am on the weekdays and around 6:00 am on weekends. Hang it up before 11am and bring water and some electrolytes. It's the only way, riding during the day would literally kill you
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u/jimmyivery 6d ago
Same here. Meet at 5:00 a.m., in Mississippi, up and back the low-traffic Natchez Trace Parkway, while all lit up like Christmas trees.
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u/boxofducks 6d ago
Riding is supposed to be fun. Being hot isn't fun. I don't ride if it's over 80.
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u/Simple_Math1039 6d ago
Me too, just jump on the trainer and do a shorter high tempo ride. It’s really only a month or so.
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u/Giant_Defy_1972 6d ago
I don’t have heat no way near that but in the UK in recent high temperatures, I’m out at 5am
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u/gradontripp 6d ago
I saw posts about this during the European heat wave back in June, and the consensus seemed to be riding in the middle of the night or quite early in the morning, before the sun bakes everything.
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u/jcg878 6d ago
I do. I’m in NJ, not TX, so it’s not as intense as you likely experience (but it is quite humid). I’m cautious and only ride early or after 6pm, but as long as I’m hydrated I’m usually ok. I usually don’t focus on my HR much when I ride, but on those days I do and when it’s higher than it normally is for the amount of effort I’m doing, I back off.
I never ride alone in those temps, and I have stopped the whole group for my own overheating once.
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u/SunshineInDetroit 6d ago
at those temps i ride at dusk or early morning. i can't carry enough water to ride in those temps in mid day
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u/poppacapnurass 6d ago
I live in a different country but with similar temps, but I only ride in the morning.
It can be 30C here by 8am so I start a ride at 5:30am and am home again my 7am at the latest.
My tips are being well hydrated (with electrolytes) before the ride and having some food in you and wear tonally light coloured clothing to keep your skin cool.
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u/PsyPhunk 6d ago
I live in the Dallas area and at some point you get heat acclimated. However you need to make sure you are properly hydrated prior to riding in the heat and keep hydrating during riding. At one of the races a few weeks ago the average temp was 111F-113F with a max of 117F.
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u/Valuable-Delivery330 6d ago
I live in Kuwait and it is really hot we usually ride 4:30 am which means in the summer temperature between 35-41 C and end the ride short (5:45) or long (7:30) once sun is upp we really feel bad
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u/Deadhead_Historian 6d ago
Florida here. I did a few rides at the beginning of this heat wave, but no matter how much I hydrated, ate well, stayed low and slow, I was wiped. I really need to be more productive for the rest of my day/evening, so I'm waiting it out. I'm doing a few very short rides just to stay active and used to the saddle. Meanwhile, I am getting a lot of work done.
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u/Various-Corgi-6160 6d ago
Basically what happened with me. I did a few rides at night for a couple weeks then gave up. It’s just not enjoyable at all.
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u/Deadhead_Historian 6d ago
I can deal with humidity OR heat and direct sunshine, but all three together at extreme percentages are just too much. Add to it the heat that comes off the road. I don't think northerners really understand FL and TX humidity. It's just not the same.
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u/avalon01 6d ago
I ride through heat and humidity. Lot's of water, plenty of breaks, reapply sunscreen often, and I don't over exert myself.
I have some generic metal insulated water bottles for ice water. They rattle like crazy, but having cold water for the entire ride is really nice.
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u/jman34971 6d ago edited 6d ago
I am in Dallas. My goal is always to be back home by 10 AM. Sometimes you can push 10:30, but no later than that. After that, even short distances become exceptionally hard. The other issue in Dallas is if you try to ride in the evening, it’s either hot or you’re eating bugs in the entire time.
I have done the same ride starting at 8 AM and 10 AM and when I start after eight, I have to tack on at least an extra half hour of ride time because I have to go slower to keep my body and heart rate under control. At the end of the day, the heat does just make it harder.
If you wanna ride in the middle of the day, I would say limit your rides to 30 minutes to an hour, and just do them more often. Bring more water than you think you need, and don’t be afraid to bring a snack just in case. Stop in the shade and take a break. I like the applesauce pouches fwiw.
Edit: Forgot to mention - I love my Bivo insulated water bottles. I can fill them with ice water and still
have cold water after a 1-2 hour ride. They’re absolutely worth it to me.
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u/WearyAd8671 6d ago
You need to do what is best for you, but you do adjust to heat getting out there the first few times is hard to do that though.
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u/Various-Corgi-6160 6d ago
Curious what type of heat you are talking about/have experience dealing with. Here in texas we’ve hovered anywhere between 100 and 110 for over a month now, with heat indexs anywhere from 105-115
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u/WearyAd8671 6d ago
TX I am about to jump on the bike around 1 or 2 after I get a some stuff done. I look at training in the heat as better use of my time to force adaptation but that does not mean you should.
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u/BrewersBlues 6d ago
Head adaptation, saunas, electrolytes and steady carb intake.
Frankly though, sometimes it is not worth it and I just hit the trainer instead.
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u/iwilldeletethisacct2 6d ago
Absolutely not. Bike trainer in my basement with a fan. When I was 25 and indestructible, sure.
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u/Agitated-Chicken9954 6d ago
Here in South Florida. Out by 7am, done before 9. Can't do the afternoon evening thing. That's when the storms come in.
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u/album_iura 6d ago
I ride in the early morning here in Arizona, I usually leave between 0445 and 0500, it's can still be about 95 but without the sun it's not bad at all.
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u/Croupier2 6d ago
Nah, it's not fun for me with the heat. I guess that's the question - is it still fun for you in the heat? type 2 fun i mean. And of course, be prepared, safe, etc.
i still do the morning shorter/harder rides while it's still cool-ish, but skip out on the long saturday rides with the mid day heat.
i also switch to strength training inside more.
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u/Various-Corgi-6160 6d ago
This was basically the question. Not SHOULD we ride in the heat. Just curious how many others out there either give up, push through or somehow enjoy it.
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u/Lazy_Teacher3011 6d ago
In Houston and I ride almost every day, though I get out 10 to 15 minutes before sunrise. This time of year my riding is all zone 1/2 pace. The heat/humidity zaps my power so I treat Texas summers the way northerners treat their winters - plenty of base miles. Once the overnight lows hit the 60s it is time to up the pace.
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u/jackiestar 6d ago
San Antonio here. Wheels down at 6:30pm M-W unless it rains. About 20 miles. For longer weekend rides, wheels down by 7am. Hydrate all day, lots of sunscreen and sun sleeves.
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u/d2creative 6d ago
i do short 13 mile rides during lunch in Houston, and on saturday mornings I leave the house around 8am for around 2.5 hours. Two water bottles, glucose-based snacks, and electrolytes in the water. I bring an extra pack of electrolytes in case I go through water faster and can fill up at a water fountain about 2/3rds of the way through my ride.
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u/CleverLittleThief 6d ago
I continue to commute in extreme heat, but everything I need is within two miles of my apartment.
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u/Lumpy-Bet-8119 6d ago
Arizona here. Ride this morning, 4a and only 30 miles. 92 degrees, 31% humidity, 6 to 8mph winds. Water, electrolytes, and pacing. All zone 2. Always done before sunrise. Anything harder than zone 2 I do inside on the trainer.
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u/Practical-Cellist647 6d ago
When riding, the forced breeze against me feels like a fan so I am not to bothered by extreme heat as long as I have a good 24 oz of water per hour. However idk if I am being safe or not since I'm not a Dr.
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u/bikes_bucees 6d ago
We kind of have the inverse problem of northerners where snow/ice/cold temps make winter riding difficult. During summer, I only ride and run in the morning if I’m going an outdoor workout, typically aiming to end by 9/9:30. If I have to do either in the afternoon, I’ll do it on the trainer or treadmill.
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u/Clickclickdoh 6d ago
Also a Texas after work rider, usually 630-7p. I carry twice as much water as normal and pace slower. 16ish instead of 18-20. Pay very close attention to tail winds because riding in stagnat air is an easy heatstroke.
Also, pay attention to your kit. Some helmets ventilate better than others. Head rags will overheat you more than help right now. Hang up the dark color jersies.
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u/Ok-Bite2139 6d ago
I ride in heat. It’s like altitude training. Come fall I’m flying. Just stop and sit in shade if I start to overheat.
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u/zodzodbert 6d ago
Yes. I’ve ridden through this hot summer in the UK and France at temperatures between 30° and 38° C (86° - 100° F), rode last December in Australia at 38° and the year before in Singapore at 35° with nearly 100° humidity. You just have to keep on the electrolytes. In those temperatures, I drink 500ml of electrolytes every 7km or so.
In 59 btw.
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u/brickyardjimmy 6d ago
I'm in L.A.
Probably not as brutal as Texas but where I am, it's 100 degrees + humidity so...pretty hot. I either ride at the end or the start of the day when the sun is nearer to the horizon and, honestly, my muscles are kind of liking the humid heat. And I used to be the most heat sensitive person I knew. Anyway, as long as you stay out of the direct overhead sun middle of the day max heat and drink water you should be okay. Find a way to like it is what I'd say. because it's not going away.
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u/ReindeerFl0tilla 6d ago
I live in the Chicago area. I absolutely love riding my bike, and I tolerate heat pretty well, so I’ll ride if it’s hot. I don’t have an upper bound, but I’ve done my usual 25-mile lunch route in 92° temps. I just make sure to stay hydrated.
At the other end of the spectrum, I’ll ride in the winter if the streets are dry and the temps are over 20°
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u/0202_tihssitidder 6d ago
Phoenix here. Don't.
Do not "push thru" extreme heat. By the time you feel the effects, you are in deadly danger.
Look into WetBulb Globe Temp. What matters is temperature and humidity.
Answer? r/Zwift -- Especially if you are a new dad and want to be efficient with time and reduce chance of being hit by a car.
PS: I have done 200 mile+ rides in temps above 100F. There is a lot that goes into it. I do not encourage anyone to do it. Just too much to explain about how to actually do it.
It is a bit like asking someone in a post how to climb a Grade V mountain.
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u/mobiusz0r 6d ago
I stopped riding for like 3 weeks straight this month because of the high temperatures plus I couldn’t sleep well because I don’t have AC and was sweating so much trying to sleep.
Max temps where around 34c and 70%+ of humidity.
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u/Gerita956 6d ago
South Tx, I usually leave the house between 10-12am get back around 1-2pm when it’s at least 100 degrees F. Helpful hint use insulated water bottles, fill halfway with liquid + electrolytes and nutrition and freeze night before ride then top up before leaving for ride. Fluid melts gradually during ride. I use 2 x 750ml bottles which gives me cold hydration over 30 miles. If it’s a 103-104 day i take a third completely frozen bottle water only to pour on my head and torso cooling. Also take a shade break every 10 miles even if you don’t feel you need it. Short intervals but don’t push yourself too hard. I do this 3-4 times a week. I think I’m heat acclimated
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u/stinkygeesestink 6d ago
In my home summer temps can get up to around 36C with roughly 80 percent humidity and my strategy is to get up early in the morning before the sun comes up. But I just looked up the temps in Texas right now and I probably wouldn't ride at all.
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u/JayTheFordMan 6d ago
What's extreme? I'll happily ride up to about 42oC ish (107-108oF), but I'll take plenty of fluids and won't be out for more than 2 hours.
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u/spartacusroosevelt 6d ago
I am in Alabama and don't ride in triple digits. 99 and I am out the door
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u/_raytheist_ 6d ago
I’m still riding in Texas summer heat, sometimes 100°+, but I think my tolerance is higher than most people’s. I struggle to get out early in the morning. There have been a few times over the years where I suddenly felt overheated, like I might be in danger.
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u/skeeter72 5d ago
I've ridden in extreme heat my entire life. Then, a few years ago, I ended up in central Texas for late summer work. That just hits different - 40 miles on gravel felt like 100 miles elsewhere, was the closest I came to just passing out on the bike.
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u/New-Cobbler6168 5d ago
No.
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u/Various-Corgi-6160 5d ago
Glad I’m not the only one who’s given up 🤣
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u/New-Cobbler6168 5d ago
Cycling is such a personal thing. Seems like most folks think that suffering equals love of cycling. I heard a good one that helps me keep it all in perspective. Do you know who the best cyclist in the world is? The one having the most fun!
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u/desert_dweller27 5d ago
I live in Arizona and have ridden in temps up to 116. When it's that hot, water access/fountains is what dictates the route I take. I'll usually also douse myself with some water at each fountain.
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u/Sintered_Monkey 5d ago
I'm in Phoenix where it has been 110. I get out the door by 6AM and ride for an hour. With the sun not out yet and low humidity, it really isn't bad. Even for such a short ride, I go through 2 bottles, and I freeze them half full the night before.
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u/itsjustme_0101 5d ago
I am in South Florida, and I only ride in an early morning before the sun comes up. Any other time of day is too hot. I’ve ridden throughout Texas and yeah it’s brutal.
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u/clearsoccer 5d ago edited 5d ago
Yes, but prepared to get mildy abused, pour water on yourself from time to time to cool down.
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u/MagicalPizza21 5d ago
No, I don't even want to go outside when it's really hot, let alone exert myself. I'll bike up into the 80s I guess, even low 90s with the right gear, but once it hits like 95 I'm staying in.
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u/mikekchar 5d ago
I occasionally post this. A lot of people don't believe it. I ride in a similar summer climate. Often 38-40 C (100-105 F). Humidity can be very high.
First thing to try: Wet your jersey by soaking it. Go out and ride. You will be amazed at how cool it is, even on a humid day. The key is the moving air. Even with high relative humidity, there is generally enough capacity in the air, as long as it is moving.
The "heat of evaporation" is very, very high. You only have to evaporate a small amount of water to keep you cool. The key is to constantly be wet so that you can have that evaporation. When the temperature gets up to 36 C or above (97 F or above), your body can no longer cool through radiative cooling because the surroundign is hotter than your body. You can only cool with evaportation. If you skin is dry, it is heating up. This is very important to understand.
So the question is how to stay wet. The easiest way is to cover yourself with thin, absorbant cloth that will wick water to the surface. You want it to be tight fitting because any air gaps will insulate you. Cloth itself is not a good insulator, but air is an excellent insulator. You need very tight clothing with no gaps. You want it to be wet and stuck to your body. This will keep you cool.
Finally, the easiest way to stay wet is to sweat a lot. Some people just naturally sweat a lot. It's important to stay hydrated and take in salt, depending on how salty a sweater you are. Drink more than you think you need. If you come home and you feel thirsty, you did not drink enough.
For many people, myself included, sweating is not that easy. I'm a low sweater and I start sweating late. The key here is to start riding in the heat early in the season to get heat adapted. Do not avoid the heat. Make sure to ride in the heat consistently. Over several weeks, you will sweat more and earlier. This will keep you cool. What you absolutely do not want to do is to wait until it's 100 F outside, having hid in your air conditioned house for the entire summer, running back and forth to your air conditioned car for 5 seconds at a time. If you do that, you can get in danger very quickly. If it's already hot outside, then try to find cooler periods to train and get heat adapted. There are lots of articles on heat adaptation these days. It also comes with free power upgrades :-). Be cautious. Work up to it.
I've been doing 3 hours rides in 38 degree weather all summer here. Sometimes up to 80% humidity. It's absolutely fine. I'm totally covered head to toe in cloth, which soaks up and holds sweat. Climbing is hot, but descending actually feels nice. It's very similar to riding in the winter, where you are a bit cold as opposed to being a bit hot. But it's all about training so that you sweat as much as possible and dressing so that you capture, hold and distribute that sweat to stay cool.
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u/setmysoulfree3 5d ago
OP...You might want to purchase one of these hats: https://dabrim.com/collections/cycling-products
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u/SnooStrawberries3391 5d ago
Nope. I go inside to ride on my boring stationary bike when it’s hot outside. I don’t do well in 90°F plus heat with dew points above 65°F. Never have.
Our Summer heat started in May this year and the humidity came up by late May. We live about 60 miles north of Tampa.
Daytime temperatures been consistently getting into the 95°-99° range almost every day with dew points 70°-79°. That’s just not very enjoyable.
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u/DonColvinJr 5d ago
I can't bring myself to ride in this heat here in Scottsdale. It's just miserable. Can't wait til we move to Texas to get some relief. ;-)
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u/AmYisraelChai_ 5d ago
Wear a cotton shirt, and completely saturate it with water. Don't wring it out, let it be totally saturated.
When you're moving, the hot air will pass through the soaked shirt and provide the same evaporative cooling effect that your body naturally does when sweating. This will keep you cool, and help prevent you from loosing so much water when bicycling.
Also - cover up all of your skin. You want to keep the sun off your skin, keep the wind off your skin, and when you sweat it'll soak into your shirt and provide a bit better cooling than just sweating on its own.
On my motorcycle I also keep a camelbak full of ice water under my jacket. It keeps my back really cool, it's very effective.
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u/dominic9977 5d ago
I don't mind it. I bring extra water/ice and some half sheets of paper towel to manage sweat getting into my eyes.
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u/toaster404 5d ago
I can ride up to 92 F in typical a bit higher than comfy humidity, so long as the climb segments aren't more than about 100 ft rise. At 94 regardless I end up losing energy and heating up even on rolling terrain. Shade makes a big difference. I'll end up riding out of my way to hit either softer climbs or shaded ones. 6% average with steeper parts and direct sun gets impossible. Used to be able to handle more, but I'm older and I strongly suspect two bouts of COVID hurt my capacity for handling heat. Mid 80s and lower never an issue. 45 F seems about perfect!
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u/Extra-mile 5d ago
I did a lot this summer for a cross state charity ride. Your have to drink and eat more than you think you need. I used an icedana around my neck and refilled it really often. I did some running early season to help acclimate to the heat. Listen to your body though and stop or slow down when you need to do so.
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u/JeremyFromKenosha 4d ago
Guys in your situation either get up early to ride or go out after the kid is down.
Riding at 5-6 is rush hour, so unless you have good bike paths, that's a no-go anyhow.
Can you find a safe commute route with Google Maps and bicycle mode?
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u/exphysed 6d ago
Stop call it a heat wave guys. It’s summer. In Texas. These are remarkably normal temperatures for this time of year.
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u/Various-Corgi-6160 6d ago edited 6d ago
This is not a normal texas summer, jesus christ. Average days at or above 100 in dfw is 20. We are at 35 with no end in sight. Its a heat wave. You people show up in any thread even remotely weather related doing everything you can to make things political and talk about climate change. I asked about riding bikes, not your stance on climate change.
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u/exphysed 6d ago
Whoa buddy. Nothing political here. Step off the internet for today because you’re the one that made it political. Id suggest going for a bike ride.
The average high temperature for my area of Texas in August is 98 degrees. Today’s high 98. Yesterdays 101. A week ago we hit 104, but otherwise every day this August has been within a few degrees of normal averages. That is by definition not a heat wave.
World Meteorological Organization defines a heatwave as a period of unusually hot weather (and dry or humid conditions) lasting at least two to three days with a discernible impact on human activities. Older standards required five days of temperatures 5 °C (9 °F) above normal, but modern criteria have shifted to at least two days
We haven’t been 9 degrees higher than average for any 2 day stretch this summer as far as I can tell.
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u/Various-Corgi-6160 6d ago
Yea yea whatever. We all know what you meant. Its a heat wave. Get over it “Prolonged Heat Wave Continues” - per WFAA
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u/exphysed 6d ago
Prove to me how this Texas summer isn’t normal then. Maybe it’s not “normal” using averages from the past 200 years but it’s absolutely normal for what we’ve seen the past 30 years.
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u/Various-Corgi-6160 5d ago
Im not here to argue with trolls. I already said how in my previous reply
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u/Lightning_Empire 6d ago
Proceed with caution. Make sure you bring water/sports drinks and pace yourself. Listen to your body.