How Hot is too HOT?

[martin]

With the heat index way up in the 90's I'd figured I'd ask...

[Dirt]

I'll ride in any conditions. When the temperatures or conditions are at their EXTREME you have to adjust your expectations for the ride. That doesn't mean that you stay home and nibble bonbons on the sofa.

Pete

[Vecsus]

That doesn't mean that you stay home and nibble bonbons on the sofa.

Pete

Those were cheetos! Now please stop peeking in my windows.

[Squirrel Girl]

It depends. I rode slickrock under the blazing sun in Utah that peaked at 93 and suffered horribly. At the end, I couldn't pedal at all, even on the flats. I could only coast the downhills.

On the other hand, I've ridden Fountainhead at about 88 with tons of humidity. It was stuffy, but the trees meant no direct sun, and it was quite tolerable.

[Vecsus]

I'm ok to ride in the low 90's but when I am sweating after taking my bike off the rack there is a problem. It's just not fun for me to ride in hot, heavy humidity. Bit it looks like relief might be in sight. supposed to stay hot but the humidity is supposed to drop over the next few days. Hell, for all I know it's great riding weather out there right now. Sitting in a vault sucks...i never know what its like outside.

[hophead]

I have yet to experience "too hot to ride." Not sure, but I'd say the high 90's is about the maximum heat that I've ridden in. Never ridden out west in direct sunlight. That's a whole 'nuther ball game.

[Squirrel Girl]

FYI - I remember someone putting a thermometer out in the sun when we were digging dino bones out of the rock in NM. It was in the 90s in the shade, but it was 130 on the shale.

Vescus, I'm in about the same position as you, but there's always accuweather.com! And I went out for lunch, and yes, it was a little less humid.

Last Friday I cycled to work. BUT! I had to change my tube before riding. The sweat was dripping off me like crazy. The ride was better because the breeze meant no dripping.

[Squirrel Girl]

Just for fun, I did a calculation:

If it's 88 degrees outside, and...

Dewpoint 66 degrees, that makes the rel. humidity: 40%
and if
Dewpoint 73 degrees, that makes the rel. humidity: 54%

That's basically the difference between right now and 24 hours ago. Doesn't seem like that big a difference, but it does feel better today.

Just for comparison, in Phoenix, it's currently 104 and 22% rel. humidity, the dewpoint is 58 degrees.

If the Phoenix dew point stays the same, and it cools off overnight to 88, then the relative humidity would be 28%. So that is approximately the difference in humidity between yesterday and today here in DC, that much difference again to get us to Phoenix dry air.

[billbowers]

I usually ride first thing in the morning, around 630, that way by 9-930 your body is slowly acclimated(sP) to heat. Also it helps to drink a ton of water day before and during the ride. I usually keep a bottle of gatorade in the car and on the bike i use for after the ride. I dont mind the low 90's too much, but prefer low to mid 80's. that is what works for me. As far as gettin out in the middle of the day with the way it is now, i dont think so. Just my $.02

Bill

[cbuki]

I have a house on the Mexican border 2 hours south of Phoenix and I regularly put in 3-4 hour rides at 105-108 degrees. With careful knowledge of where exactly you are, sufficient water/hydration, and good fitnesss, there is no reason whatsoever to have an arbitrary temperature cut-off like 101. Here in the DC area, the temperature range will obviously be different than Arizona given the humidity. But again I see no reason to limit yourself from a good long ride on the hottest of days. The best defense is continual hydration all summer long so you're not catching up while riding.

[J McDonie]

The humidity in the DC Metropolitan area is a bit untolerable at times. Often I question why I even moved here. I think the question should be re-phrased as to 'When is it too humid to ride?' It's the humidity that smothers me. I might as well get on the stationary bike in the steam room at the gym.

[DMarchy1]

I have lived my entire life in the Washington DC area, and have held so many year round outdoor jobs, that the heat and humidity generally don't bother me much. If you can work in the heat you can ride in the heat. I can see how if you work in a cool computer data center all day then go home to the AC in your home all evening, heading out for a mtb ride at 4 or 5 in the afternoon might be quite a system shock. Just one of the reasons I believe everyone should try to get an hour a day of outdoor exercise, preferably in the noon time temps. This will help your system get used to the cold and heat. Dave M.

[Squirrel Girl]

I lived in NM and AZ for a number of years (and wish I still did). However, while I don't exactly like hot and humid, there's one BIG advantage to the east in terms of summer weather tolerance. We have trees. I had a field job in NM, and I tell you what. Wandering around in the blazing sun with no reprieve in July can really be sweltering!

Sunday I was on the W&OD in the middle of the day. There was quite a noticeable difference when I left the shade of Loudoun Co. and ranged into the sun toward Fairfax Co.

I'm just thrilled that it's not winter. Bring on the heat!!!!! :)

[halfinch]

I have yet to experience "too hot to ride." Not sure, but I'd say the high 90's is about the maximum heat that I've ridden in. Never ridden out west in direct sunlight. That's a whole 'nuther ball game.

i've experienced too hot to work :rolleyes: , but you can always find some single track that can give relief from the sun..

[langer]

imho, riding in dry, ungodly hot air found out west is completely different from what we're experiencing here right now. at least your sweat evaporates in the dry clime and gives you a cooling mechanism. the air here has been to damn saturated the past couple of days to do squat to cool me off. there's no way you'd catch me mountain biking with this heat, possibly road biking where i have a consistent breeze...anyways, datz how i feel...this discussion reminds me of the movie aliens when hudson astutely comments, "yeah man, but it's the dry heat."

as i finish this, the storms have rolled through and it feels 100% better outside!