Commuting in the heat

[buggi]

With me it's the back of the neck......

and don't forget your ears! and your head if you have no hair, don't forget or you will get suntan-helmet head

 

[skrx]

I guess cycling half-naked is the ideal case if you are brave enough and get lots of sun protection from cream. Nice with all those bugs stuck to your pecs though!

It's very refreshing :-). But I've only done it at the weekends.

I'm still cycling in to work in jeans and a t-shirt. My route is mostly flat or downhill in the morning, so it's OK.

 

[gaz]

cammelbak does it for me, 3L. drink most of it on the way in. and same back...
don't use much sun tan lotion, due to me having olive skin and i tan easily. only use it to protect from skin cancer.

 

[J4CKO]

I dont bother with a drink bottle for my seven miles, not worth it, generally have a quick drink before I leave and one when I get home.

On the beer subject, going to have to cut down, I end up in the summer caning my way through three or four cans then stopping but doinf it three or four nights in a row like this weekend, have been renovaing my wifes old Fiat and its thirsty work and there is a fridge full of ale in the garage.

 

[bonj2]

I'm sceptical about slapping lots of suncream all over yourself. There's no evidence for it but it's quite possible for it to turn up in some research in many years that it's repeated overuse of suncream that may be responsible for skin cancer more than heat.
I personally prefer natural methods - if part of you is going to get sunburnt, then cover up - rather than slapping boatloads of synthetic chemicals all over yourself.

Peak on the cycling helmet keeps the sun off the face. And you can get flaps for the back of the neck.

When i'm on holiday it's normally only the tops of the feet, and chest that get sunburnt. Limbs, face, neck, even shoulders, are usually fine.

I'm not an alcy btw.

 

[bonj2]

and don't forget your ears! and your head if you have no hair, don't forget or you will get suntan-helmet head

You don't put suncream on your ears!

people forget that your skin builds up a resistant to sunburn (and a tan, as well) not just when it is blazing hot sunny weather.

 

[hackbike 666]

I dont bother with a drink bottle for my seven miles, not worth it, generally have a quick drink before I leave and one when I get home.

On the beer subject, going to have to cut down, I end up in the summer caning my way through three or four cans then stopping but doinf it three or four nights in a row like this weekend, have been renovaing my wifes old Fiat and its thirsty work and there is a fridge full of ale in the garage.

Im thinking perhaps I need a drinks bottle now as I seemed to get dehydrated easily.Beer is a no no and I don't miss it.Still I had a good run.

Then again it isn't really that hot is it?

 

[dellzeqq]

It's getting really hot. And next week, it's getting hotter, rising to thirty (in London, anyway). Setting off in the morning is fine, but riding home at six I can really feel the heat.

Water, obviously. But what other precautions do you take when cycling in hot weather?

er, move to the bottom of the hill?

 

[jimboalee]

It was a hot afternoon,
Last day of June,
And the sun was a demon,
The clouds were afraid,
One-ten in the shade,
And the pavement was steaming.


V apt, hey?

I didn't do much cycling when I was in S Carolina ( seen as sissy ), but I did hire a bike on a weekend trip to Charleston. It was mid thirties C.

The hottest I've ridden in UK was in Y2K when it was 34 C. I had a bolted on bottle cage, and just for that occassion, I bought a plastic band-on bottle cage.
Two years ago it got to 32 C during the Solihull Rando. One bottle that day.

200 k rides in 30 C temperatures, its best to research the route for shops and filling stations.

 

[Maizie]

You don't put suncream on your ears!

I do.
But I am a pale-skinned ginger.
Who once got very sunburnt ears - they actually blistered
Since which time I have always remembered to put suncream on my ears, when my hair isn't protecting them.

 

[User482]

I'm using lightweight wicking clothing and changing into smarter clothes at work. I wait about 10 minutes so I've cooled down before changing.

 

[jimboalee]

I'm using lightweight wicking clothing and changing into smarter clothes at work. I wait about 10 minutes so I've cooled down before changing.

THE secret of cooling down after arriving at work.

If there is not a shower to use :-

Grab a load of paper tissues. Soak them with COLD water. Go in a loo cubicle, strip off and squeeze the water down your whole body. Then sit down and allow it to evaporate. The latent heat of evaporation will pull heat out of your body, legs and feet.
You could soak a towel and wring it over your head !

If there is a shower:-

Don't dry your legs. Let the latent heat of evaporation dry your legs.
Sit on the bench and swing your legs until the water has evaporated.

 

[fossyant]

Jim - you are crackers....

I've been getting changed in front of the big desk fan I use for drying my kit (I have my own office)....

On arriving home, grab a shower, back out, then start pouring in sweat ...argh !

 

[stephenb]

it isn't hot, a bit sticky & uncomfortable granted but not hot. keep up the fluids (not booze) and use a decent sunscreen (ears & all), skin cancer is no joke

 

[Twanger]

er, move to the bottom of the hill?

Thank you.

So no precautions.

I am not cycling this week. I am a fairweather cyclist, obviously. Snowdrifts I have no problems with. Rain, I laugh at.

But this heat is killing me.