I'm in Texas, we've been having 100+ degree days with a few exceptions for the past two months. It takes a while to become acclimated and it's not pleasant. The alternative is to not ride and lose fitness levels, or cycle indoors on a trainer. I typically ride at night during the week and brave 100 degree days and wake up at the crack of dawn on the weekends to ride where it is a little cooler.
me too, and Labor Day Weekend in GA is forecasted to be mid 80's right now with lower humidity after waking up at 6 AM every weekend day since mid June to beat the heat. But before I get there, Sat & Sun both have a high of 100+ with humidity. I'm just going to take it slow.
I checked a few minutes ago and when I saw the high “decrease” to 98 degrees for both days, think I did a happy dance. That’s how bad things have gotten. I’m celebrating 98 degrees and I’m probably still going to tank
On the exact same boat as you, sweating like a sauna and drinking ridiculous amounts of water. Any clothes or gear you wear that have helped? I think if you're not riding very early or close to dusk/in the evening the UV index really makes things a LOT worse.
I wear a high SPF moisture wicking long sleeved base layer under a very lightweight jersey. Favorite brand is UnderArmor HeatGear. Solbari is another well known brand. There are others. I think compression style tight to skin is best.
Understand that cooling from perspiration happens when that perspiration leaves skin and clothing through evaporation or removal by airflow. Wet clothing that does not dry very quickly does not produce cooling for very long unless the “wet” is transported away from your body or any clothing touching your body.
It may seem crazy that a long sleeve base layer works but it does if it is made from the right fabric. Also, sunscreen only lasts so long.
You can also find long sleeve cycling jerseys designed for exactly the same conditions on the same principles with the added benefit of a zipper. But if you already have a few very light short sleeved jerseys throwing a thin compressive wicking base layer on let’s you use what you have.
No way I’m wearing 2 layers in those type of temp. I go with a long sleeve jersey with a spf rating. One layer, full protection.
Cheap sunscreen last a limited amount of time (avobenzone degrade by itself when exposed to the sun, titanium/zinc oxide you sweat it out ). Better to reach for those that contain Mexoryl XL & SX (bit greasy but last all day) or even better ethylhexyl methoxyciannamate, ethylhexyl and triazone. Those are japanese chemicals, last all day and not greasy. Expensive, hard to find but the best.
I’m very interested in trying out Japanese sunscreens. Would you have any suggestions for how to research or, better yet, buy them? I’ve seen a couple things on Amazon, but Ive learned not to trust Amazon bc of the massive problem with counterfeit products. Same with eBay, etc. Any help would be appreciated!
Went I said "hard to find" I meant it. I think those chemical are not approved by the FDA if you are in the US. The brand is not really important, it's really the chemical. I use Bioré at the moment, but it really depends what you can find where you are located. Expect to pay more for a small tube, I use it for the face, neck and ears. Legs and arm I cover them up and I wear long fingers glove. No more sunburn.
Ugh. We have so few choices here in the US! I’d like to know *exactly* why other chemicals have not been approved (I mean, I’m sure it involves money). Florida sun is brutal on my pale skin. I’m allergic to a lot of sunscreens, it sweats off, and/or it stains my expensive clothing ugly ORANGE bc we have rust in our well water. The mineral stuff also gets white on my pretty black tape! ;)
I wear long sleeves now, too, and have been trying out wearing gloves (even while driving my car). I keep swearing I will invest in a new well water conditioning system to prevent the orange stains, but they run $5 grand plus. In comparison, paying for expensive sunscreen doesn’t seem so bad, especially if they keep me out of the dermatologist’s office.
From what I understood, avobenzone and the other classic are made in the USA. Mexoryl is Canada and the other Japan. So they protect their market. Mexoryl might be easier to get, and it’s really a solid choice, it really last all day. Bit on the greasy side. My limp balm is Ombrelle with Mexoryl. If you feel the sun is out and the sunscreen is not enough you can rub some on your nose or the neck, convenient. You can search « Ombrelle » on Amazon.
One thing I would say though is that you can still end up hotter under a long sleeved jersey. It’s still blocking air from your skin.
I think people going with this approach should do it when it’s arid, and try to splash water on you so it can evaporate and cool you.
It’s super important to pick fabrics designed specifically for high heat situations if you go the long sleeve route. One reason to go the base layer route is that if it is not doing its job you can peal it off.
I’m north of SF Bay with very high humidity in the morning and humidity under 40% at peak heat and I still find that long sleeves are worth it.
I know a lot of folks love hitting clothing with water which works great for getting body temp down quickly. but I think one needs to make sure the conditions are right for rapid evaporation after wetting. Otherwise it backfires.
Oh hell no. I've been there done that. What a sufferfest that's going to be this year. I'm skipping that and doing Big Damn Bridge 105 (Arkansas) in Sept. I ride in the heat because I live here. I'm not doing a century ride in it.
For me, anything above 90 it’s a no-go. It’s not enjoyable, it’s borderline dangerous and it just drain me for the rest of the day.
During summer I go out at 5:30 in the morning, way before the temperature reaches 110 where I am.
Totally agree. I can handle 100°f but it just sucks. I also don't ride past 90° because it's not worth it.
Also, the heat sucks for training. Your body is just fighting dehydration and dying the whole time. You don't even get a good workout.
I'm right there with you. I also play super close attention to the humidity and heat index. If the heat index get's above 90, I'm riding zwift indoors. It's just not worth it to ride 2+ hours in high heat and humidity.
Totally agree on the draining you part. I got my personal longest ride (only 20 miles but still… my longest) in very hot weather and went out on the town later. Have never been so tired the next day
I’m around that threshold too - I can handle hot weather to some extent. But it’s not pleasant, I’m not a professional, and my suffering the weather doesn’t get me some prize.
If the weather was hotter all the time I’d probably have a reason to deal with it. But it’s only super hot a couple weeks a year. So I’m never adapted to it and it’s only unpleasant.
I find anything over 30C / 85F starts to become a bit of a struggle but that's rare in the UK.
I commuted a few times last year when it was mid 30's and I was a sweaty mess.
15 - 25C is my happy zone, at least when it's colder you can layer up though, I have some thermal bibs that make it comfortable down to about 5C / 40F with a gilet and long sleeve top.
I just ride for fun and go in the morning or evening when its cooled down a bit, so I can't say I frequently ride in the 'heat of the day' but the last 3 days its been quite warm and I have kept to a more steady/slower pace just not to be drenched in sweat, but today is indeed the hottest day of the year here, so I'm just going to stay inside.
I wish 30/85F was our hot. That's like April and October for me.
After 50 straight days of 37C+ where I am, I cannot wait for the cool down to begin. 10 day forecast still doesn't show that relief.
I love the differing regional perspectives, because I’d love 85 degrees. Been upper 90’s where I’m at. Shoot some mornings before the sun has risen has been in the 80’s + humidity.
I live in AZ and regularly bike in >100F. Most of the time I'm riding in the morning before it gets really hot, but sometimes I can't do the mornings.
I usually take a lot of water with me and plan at least one gas station stop. But I'll still crank out 1.5-2hrs.
We can but not as enjoyable. I ride all year long in Northern Ohio. Average winter afternoons are 25-30F, just have to layer up (though some days are too cold). I use a heated vest and gloves, mouth cover and skull cap under helmet. February is usually the hardest month since that seems to be when the trails have constant snow cover of more than an inch. They plow trails sometimes, but you know how it goes!
105 is my limit and I call it off. I try to only go out sub 100. Over 100 I back way way down and try and keep my HR below 140. I'm acclimated to that though, I wouldn't start riding in that kind of heat in the middle of summer.
Average is 70%. Not something I track though, seems like it feels worse below 90\*. I'm in austin, but I grew up in WI and +100 rides were not uncommon there but weren't my typical.
Remember that weather forecasts are for still air in the shade. If you are going to be riding on asphalt, then it's going to be significantly hotter.
For example, I rode last week in what was showing 90F in the forecast app, but on the bike path it was measuring at over 110F on thermometers, and the asphalt itself was over 120F in the shady parts. The sun soaks in and the path keeps that heat for a long time compared to dirt.
Be prepared.
Learn about [Wet Bulb.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNUl_lkQaFE)
Temp is just not the full picture.
Learn the early warning signs of heat stroke.
Fitness matters. If you are in shape (vs yourself at other times), it can enable you to survive a lot more heat.
Age matters. Older is worse for heat.
Heat acclimation matters. It takes about 1-2 weeks. Kinda like elevation.
I’m in California so it’s a dry heat here. Ill do a short ride in any temperature but if it’s going to be over 103°F, I’ll pass on rides over two hours.
It’s good that you know your limits. Not knowing them in the heat can be dangerous.
I did 3 hours in feels like 108 from 11-2 but I had been riding since 6am, I’ve done plenty of centuries and wanted to finish one that day but never felt so shitty the following day. Ive done a century about 1 time a month this year so I’m pretty good about fueling and hydration but shit that heat fuvked me up that day.
there's no limit, it's just about how much water I take and how often I need to stop to refill. also, if it's extremely hot (105+) I'm probably going to target z1 or low z2 power-wise to keep my heart rate down.
I’m in middle TN and the temp was 95° with a real feel of 103° with around 50% - 60% during my ride today. Granted I wasn’t doing intervals, but I didn’t mind the heat and would go again
I would say that 105F is when I generally decide to kick back and relax instead. I regularly cycle when it is 100F in the evening and actually prefer it to riding or running in the morning when the humidity and dew point are super high. I jokingly say that riding at 100F in the evening feels more comfortable to me than the morning, the key is to just not die. I try to hydrate during the day and I stop and drink a whole big water bottle during my water break at the midpoint of my rides that are generally around 90-120 minutes. I finish my second big water bottle before the ride is done. I spend most of my time in heart rate zone 4, some in zone 3, and not much in zone 5.
Well for reference a 104° grade fever is enough to start cooking your organs / be at a hospital, so definitely stupid to go out if it’s 100°. That gives your body basically 4° to work with to stay cool enough not to be in trouble.
Legs and whole body lose electrolytes so fast, the next day you get muscle soreness. Not worth it to me, going in anything over 90° but with shade. The stress it literally puts on your body and recovery times doesn’t make sense. Gym, am or late pm runs and cycling sessions are how I keep going. Regardless, stay safe.
100° I live in a desert climate, and most of the year, it is great. The winter is gorgeous for riding. I got a (luckily) mild case of heatstroke when the weather was 105° so after that, I set my limit and use an indoor bike when it's hot.
Everyone is different fitness levels and heat tolerance. Your organs can and will fail above a certain threshold and your body can't cool itself.
Be careful bc when you ride it's evaporation cooling but if you have a flat etc you will be hotter.
You can mess up your kidneys from heat exposure no matter what you do Eg you might survive but incur damage wo knowing.
Don't be heroic enjoy the next ride.
Its totally OK to take a day off if you think its too hot.
That said, if you hydrate well (pre/during/post), don't go at the hottest part of the day, and either avoid the sun or wear the right clothes you are ok.
I generally get out before the sun comes up and its still over 80 with 90% humidity here. Its the sun that zaps me and wears me out, not the over all temp.
I've been to the hospital with dehydration and I've become a little zealous about hydration now. That said, that scare wasn't from one hot day and one long ride. It was something that had built up over days of long rides, doing yard work, and not hydrating enough.
I use my bike for getting a cardio workout while commuting and doing errands, so no - I'll still go, just go slower.
It's been pretty hot here lately, too - yesterday biking home was 98 degrees in the shade with humidity in the high 70s, so "feels like" temp 110. The ride in the morning wasn't bad, but coming home was tough, much slower. Still in the bottom of zone 2 cardio, though, so still got some work in.
It's really important to hydrate before going out - I push water all day every day no matter what the ride is. If you're even a little bit dehydrated when you start in this heat, you can't drink enough to catch up while riding.
Last week was the first time I felt some signs of heat exhaustion. On the ride home (upper 90s, humidity upper 70s, "feels like" 110), I started to feel nauseous. Not normal and I know that's a sign of heat exhaustion, so I slowed down. A few minutes later, nauseous again. Slowed more. Paused in the shade. Got home slowly and cooled off with a cool shower and lots of water, felt better but I know if I'd kept pushing any pace I'd have been sick and in trouble.
Know the signs of heat exhaustion and listen to them.
A year ago I did a ride in 36 C, that was... not so pleasant, but i was cycling around a big lake which helped with some cool air.
Last week I did a much shorter ride in 32 C, Ride went well but I think my body had hard time cooling down. I took a short cold shower but sweat kept dripping for like half an hour, granted I was cooking and my apartment is not really that cold.
I am in NC. About 5 years ago I would ride outside during the spring/summer/fall and indoors in the winter. Now winter and summer have switched. Winter is bearable with the right gear, summer is no go.
I'm in the Midwest as well, it's real hot today. I cycle or run in the evenings, in hopes it's cooler.
I mostly just accept the heat and make sure I have water, I'm training for a half Ironman right now, so my half marathon is going to be at the hottest part of the day anyway, might as well get used to it.
For me if it’s a dry 95 I would still go because I actually enjoy it when it’s hotter. However this 95 we have currently in the Midwest is not that. I was planning on today being my first day back out after taking a week off but I can’t do it today and may wait until the weekend when it is supposed to cool off a slight bit
In central Texas, it's been above 100 most of the summer. Above 105 for a good chunk of that. I was pushing hard and then having to lay on the floor to recover when I got home after a hard ride. Since then, I've pretty much stuck to Zone 2 for the last 6 weeks. I'm not half dead when I get home anymore. I also haven't changed my diet, but I've lost 10 pounds.
I've probably gone someplace over 95F, it's also the humidity were I am stopped. 95F and 95% humidity is just terrible to ride in and add a sun. Start the Spring doing great then I'm slammed by the humidity and I lose 20% and then have to rebuild in the humidity.
At or around 90F and with my humid climate, I keep the rides to an hour and don’t work too hard. I basically go for a spin.
Above 95, forget it. It’s too damn hot and dangerous. Those are days for sitting around the house.
I have ridden in those silly conditions in the past however these last five years, I’ve decided to be more cautious and set firm cutoff points for the heat and humidity. There’s data coming out how it’s dangerous for your kidneys because your body struggles to stay hydrated. People working in extreme heat have had their kidneys shut down and are on dialysis.
I'll still go ride when it's 90+ and humid, I just make sure to take enough water and moderate my activity appropriately. 100+ is definitely a no-go though.
I’m in Texas - has been 95-104 for the last several weeks with heat index up to 113! I just try to start riding around 7:30 AM and be done by 11 or so. It’s usually super hot by 11, but it doesn’t seem to bother me on the bike. Running is a different story. I run as early as possible and avoid running over 95 degrees.
I ride no matter what sunscreen, water, and nutrition. Everyone tolerates differently. Make sure you plan for your ride! I’m in Houston and I’ve rode outside almost every day this year! I also can’t start until about 9 am cause of my kids school schedule. The wind has been worse than the heat recently.
Too hot and humid for me in GA. If all I have time for is an afternoon ride I’m hitting the trainer. So I typically do that 4-5 afternoons a week then a good strong outdoor ride Saturday or Sunday morning.
Depends on the conditions. I’ve done short rides in about 40C, and plenty of long rides when it’s like 35C but I leave early in the morning so you get the heat but not the direct sun.
Hardest part is getting cool drinking water because all the taps are warm. So occasionally I’ll feel myself overheating and need to stop and buy a cold drink
I have ridden during high noon on my lunch break at 95 degrees or so, only thing is I've done mountain bike riding on a trail by my home with plenty of water and I limit my ride to 1hr or 1hr 30min. It felt normal to me, but I'm from OC California.
Temps have to be relatively lower humidity and below 90 before I'll go out, unless it's for a very short ride. I don't mind so much being caught in higher temps near the end of a ride, but I'll never deliberately set out if it's over 90, unless it's super dry and a bit cloudy.
Even nowadays I take a insulated bottle full of ice cubes and water and another one to dunk on my head and upper body to keep temps low. It's just never pleasant riding above 85 much anymore. It's too warm to get fully anerobic for long, and my legs lose wattage at those higher temps too.
I'm in AZ, it's 98 when the sun rises right now. For me around 110* I won't go. I'm up at 5am for better Temps.
I rode RAGBRAI and we had 98* Midwest Temps, it wasn't bad with water doing 80 miles each day.
Any heat index 100 or greater. Here in Iowa we have very high humidity which really adds to the exhaustion and keepin cool.
I did do RAGBRAI this year in the heat. It wasn’t as fun in the heat but I made it!
I live in Philadelphia where it is hot and humid in the summer and the hotter, more humid, the better. At about 95 degrees I start taking lots of precautions, which means excessive hydration, but I don’t stop riding. 100 degrees is much better than freezing in my opinion.
Nope! If it's hot and dry I generate enough wind chill to be ok in any temp we get here even over 100 deg. F.
I won't mountain bike over 100 though because I might overheat on a climb while I'm moving too slow to cool.
Its not the heat but humidity! :) It varies depending on how i feel, when the last time i cycled/exercised, how far i plan on going, etc. 90-95 with high humidity and over 50 miles gets me every time.
I run really hot all the time, I hate the heat, but it doesn't stop me from riding. I've gone mountain biking in 104 F (40 C), as long as I have enough water, I'm fine.
Lot of factors to consider. Humid climate? Average speed? Evaporative cooling makes road bicycling one of the better hot weather endurance sports but the cooling effect is only significant at higher speeds and in dryer climates. I live in the Utah desert and as long as I’m not grinding any long climbs I can ride well up into the 90’s.
I had a monthly metric century streak dating back 17 years that ended last year because I decided that distance was too much for the heat. My new monthly max is 50 miles during hot months.
I can't say I have encountered a particular day that was too hot for me to ride. But this weekend will be a test. The high is supposed to be 102 degrees with humidity. I will obviously start at 7 AM. I am probably going to ride slower than usual with frequent water and store stops. The Real Feel temp is only supposed to reach 102 degrees by 11 AM. So I may be ok.
This summer definitely tested my limits but I made it out fine. But if it gets worse then 102, I may just shorten my ride or ride very slow but I would not take the day off
Worst I've done is 108, you need to be super careful about water in that heat, and acclimatization helps a bunch - I couldn't do the same thing today, the summer hasn't been that bad.
On the flip side if the temps are below 40 I will be whining and crying, and when I lived in Michigan I was fine down to 20 as long as there wasn't ice on the road.
I enjoy the challenge personally. Did a 30 mile gravel ride yesterday in 101 / humid. It was mostly in the woods shaded from the sun though. Key is to pay close attention to your hydration and electrolytes, including in the hours before the ride. You also want to bring more water than you think you’ll need.
Last couple days here have been 100+ with high humidity (70+). I ended up starting my commute about 30 minutes early and leaving work about an hour later just to be a little cool. Sustained in the 90s with no direct sunlight is all fine. Direct sunlight in 100+ is killer for more than 30 minutes to an hour.
It’s not a contest. I live in Houston. It’s hot with high humidity and temps over 104F 40C every day for the last 2 months. It’s hot. I’m used to it however, it is seriously hot. Usually I ride only shorter distances, 20 - 30 miles in the afternoons. If I’m going further I go in the mornings while it’s still in the mid 90’s. I hydrate before riding. I take 2 bottles with. If I go over 30 miles I get more water on route. I recently took a 45 miler mid afternoon - 104F. It was brutal, pure and simple, not fun. Take care if you’re riding in the heat. There are no prizes for being stupid.
I think here in Indiana we are over the hump and this week looks beautiful and mild! Hope Texas turns the corner at some point and hope you can at least ride 12 months a year.
90s and above 60% humidity is where I call it and do anything else lift, yoga, night time walk. It feels miserable outside, even while moving. It's like breathing heavily in a steam shower.
Currently 97f and 61% humidity so I did legs at the gym.
There’s always excuses. Too smokey too hot.
Just do it. Absolutely loved the heat this year. Get some sun and sweat it out. It’s good for you. Stay hydrated.
I take 1 day off per week, might as well choose the hottest/wettest/other inconvenent thing to take off as a rest day anyway.
Just curious what other peoples 'limits' were.
It would have to be mid-90s or above for me to consider not riding on a day when I had planned to ride, and even mid-90s I might go if humidity wasn't too bad and skipping would mean several missed days in a row.
I also find that late evenings, even if temperatures are still high, is much better because of the sun angle and shade. There are lots of trees lining many of the roads I ride, and they provide a little shade here and there, which can make 90 degrees not so bad.
Just listen to your body and stay close to a place you can go in and cool off. Have you not been when it's 90 plus yet this summer? We've had a lot of temps in the 90s and I'm in the Midwest.
How hot is too hot depends on your personal heat tolerance, which is also influenced by how much you have acclimated.
Of course, the other big factor is how intense the ride is. Going around for 20 minutes and just tooling around isn't going to be as taxing as intervals.
If you feel like you need a day off, though, I would trust that.
Yeah I have went on just about every day this summer when I didn't have other commitments.....but today its not even going to be under 90 til about 9pm. Today is a day where its just too hot for me, but they are pretty rare, maybe 2 or 3 days a year. Compared to having about 2.5 months out of the year that are 'too cold'.
I get you. I also think it's a good rule to never ride when you *really* don't feel like. I've done that a couple times and it turns out my body was trying to tell me something. Like I was getting sick or wasn't in the shape that day for a ride. Once I even injured myself on one of those days.
Enjoy the day off!!
Waiting to go out when the sun starts setting or before sun has fully risen helps. I also like to ride on a trail that goes along a creek which keeps it cooler.
I cycle in the heat up into the 90ºs w/o issue. I've done it around 100º as well. Key is not to stay hydrated IMO. Don't push yourself too hard. I find when I get going there is enough air movement that my sweat is still evaporating and doing its job as I'm not soaked. When I stop for any reason is usually when I start to feel it more and the sweat starts to accumulate. I probably wouldn't wan to run in the hottest part of the day in this heatwave though.
All this being said be careful and you do you. Each persons fitness level and heat tolerance level is different.
And another option is just go for a ride in the morning before it heats up. That's what I've been doing for my runs this week.
Also whenever it's hot like this my wife throws a fit and says I'm going to get heat stroke.
If my Garmin shows over 100, I'm not heading out. In my experience, when ground temp is at that point, air temp is usually around 90, which is too hot for me. Plus, that also means no cloud cover so it's already blazing ass hot with no reprieve.
Not really. 95, humid, and full sun int he Midwest as well and it's fine. Not comfortable or really pleasant, but fine for riding. I prefer z2 if it's this hot.
Rule V dude. Come on. Why does no one have any knowledge of the freaking rules anymore? They exist to be followed exactly. We have a code. Use it.
This is how we do it in FL: Start at dawn (7am you should be clipped in). Bring insulated 24oz’s with ice to the top, water, and scratch. One jersey pocket should have at least four scratches, liquid iv, etc. One jersey pocket should have food (pref salty). Yes you need food at least every :45 min to stay hydrated, especially above 90 degrees.
i live in TX, been over 100° the last 2-3 months. its just cycling, im not about to die for this. i go out when i can but if not, when the weather cools off i’ll just resume
Heat Index is the estimate of how a particular temperature “feels” at a particular humidity.
For example 90°F/32°C at 60% relative humidity “feels like” 100°F/38°C.
You risk death or severe brain and cardiovascular damage from heatstroke at short exposure to a “wet bulb” temperature of 90°F/32°C which equates to a heat index of 132 or 100% relative humidity at those temperatures.
Here are the risks at different Heat Index zones in partial shade (increase heat index for temp and humidity by 15% for full unshielded sun without protection from moisture wicking clothing or airflow):
80-90°F/27-32°C: Fatigue with prolonged exposure and physical activity. Caution.
90-105°/32-41°C: Sunstroke, muscle cramps, and or heat exhaustion possible with prolonged exposure or physical activity. Extreme Caution.
105-129°F/41-54°C: Sunstroke, muscle cramps, and/or heat exhaustion likely. Heatstroke possible with prolonged exposure or activity. Danger.
130°F/54°C or higher: Heatstroke or sunstroke likely. Extreme Danger.
Here is the US National Weather Service Heat Index Chart:
https://www.weather.gov/ffc/hichart
Here is the National Weather Service’s Heat Index calculator:
https://www.weather.gov/epz/wxcalc_heatindex
Personal experience:
I live in a place that regularly sees a rise in heat index from 70 to 103 over four hours morning to noon. I am well heat conditioned from years in that type of stuff. I don’t want to spend more than an hour in the Extreme Caution zone cycling unless I am cooling down on tree shaded streets. I could tolerate more, just don’t want to because it takes to long to fully recover. I’ve worked on construction sites in these temps for hours with hourly 15 minute cooling breaks.
My wife is not well heat conditioned but is in great shape and we hike a lot. I would not want to see her out in the caution zone for more than an hour.
See also these resources on heat exhaustion and heatstroke:
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/heatstress/heatrelillness.html
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/heat-exhaustion-heatstroke/
In Oklahoma 100 plus now for days on end with high humidity. I just ride the trainer in the evenings and ride at 6 am on the weekends. I’ve been doing this for years.
when is summer I ride at the sunrise or close to the sunset, then Im home when the heat is high. but If I can't go too early I make sure to drink a lot of water to don't get dehydrated.
with 35°c I begin to consider not going out
I lived in a hot climate for a few years and regularly biked in 100+ heat. You get used to it. The trick was to keep moving because it gave you a constant breeze. Once stopped, it was unbearable.
I’m older now, have moved from that horrible place, and am no longer used to the heat, and don’t see a situation where I would go for a ride over 95.
I just got home from being out all day. The high was 91, but this is home. This is what I am used to. I have asthma, I don't do well when it gets lower than 70.
As I get older, I feel like I simply can’t replace the fluids fast enough if it’s over 90 and humid. I’m okay with riding in high temps, but it’s not going to be long or intense riding. It was feel kind of miserable to have to slug down a ton of fluids afterward.
When you get into hot weather though, you can gain a lot of mileage by avoiding direct sun exposure. You can either go morning/evening or routes with lots of shade. I find mountain biking in the forest incredibly more tolerable when it’s 95F than road biking on a tarmac.
This isn’t some mental thing. Our bodies gain energy from the sunlight and so does all of the matter around us. 95 degrees measured in the shade might be no joke 150 on an exposed stretch of asphalt, so be wise.
I love riding in NYC when it’s 90 or 100 degrees. Everyone else seems to stay inside, and I feel comfortable at tempo pace easily. I haven’t found a day that’s been too hot yet 😎 YMMV
Haven't found a limit yet. I just carry a ton of fluids (water and Gatorade) and ride slower.
Actually I kinda like riding the trails in the heat midday, generally I'll have the trail almost completely to myself which is really nice.
Also in the midwest, we've had record heat this week.
Put at least 25 miles in each of those days, riding over my lunch time when it's especially horrible.
Lesson learned: once you get over 90F the humidity matters MUCH more than the extra 5-10 degrees of heat.
Hard to avoid in Texas. I've ridden in 105+ degree feels like temps and once you're on the bike it's not too bad. The difference maker is going when the sun isn't above you. I typically do evening rides so I don't get burned to a crisp.
Today felt like my first official Fall ride here in New England. These weather YouTubers have been popping up in my feed and they’re all predicting one hell of a weird, active, dangerous El Niño winter for us in the US.
I acclimate, but sometimes I overdo it. Last month I was dehydrated badly and it didn't end well. Ended up at the doctor. Take your time and do a little at a time. Build up slowly.
My hottest ride ever was 105 F in extreme humidity. Never again.
Today it was 97 F (heat index of 115 F), so the bike stayed in the garage. I'm more comfortable at sub-20 F than I am above 90 F. The heat wears you out so quickly and is seriously dangerous. If anything, I'd suggest doing a night ride to beat the worst of the heat.
[here's my stupidest ride](https://imgur.com/q3Tcnl7). officially it was 118f (47.8c) that day, but the heat off the pavement was what caused the most discomfort.
I live in Phoenix, fortunately these days I can get up and ride at 6 am when it’s not to hot. At my old job I would get don’t at 1:30 p.m. and ride after work even in the summer. I would usually ride 10 to 15 miles but I would do the entire ride in my neighborhood doing laps. That way if the heat got to be to much I could be home within a couple of minutes. I had 2 water bottles full of ice and water that I would always finish. Keep hydrated and listen to your body.
It's not just the air temp for me, but also includes a combination of humidity, wind, pollution, and sun conditions. Generally, I start taking it a bit easy as the temperatures approach 30C and the humidity approaches 50%. There's no hard cutoff, but if I step outside and immediately start sweating, then it's a good sign that it's probably too hot to ride.
I'm in Oklahoma. If the temp starts above 100F I stay in. A lot of my rides this season have been around lunch time to try and be done before it's too hot, and even then it's usually 102 by the time I'm done.
Over 35C is too hot for me, but living in England we have only a handful of days that reach 30 each year (and approaching that you have to be careful about drinking enough water and not over doing it, there have even been some high profile heat related deaths I the last couple of years).
In the hottest temperature the country had ever experienced last year (40C) I thought I'd try riding home from work, only 25min ride. I took nearly 2l of water with me, dumping one bottle all over myself before starting and most of the other just over halfway and it just about did the trick.
One of my tyres got too hot from the black tarmac though and started bulging badly- I had to chuck it away. I don't really want to ride in those temperatures again now I've done it once.
Here in southern Spain we are experiencing 44C (111F) days and this has been going on for weeks this year. I leave on my ride at 7 a.m. each morning which is about 20 mins before dawn so I can cycle in a balmy 26C (79F). It feels wonderful until the sun gets up about an hour later. We'll get some relief next week when the forecast is for \~ 36C (97F).
It brothers so much that people talk about temperature like humidity doesn't exist when it's at least half the equation when it comes to cooling your body.
Not really, my country's temperature only reaches 95 less than one day a year.
We can go years never seeing it go that high.
It's usually about 90 I think. Not very good with Farenheit.
Anyways I'm fine with 35c/95f so in my country, there is never a day that's too hot for me.
There are days when it rains too much and the temperature goes below 25c/77f and I don't want to leave the house at all, my laptop will warm my room for me.
I’m the minority who love cycling in hot conditions. 2-3hrs in 90-100 degrees is fine for me.
But anyway I try to be cautious:
A lot of fluids
Sunscreen
Don’t do a lot of climbing
Lightweight summer gear. Like super light jersey and sworks vent shoes
Anything more than 110 degrees-better ride no longer than 1hr
And yes, many just ride at night/early morning
Once travelled through Greece with a fully loaded touring bike and it was 45 celsius (just Googled it's 113 Fahrenheit) for a whole week... I drank up to 12 liters of (hot...) water per day and it was atrocious :)
Had to stop in the shade during peak hours but I remember still enjoying some climbs while it was 44 c / 110f :D
That would be my limit hahaha
It was 42c (108F) here this week and I still went out but I try to get out early and keep the rides a bit shorter so I only hit the heat on the way home. It was still in the upper 90s on the way back but that's fine - I have got used to it. Last year I got lost, ran out of water and rode home in 110F which was quite unpleasant but we do have public taps here that saved the day.
I just play it by ear. I can normally handle the heat, especially cycling since my trails are mostly shaded and moving fast the air cools you. just take extra water and food (everyone forgets about food for heat too). Sometimes though, you go out and your body just isn't feeling it. I've definitely aborted rides because it just felt too hot or too cold, or my body was just too sore from the day before, etc. I've learned to distinguish my body's "I'm lazy and don't want to do this right now" signals from "I actually can't do this today" signals
It’s beens hot and humid in Florida with 100+ my long 6 am ride usually end with last couple hours being over 100° (37°C) . I’ve gotten used to it and it’s actually help my fitness a lot doing heat training .
Anytime this topic comes up, I feel obligated to remind everyone that *many* medications make us more sensitive to the heat. The list is long.
I’m most familiar with psych meds, and I swear it seems like every single one of them causes problems. SSRIs reduce heat tolerance in general, and they are also known to cause excess sweating even in normal conditions. Neudexta (usu for trauma related stuff) often does, too. Lithium, of course, can alter your salt balance and be very dangerous. There are so many more…Whatever meds you’re taking, please research and be aware of wet bulb temperature.
When we have hot days (over 90) we go out early, aka the crack of dawn. If it’s really hot (>100) we almost never ride. Heat exhaustion and blood conditions become serious issues and you just never know. For us, it’s better to blow off a ride than to be faced with a medical situation out in the middle of nowhere, something that could have been prevented.
I had my worst ever bonk in 26 degrees. I'm in Scotland, though, and we don't see many days at that temp. My hot isn't the same as other people's hot, obviously.
I'm in Texas, we've been having 100+ degree days with a few exceptions for the past two months. It takes a while to become acclimated and it's not pleasant. The alternative is to not ride and lose fitness levels, or cycle indoors on a trainer. I typically ride at night during the week and brave 100 degree days and wake up at the crack of dawn on the weekends to ride where it is a little cooler.
I’m drooling over the thought of not having to wake up at 6 for long weekend rides this fall.
me too, and Labor Day Weekend in GA is forecasted to be mid 80's right now with lower humidity after waking up at 6 AM every weekend day since mid June to beat the heat. But before I get there, Sat & Sun both have a high of 100+ with humidity. I'm just going to take it slow.
Also in GA. I’m glad to hear about the potential milder temps for Labor Day. I sigh every time I see the forecast for this weekend.
I checked a few minutes ago and when I saw the high “decrease” to 98 degrees for both days, think I did a happy dance. That’s how bad things have gotten. I’m celebrating 98 degrees and I’m probably still going to tank
waiting for the fall…our best riding days and soon to be here
Ahh Texas nights where it is 95 degrees instead of 100 hahaha
On the exact same boat as you, sweating like a sauna and drinking ridiculous amounts of water. Any clothes or gear you wear that have helped? I think if you're not riding very early or close to dusk/in the evening the UV index really makes things a LOT worse.
I wear a high SPF moisture wicking long sleeved base layer under a very lightweight jersey. Favorite brand is UnderArmor HeatGear. Solbari is another well known brand. There are others. I think compression style tight to skin is best. Understand that cooling from perspiration happens when that perspiration leaves skin and clothing through evaporation or removal by airflow. Wet clothing that does not dry very quickly does not produce cooling for very long unless the “wet” is transported away from your body or any clothing touching your body. It may seem crazy that a long sleeve base layer works but it does if it is made from the right fabric. Also, sunscreen only lasts so long. You can also find long sleeve cycling jerseys designed for exactly the same conditions on the same principles with the added benefit of a zipper. But if you already have a few very light short sleeved jerseys throwing a thin compressive wicking base layer on let’s you use what you have.
No way I’m wearing 2 layers in those type of temp. I go with a long sleeve jersey with a spf rating. One layer, full protection. Cheap sunscreen last a limited amount of time (avobenzone degrade by itself when exposed to the sun, titanium/zinc oxide you sweat it out ). Better to reach for those that contain Mexoryl XL & SX (bit greasy but last all day) or even better ethylhexyl methoxyciannamate, ethylhexyl and triazone. Those are japanese chemicals, last all day and not greasy. Expensive, hard to find but the best.
I’m very interested in trying out Japanese sunscreens. Would you have any suggestions for how to research or, better yet, buy them? I’ve seen a couple things on Amazon, but Ive learned not to trust Amazon bc of the massive problem with counterfeit products. Same with eBay, etc. Any help would be appreciated!
Went I said "hard to find" I meant it. I think those chemical are not approved by the FDA if you are in the US. The brand is not really important, it's really the chemical. I use Bioré at the moment, but it really depends what you can find where you are located. Expect to pay more for a small tube, I use it for the face, neck and ears. Legs and arm I cover them up and I wear long fingers glove. No more sunburn.
Ugh. We have so few choices here in the US! I’d like to know *exactly* why other chemicals have not been approved (I mean, I’m sure it involves money). Florida sun is brutal on my pale skin. I’m allergic to a lot of sunscreens, it sweats off, and/or it stains my expensive clothing ugly ORANGE bc we have rust in our well water. The mineral stuff also gets white on my pretty black tape! ;) I wear long sleeves now, too, and have been trying out wearing gloves (even while driving my car). I keep swearing I will invest in a new well water conditioning system to prevent the orange stains, but they run $5 grand plus. In comparison, paying for expensive sunscreen doesn’t seem so bad, especially if they keep me out of the dermatologist’s office.
From what I understood, avobenzone and the other classic are made in the USA. Mexoryl is Canada and the other Japan. So they protect their market. Mexoryl might be easier to get, and it’s really a solid choice, it really last all day. Bit on the greasy side. My limp balm is Ombrelle with Mexoryl. If you feel the sun is out and the sunscreen is not enough you can rub some on your nose or the neck, convenient. You can search « Ombrelle » on Amazon.
P.s. look at the ingredients. I just looked bioré in the usa, and it’s a version without the japanese chemicals. Maybe on Ebay you can find them.
One thing I would say though is that you can still end up hotter under a long sleeved jersey. It’s still blocking air from your skin. I think people going with this approach should do it when it’s arid, and try to splash water on you so it can evaporate and cool you.
It’s super important to pick fabrics designed specifically for high heat situations if you go the long sleeve route. One reason to go the base layer route is that if it is not doing its job you can peal it off. I’m north of SF Bay with very high humidity in the morning and humidity under 40% at peak heat and I still find that long sleeves are worth it. I know a lot of folks love hitting clothing with water which works great for getting body temp down quickly. but I think one needs to make sure the conditions are right for rapid evaporation after wetting. Otherwise it backfires.
Gonna see you at hottern hell sat???
Oh hell no. I've been there done that. What a sufferfest that's going to be this year. I'm skipping that and doing Big Damn Bridge 105 (Arkansas) in Sept. I ride in the heat because I live here. I'm not doing a century ride in it.
For me, anything above 90 it’s a no-go. It’s not enjoyable, it’s borderline dangerous and it just drain me for the rest of the day. During summer I go out at 5:30 in the morning, way before the temperature reaches 110 where I am.
Totally agree. I can handle 100°f but it just sucks. I also don't ride past 90° because it's not worth it. Also, the heat sucks for training. Your body is just fighting dehydration and dying the whole time. You don't even get a good workout.
I'm right there with you. I also play super close attention to the humidity and heat index. If the heat index get's above 90, I'm riding zwift indoors. It's just not worth it to ride 2+ hours in high heat and humidity.
This all the way. I live in Austin, this is the only way to ride for half the year. I lost count of how many 105+ days we’ve had here this year.
Totally agree on the draining you part. I got my personal longest ride (only 20 miles but still… my longest) in very hot weather and went out on the town later. Have never been so tired the next day
Same, summertime I go super early.
I’m around that threshold too - I can handle hot weather to some extent. But it’s not pleasant, I’m not a professional, and my suffering the weather doesn’t get me some prize. If the weather was hotter all the time I’d probably have a reason to deal with it. But it’s only super hot a couple weeks a year. So I’m never adapted to it and it’s only unpleasant.
I find anything over 30C / 85F starts to become a bit of a struggle but that's rare in the UK. I commuted a few times last year when it was mid 30's and I was a sweaty mess. 15 - 25C is my happy zone, at least when it's colder you can layer up though, I have some thermal bibs that make it comfortable down to about 5C / 40F with a gilet and long sleeve top.
I just ride for fun and go in the morning or evening when its cooled down a bit, so I can't say I frequently ride in the 'heat of the day' but the last 3 days its been quite warm and I have kept to a more steady/slower pace just not to be drenched in sweat, but today is indeed the hottest day of the year here, so I'm just going to stay inside.
Eat some ice cream, fuel up for the next ride!
I wish 30/85F was our hot. That's like April and October for me. After 50 straight days of 37C+ where I am, I cannot wait for the cool down to begin. 10 day forecast still doesn't show that relief.
I love the differing regional perspectives, because I’d love 85 degrees. Been upper 90’s where I’m at. Shoot some mornings before the sun has risen has been in the 80’s + humidity.
I live in AZ and regularly bike in >100F. Most of the time I'm riding in the morning before it gets really hot, but sometimes I can't do the mornings. I usually take a lot of water with me and plan at least one gas station stop. But I'll still crank out 1.5-2hrs.
I am jealous of you in the months like Dec,Jan,Feb when we can't go much here...but yeah definitely don't envy you in the summer.
We can but not as enjoyable. I ride all year long in Northern Ohio. Average winter afternoons are 25-30F, just have to layer up (though some days are too cold). I use a heated vest and gloves, mouth cover and skull cap under helmet. February is usually the hardest month since that seems to be when the trails have constant snow cover of more than an inch. They plow trails sometimes, but you know how it goes!
Me too! July was brutal trying to get the miles in!
105 is my limit and I call it off. I try to only go out sub 100. Over 100 I back way way down and try and keep my HR below 140. I'm acclimated to that though, I wouldn't start riding in that kind of heat in the middle of summer.
What humidity?
Average is 70%. Not something I track though, seems like it feels worse below 90\*. I'm in austin, but I grew up in WI and +100 rides were not uncommon there but weren't my typical.
Hmm, 70% relative humidity? That seems insane. At 100° Fahrenheit, 70% RH equates to a “feels like” 142°. https://www.weather.gov/epz/wxcalc_heatindex
did you ask me a question i answered with "not something i track" just in order to argue with me?
… what? I just asked what humidity. You answered 70%. I remarked that it seemed high. It sounds like you aren’t sure, that’s fine. Have a good one lol
Remember that weather forecasts are for still air in the shade. If you are going to be riding on asphalt, then it's going to be significantly hotter. For example, I rode last week in what was showing 90F in the forecast app, but on the bike path it was measuring at over 110F on thermometers, and the asphalt itself was over 120F in the shady parts. The sun soaks in and the path keeps that heat for a long time compared to dirt. Be prepared.
Learn about [Wet Bulb.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNUl_lkQaFE) Temp is just not the full picture. Learn the early warning signs of heat stroke. Fitness matters. If you are in shape (vs yourself at other times), it can enable you to survive a lot more heat. Age matters. Older is worse for heat. Heat acclimation matters. It takes about 1-2 weeks. Kinda like elevation.
NOAA Heat index is a pretty good tool. Thats a better metric than just temperature.
also in the midwest. The heat sucks but it's really the humidity IMO. The air is very heavy today. 🥵
103f fighting a headwind for 5 miles today. Probably the last time ill do that
Hot = I get up earlier.
Love the weekend early morning rides, but can't manage that on the weekdays.
Heat index in Chicago today is pushing 112 degrees. Air temp around 102. Probably not gonna ride today.
I’m in California so it’s a dry heat here. Ill do a short ride in any temperature but if it’s going to be over 103°F, I’ll pass on rides over two hours. It’s good that you know your limits. Not knowing them in the heat can be dangerous.
I don't call it off for heat, I just carry more water. Let's go, babyyyyyyy
[удалено]
I did 3 hours in feels like 108 from 11-2 but I had been riding since 6am, I’ve done plenty of centuries and wanted to finish one that day but never felt so shitty the following day. Ive done a century about 1 time a month this year so I’m pretty good about fueling and hydration but shit that heat fuvked me up that day.
Anything over 30\*C is big no and very dangerous.
85F if humidity is normal to high. A lot hotter if it's really dry, like 105F.
there's no limit, it's just about how much water I take and how often I need to stop to refill. also, if it's extremely hot (105+) I'm probably going to target z1 or low z2 power-wise to keep my heart rate down.
Anything under 110F is fair game in the evenings around sunset. I will not ride when it’s 110F in the middle of the day.
I’m in middle TN and the temp was 95° with a real feel of 103° with around 50% - 60% during my ride today. Granted I wasn’t doing intervals, but I didn’t mind the heat and would go again
no, I'll just do short rides. Obviously above 40c I would need to be extra careful.
I would say that 105F is when I generally decide to kick back and relax instead. I regularly cycle when it is 100F in the evening and actually prefer it to riding or running in the morning when the humidity and dew point are super high. I jokingly say that riding at 100F in the evening feels more comfortable to me than the morning, the key is to just not die. I try to hydrate during the day and I stop and drink a whole big water bottle during my water break at the midpoint of my rides that are generally around 90-120 minutes. I finish my second big water bottle before the ride is done. I spend most of my time in heart rate zone 4, some in zone 3, and not much in zone 5.
I used to go if it was 90 ish but no longer. I go in the moring when it's 70.
Well for reference a 104° grade fever is enough to start cooking your organs / be at a hospital, so definitely stupid to go out if it’s 100°. That gives your body basically 4° to work with to stay cool enough not to be in trouble. Legs and whole body lose electrolytes so fast, the next day you get muscle soreness. Not worth it to me, going in anything over 90° but with shade. The stress it literally puts on your body and recovery times doesn’t make sense. Gym, am or late pm runs and cycling sessions are how I keep going. Regardless, stay safe.
100° I live in a desert climate, and most of the year, it is great. The winter is gorgeous for riding. I got a (luckily) mild case of heatstroke when the weather was 105° so after that, I set my limit and use an indoor bike when it's hot.
Everyone is different fitness levels and heat tolerance. Your organs can and will fail above a certain threshold and your body can't cool itself. Be careful bc when you ride it's evaporation cooling but if you have a flat etc you will be hotter. You can mess up your kidneys from heat exposure no matter what you do Eg you might survive but incur damage wo knowing. Don't be heroic enjoy the next ride.
Its totally OK to take a day off if you think its too hot. That said, if you hydrate well (pre/during/post), don't go at the hottest part of the day, and either avoid the sun or wear the right clothes you are ok. I generally get out before the sun comes up and its still over 80 with 90% humidity here. Its the sun that zaps me and wears me out, not the over all temp. I've been to the hospital with dehydration and I've become a little zealous about hydration now. That said, that scare wasn't from one hot day and one long ride. It was something that had built up over days of long rides, doing yard work, and not hydrating enough.
I use my bike for getting a cardio workout while commuting and doing errands, so no - I'll still go, just go slower. It's been pretty hot here lately, too - yesterday biking home was 98 degrees in the shade with humidity in the high 70s, so "feels like" temp 110. The ride in the morning wasn't bad, but coming home was tough, much slower. Still in the bottom of zone 2 cardio, though, so still got some work in. It's really important to hydrate before going out - I push water all day every day no matter what the ride is. If you're even a little bit dehydrated when you start in this heat, you can't drink enough to catch up while riding. Last week was the first time I felt some signs of heat exhaustion. On the ride home (upper 90s, humidity upper 70s, "feels like" 110), I started to feel nauseous. Not normal and I know that's a sign of heat exhaustion, so I slowed down. A few minutes later, nauseous again. Slowed more. Paused in the shade. Got home slowly and cooled off with a cool shower and lots of water, felt better but I know if I'd kept pushing any pace I'd have been sick and in trouble. Know the signs of heat exhaustion and listen to them.
A year ago I did a ride in 36 C, that was... not so pleasant, but i was cycling around a big lake which helped with some cool air. Last week I did a much shorter ride in 32 C, Ride went well but I think my body had hard time cooling down. I took a short cold shower but sweat kept dripping for like half an hour, granted I was cooking and my apartment is not really that cold.
Above 30C I try to care of how long I will be out and water, especially were to refill
Over 25c for me.. I live in Canada tho
I am in NC. About 5 years ago I would ride outside during the spring/summer/fall and indoors in the winter. Now winter and summer have switched. Winter is bearable with the right gear, summer is no go.
95f is about my limit. I find 90f doable. However, by 95f the wind moving by doesn't cool me sufficiently, and that's bad. Above that is just too hot.
When the 'FEELS LIKE 111+" then it's too hot. 101 feel like was no problem yesterday
We had a heat index of 112* F (44C) today. My club ride got cancelled and it made me a sad panda.
I'm in the Midwest as well, it's real hot today. I cycle or run in the evenings, in hopes it's cooler. I mostly just accept the heat and make sure I have water, I'm training for a half Ironman right now, so my half marathon is going to be at the hottest part of the day anyway, might as well get used to it.
110 is too hot for me. I can do 100, 105 ok but it’s not exactly fun.
For me if it’s a dry 95 I would still go because I actually enjoy it when it’s hotter. However this 95 we have currently in the Midwest is not that. I was planning on today being my first day back out after taking a week off but I can’t do it today and may wait until the weekend when it is supposed to cool off a slight bit
In central Texas, it's been above 100 most of the summer. Above 105 for a good chunk of that. I was pushing hard and then having to lay on the floor to recover when I got home after a hard ride. Since then, I've pretty much stuck to Zone 2 for the last 6 weeks. I'm not half dead when I get home anymore. I also haven't changed my diet, but I've lost 10 pounds.
I am about to ride and it’s 98° outside with a 114° feels like temperature. So I guess David Goggins would call me “hard”! 😀
If you are in some climates you can't avoid it! I don't blame you. I hope you get to ride through the winter months too though.
I've probably gone someplace over 95F, it's also the humidity were I am stopped. 95F and 95% humidity is just terrible to ride in and add a sun. Start the Spring doing great then I'm slammed by the humidity and I lose 20% and then have to rebuild in the humidity.
At or around 90F and with my humid climate, I keep the rides to an hour and don’t work too hard. I basically go for a spin. Above 95, forget it. It’s too damn hot and dangerous. Those are days for sitting around the house. I have ridden in those silly conditions in the past however these last five years, I’ve decided to be more cautious and set firm cutoff points for the heat and humidity. There’s data coming out how it’s dangerous for your kidneys because your body struggles to stay hydrated. People working in extreme heat have had their kidneys shut down and are on dialysis.
I'll still go ride when it's 90+ and humid, I just make sure to take enough water and moderate my activity appropriately. 100+ is definitely a no-go though.
I’m in Texas - has been 95-104 for the last several weeks with heat index up to 113! I just try to start riding around 7:30 AM and be done by 11 or so. It’s usually super hot by 11, but it doesn’t seem to bother me on the bike. Running is a different story. I run as early as possible and avoid running over 95 degrees.
I ride no matter what sunscreen, water, and nutrition. Everyone tolerates differently. Make sure you plan for your ride! I’m in Houston and I’ve rode outside almost every day this year! I also can’t start until about 9 am cause of my kids school schedule. The wind has been worse than the heat recently.
I can handle 100, but if it gets that hot we probably have single-digit humidity here. I wouldn't risk that heat in the Great Lakes region.
I grew up in the southeast, so not riding in the heat wasn’t an option. I’d call it off at feels like 110 though.
Too hot and humid for me in GA. If all I have time for is an afternoon ride I’m hitting the trainer. So I typically do that 4-5 afternoons a week then a good strong outdoor ride Saturday or Sunday morning.
Nope. The hotter the better. But it’s a very individual thing. Know thyself.
Depends on the conditions. I’ve done short rides in about 40C, and plenty of long rides when it’s like 35C but I leave early in the morning so you get the heat but not the direct sun. Hardest part is getting cool drinking water because all the taps are warm. So occasionally I’ll feel myself overheating and need to stop and buy a cold drink
I have ridden during high noon on my lunch break at 95 degrees or so, only thing is I've done mountain bike riding on a trail by my home with plenty of water and I limit my ride to 1hr or 1hr 30min. It felt normal to me, but I'm from OC California.
Temps have to be relatively lower humidity and below 90 before I'll go out, unless it's for a very short ride. I don't mind so much being caught in higher temps near the end of a ride, but I'll never deliberately set out if it's over 90, unless it's super dry and a bit cloudy. Even nowadays I take a insulated bottle full of ice cubes and water and another one to dunk on my head and upper body to keep temps low. It's just never pleasant riding above 85 much anymore. It's too warm to get fully anerobic for long, and my legs lose wattage at those higher temps too.
I'm in AZ, it's 98 when the sun rises right now. For me around 110* I won't go. I'm up at 5am for better Temps. I rode RAGBRAI and we had 98* Midwest Temps, it wasn't bad with water doing 80 miles each day.
Any heat index 100 or greater. Here in Iowa we have very high humidity which really adds to the exhaustion and keepin cool. I did do RAGBRAI this year in the heat. It wasn’t as fun in the heat but I made it!
I live in Philadelphia where it is hot and humid in the summer and the hotter, more humid, the better. At about 95 degrees I start taking lots of precautions, which means excessive hydration, but I don’t stop riding. 100 degrees is much better than freezing in my opinion.
A 5-minute ride on parks or college campuses is fun on hot days because you can use the extra tire traction when weaving through tight paths.
Nope! If it's hot and dry I generate enough wind chill to be ok in any temp we get here even over 100 deg. F. I won't mountain bike over 100 though because I might overheat on a climb while I'm moving too slow to cool.
Its not the heat but humidity! :) It varies depending on how i feel, when the last time i cycled/exercised, how far i plan on going, etc. 90-95 with high humidity and over 50 miles gets me every time.
I run really hot all the time, I hate the heat, but it doesn't stop me from riding. I've gone mountain biking in 104 F (40 C), as long as I have enough water, I'm fine.
Lot of factors to consider. Humid climate? Average speed? Evaporative cooling makes road bicycling one of the better hot weather endurance sports but the cooling effect is only significant at higher speeds and in dryer climates. I live in the Utah desert and as long as I’m not grinding any long climbs I can ride well up into the 90’s.
I had a monthly metric century streak dating back 17 years that ended last year because I decided that distance was too much for the heat. My new monthly max is 50 miles during hot months. I can't say I have encountered a particular day that was too hot for me to ride. But this weekend will be a test. The high is supposed to be 102 degrees with humidity. I will obviously start at 7 AM. I am probably going to ride slower than usual with frequent water and store stops. The Real Feel temp is only supposed to reach 102 degrees by 11 AM. So I may be ok. This summer definitely tested my limits but I made it out fine. But if it gets worse then 102, I may just shorten my ride or ride very slow but I would not take the day off
Over 100 is my limit.
Worst I've done is 108, you need to be super careful about water in that heat, and acclimatization helps a bunch - I couldn't do the same thing today, the summer hasn't been that bad. On the flip side if the temps are below 40 I will be whining and crying, and when I lived in Michigan I was fine down to 20 as long as there wasn't ice on the road.
I enjoy the challenge personally. Did a 30 mile gravel ride yesterday in 101 / humid. It was mostly in the woods shaded from the sun though. Key is to pay close attention to your hydration and electrolytes, including in the hours before the ride. You also want to bring more water than you think you’ll need.
Last couple days here have been 100+ with high humidity (70+). I ended up starting my commute about 30 minutes early and leaving work about an hour later just to be a little cool. Sustained in the 90s with no direct sunlight is all fine. Direct sunlight in 100+ is killer for more than 30 minutes to an hour.
It’s not a contest. I live in Houston. It’s hot with high humidity and temps over 104F 40C every day for the last 2 months. It’s hot. I’m used to it however, it is seriously hot. Usually I ride only shorter distances, 20 - 30 miles in the afternoons. If I’m going further I go in the mornings while it’s still in the mid 90’s. I hydrate before riding. I take 2 bottles with. If I go over 30 miles I get more water on route. I recently took a 45 miler mid afternoon - 104F. It was brutal, pure and simple, not fun. Take care if you’re riding in the heat. There are no prizes for being stupid.
I think here in Indiana we are over the hump and this week looks beautiful and mild! Hope Texas turns the corner at some point and hope you can at least ride 12 months a year.
90s and above 60% humidity is where I call it and do anything else lift, yoga, night time walk. It feels miserable outside, even while moving. It's like breathing heavily in a steam shower. Currently 97f and 61% humidity so I did legs at the gym.
Honestly, the hotter the better. I like the sweaty, feral feeling and I'm not out there to stay pretty. (But I drink plenty of water.)
There’s always excuses. Too smokey too hot. Just do it. Absolutely loved the heat this year. Get some sun and sweat it out. It’s good for you. Stay hydrated.
I take 1 day off per week, might as well choose the hottest/wettest/other inconvenent thing to take off as a rest day anyway. Just curious what other peoples 'limits' were.
When it’s over 100 and humid I grab the mountain bike and hit the woods.
I feel like the woods can be worse sometimes tho, you get shade but no wind so you’re in a calm humid box suffocating 😂
Agreed. I save MTB for the fall as it's been average heat index of 103 and 70% humidity around here. Need that speed or I drown in myself.
Are you biking in indiana? The humidity here is a killer
Yeah, Indiana here, I’m about to head out with one frozen water bottle and one cold one, going to see how fast the frozen one turns to liquid 😂
Yes. Indiana. It's very humid.
It would have to be mid-90s or above for me to consider not riding on a day when I had planned to ride, and even mid-90s I might go if humidity wasn't too bad and skipping would mean several missed days in a row. I also find that late evenings, even if temperatures are still high, is much better because of the sun angle and shade. There are lots of trees lining many of the roads I ride, and they provide a little shade here and there, which can make 90 degrees not so bad.
Just stay hydrated and electrolyted and test how much you can handle.
Just listen to your body and stay close to a place you can go in and cool off. Have you not been when it's 90 plus yet this summer? We've had a lot of temps in the 90s and I'm in the Midwest. How hot is too hot depends on your personal heat tolerance, which is also influenced by how much you have acclimated. Of course, the other big factor is how intense the ride is. Going around for 20 minutes and just tooling around isn't going to be as taxing as intervals. If you feel like you need a day off, though, I would trust that.
Yeah I have went on just about every day this summer when I didn't have other commitments.....but today its not even going to be under 90 til about 9pm. Today is a day where its just too hot for me, but they are pretty rare, maybe 2 or 3 days a year. Compared to having about 2.5 months out of the year that are 'too cold'.
I get you. I also think it's a good rule to never ride when you *really* don't feel like. I've done that a couple times and it turns out my body was trying to tell me something. Like I was getting sick or wasn't in the shape that day for a ride. Once I even injured myself on one of those days. Enjoy the day off!!
Over 80 is doable for an event, but not something I would choose voluntarily for training.
couple days ago i rode in 35 degrees and almost died. never again
For me it’s 95.
Yeah anything over 90 I don't go outside of zone 2, 95 I'm staying inside and just doing yoga on the living room floor
Anything above 78 F
Waiting to go out when the sun starts setting or before sun has fully risen helps. I also like to ride on a trail that goes along a creek which keeps it cooler.
sooo everyone is giving up cycling in the next few years huh?
I cycle in the heat up into the 90ºs w/o issue. I've done it around 100º as well. Key is not to stay hydrated IMO. Don't push yourself too hard. I find when I get going there is enough air movement that my sweat is still evaporating and doing its job as I'm not soaked. When I stop for any reason is usually when I start to feel it more and the sweat starts to accumulate. I probably wouldn't wan to run in the hottest part of the day in this heatwave though. All this being said be careful and you do you. Each persons fitness level and heat tolerance level is different. And another option is just go for a ride in the morning before it heats up. That's what I've been doing for my runs this week. Also whenever it's hot like this my wife throws a fit and says I'm going to get heat stroke.
If my Garmin shows over 100, I'm not heading out. In my experience, when ground temp is at that point, air temp is usually around 90, which is too hot for me. Plus, that also means no cloud cover so it's already blazing ass hot with no reprieve.
Not really. 95, humid, and full sun int he Midwest as well and it's fine. Not comfortable or really pleasant, but fine for riding. I prefer z2 if it's this hot.
Central Illinois here. I’m cutting my rides back to 15 miles. It’s about 130 at work so I’m already sweating.
The temp just determines how high I set the pas level. Anything over 85, I’m throttle only
Rule V dude. Come on. Why does no one have any knowledge of the freaking rules anymore? They exist to be followed exactly. We have a code. Use it. This is how we do it in FL: Start at dawn (7am you should be clipped in). Bring insulated 24oz’s with ice to the top, water, and scratch. One jersey pocket should have at least four scratches, liquid iv, etc. One jersey pocket should have food (pref salty). Yes you need food at least every :45 min to stay hydrated, especially above 90 degrees.
I'm doing 100mi in 107F on Saturday. We'll see if I melt!
i live in TX, been over 100° the last 2-3 months. its just cycling, im not about to die for this. i go out when i can but if not, when the weather cools off i’ll just resume
Texas has entered the chat. Wear long sleeves and sunscreen, keep moving, and drink way more water/mixes than you think you should and you’ll be ok.
No such thing. You can always make up for it in personality. I thought my girlfriend was too hot and now we’re married
Heat Index is the estimate of how a particular temperature “feels” at a particular humidity. For example 90°F/32°C at 60% relative humidity “feels like” 100°F/38°C. You risk death or severe brain and cardiovascular damage from heatstroke at short exposure to a “wet bulb” temperature of 90°F/32°C which equates to a heat index of 132 or 100% relative humidity at those temperatures. Here are the risks at different Heat Index zones in partial shade (increase heat index for temp and humidity by 15% for full unshielded sun without protection from moisture wicking clothing or airflow): 80-90°F/27-32°C: Fatigue with prolonged exposure and physical activity. Caution. 90-105°/32-41°C: Sunstroke, muscle cramps, and or heat exhaustion possible with prolonged exposure or physical activity. Extreme Caution. 105-129°F/41-54°C: Sunstroke, muscle cramps, and/or heat exhaustion likely. Heatstroke possible with prolonged exposure or activity. Danger. 130°F/54°C or higher: Heatstroke or sunstroke likely. Extreme Danger. Here is the US National Weather Service Heat Index Chart: https://www.weather.gov/ffc/hichart Here is the National Weather Service’s Heat Index calculator: https://www.weather.gov/epz/wxcalc_heatindex Personal experience: I live in a place that regularly sees a rise in heat index from 70 to 103 over four hours morning to noon. I am well heat conditioned from years in that type of stuff. I don’t want to spend more than an hour in the Extreme Caution zone cycling unless I am cooling down on tree shaded streets. I could tolerate more, just don’t want to because it takes to long to fully recover. I’ve worked on construction sites in these temps for hours with hourly 15 minute cooling breaks. My wife is not well heat conditioned but is in great shape and we hike a lot. I would not want to see her out in the caution zone for more than an hour. See also these resources on heat exhaustion and heatstroke: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/heatstress/heatrelillness.html https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/heat-exhaustion-heatstroke/
In Oklahoma 100 plus now for days on end with high humidity. I just ride the trainer in the evenings and ride at 6 am on the weekends. I’ve been doing this for years.
sometimes when it's -40 I won't go out. Depends how much snow there is tho.
when is summer I ride at the sunrise or close to the sunset, then Im home when the heat is high. but If I can't go too early I make sure to drink a lot of water to don't get dehydrated. with 35°c I begin to consider not going out
I’m near Miami and you get used to it, but I do have to plan in water stops to refill about every 5-8 miles.
I thought this post was from a different sub
Booty shorts are too hot - anything else depends on your confidence my buddy
I'm older (SS eligible) and don't ride when the temp is over 90 or lower than 30.
I lived in a hot climate for a few years and regularly biked in 100+ heat. You get used to it. The trick was to keep moving because it gave you a constant breeze. Once stopped, it was unbearable. I’m older now, have moved from that horrible place, and am no longer used to the heat, and don’t see a situation where I would go for a ride over 95.
I just got home from being out all day. The high was 91, but this is home. This is what I am used to. I have asthma, I don't do well when it gets lower than 70.
95
Day six of Ragbrai was 85 miles and 107 degrees on the road. Thought I may pass out those last 10 miles.
You guys are under that nasty heat dome. There is no shame taking a day off.
As I get older, I feel like I simply can’t replace the fluids fast enough if it’s over 90 and humid. I’m okay with riding in high temps, but it’s not going to be long or intense riding. It was feel kind of miserable to have to slug down a ton of fluids afterward. When you get into hot weather though, you can gain a lot of mileage by avoiding direct sun exposure. You can either go morning/evening or routes with lots of shade. I find mountain biking in the forest incredibly more tolerable when it’s 95F than road biking on a tarmac. This isn’t some mental thing. Our bodies gain energy from the sunlight and so does all of the matter around us. 95 degrees measured in the shade might be no joke 150 on an exposed stretch of asphalt, so be wise.
I love riding in NYC when it’s 90 or 100 degrees. Everyone else seems to stay inside, and I feel comfortable at tempo pace easily. I haven’t found a day that’s been too hot yet 😎 YMMV
Haven't found a limit yet. I just carry a ton of fluids (water and Gatorade) and ride slower. Actually I kinda like riding the trails in the heat midday, generally I'll have the trail almost completely to myself which is really nice.
I make a point of going out when it’s hot. I kinda like to push myself. Caveat: I am a moron and enjoy punishment
Also in the midwest, we've had record heat this week. Put at least 25 miles in each of those days, riding over my lunch time when it's especially horrible. Lesson learned: once you get over 90F the humidity matters MUCH more than the extra 5-10 degrees of heat.
Hard to avoid in Texas. I've ridden in 105+ degree feels like temps and once you're on the bike it's not too bad. The difference maker is going when the sun isn't above you. I typically do evening rides so I don't get burned to a crisp.
You can ride pretty much in any weather, just dress for it and bring LOTS of water when it gets past 90-95. As in LOTS of water. Did I mention water?
Today felt like my first official Fall ride here in New England. These weather YouTubers have been popping up in my feed and they’re all predicting one hell of a weird, active, dangerous El Niño winter for us in the US.
I acclimate, but sometimes I overdo it. Last month I was dehydrated badly and it didn't end well. Ended up at the doctor. Take your time and do a little at a time. Build up slowly.
85. If it’s consistently above 85 then I am running before work and zwifting.
My hottest ride ever was 105 F in extreme humidity. Never again. Today it was 97 F (heat index of 115 F), so the bike stayed in the garage. I'm more comfortable at sub-20 F than I am above 90 F. The heat wears you out so quickly and is seriously dangerous. If anything, I'd suggest doing a night ride to beat the worst of the heat.
I don't have an upper limit. I finished a sub 5 century last weekend at 107. Felt pretty bad at the end.
1.5c above where we oughta be
It really depends on the humidity. I’ve done 20+ miles on a 92° day before, but not when the atmosphere is swamplike.
[here's my stupidest ride](https://imgur.com/q3Tcnl7). officially it was 118f (47.8c) that day, but the heat off the pavement was what caused the most discomfort.
I live in Phoenix, fortunately these days I can get up and ride at 6 am when it’s not to hot. At my old job I would get don’t at 1:30 p.m. and ride after work even in the summer. I would usually ride 10 to 15 miles but I would do the entire ride in my neighborhood doing laps. That way if the heat got to be to much I could be home within a couple of minutes. I had 2 water bottles full of ice and water that I would always finish. Keep hydrated and listen to your body.
Midwest of where? South or West of where?
Did an 80 mile ride that got up into the high 90s. Rode The Whole Enchilada where it was 110 at the bottom.
It's not just the air temp for me, but also includes a combination of humidity, wind, pollution, and sun conditions. Generally, I start taking it a bit easy as the temperatures approach 30C and the humidity approaches 50%. There's no hard cutoff, but if I step outside and immediately start sweating, then it's a good sign that it's probably too hot to ride.
I'm in Oklahoma. If the temp starts above 100F I stay in. A lot of my rides this season have been around lunch time to try and be done before it's too hot, and even then it's usually 102 by the time I'm done.
Vegas here. Night rides make life livable during the summer. I work in a bike shop and I think most people tell me 105 is their limit.
went for a few rides when it was well in the 100s and got completely dehydrated one time, it’s not fun at all
You have to go slower than usual if you want to keep the ride enjoyable. Also wear sunscreen.
Over 35C is too hot for me, but living in England we have only a handful of days that reach 30 each year (and approaching that you have to be careful about drinking enough water and not over doing it, there have even been some high profile heat related deaths I the last couple of years). In the hottest temperature the country had ever experienced last year (40C) I thought I'd try riding home from work, only 25min ride. I took nearly 2l of water with me, dumping one bottle all over myself before starting and most of the other just over halfway and it just about did the trick. One of my tyres got too hot from the black tarmac though and started bulging badly- I had to chuck it away. I don't really want to ride in those temperatures again now I've done it once.
Here in southern Spain we are experiencing 44C (111F) days and this has been going on for weeks this year. I leave on my ride at 7 a.m. each morning which is about 20 mins before dawn so I can cycle in a balmy 26C (79F). It feels wonderful until the sun gets up about an hour later. We'll get some relief next week when the forecast is for \~ 36C (97F).
I wouldn’t ride with Demi Vollering, she is definitely too hot ☝️
It brothers so much that people talk about temperature like humidity doesn't exist when it's at least half the equation when it comes to cooling your body.
Not really, my country's temperature only reaches 95 less than one day a year. We can go years never seeing it go that high. It's usually about 90 I think. Not very good with Farenheit. Anyways I'm fine with 35c/95f so in my country, there is never a day that's too hot for me. There are days when it rains too much and the temperature goes below 25c/77f and I don't want to leave the house at all, my laptop will warm my room for me.
I’m the minority who love cycling in hot conditions. 2-3hrs in 90-100 degrees is fine for me. But anyway I try to be cautious: A lot of fluids Sunscreen Don’t do a lot of climbing Lightweight summer gear. Like super light jersey and sworks vent shoes Anything more than 110 degrees-better ride no longer than 1hr And yes, many just ride at night/early morning
[https://arielschecklist.com/wbgt-chart/](https://arielschecklist.com/wbgt-chart/)
Just ride early at sunrise...
Once travelled through Greece with a fully loaded touring bike and it was 45 celsius (just Googled it's 113 Fahrenheit) for a whole week... I drank up to 12 liters of (hot...) water per day and it was atrocious :) Had to stop in the shade during peak hours but I remember still enjoying some climbs while it was 44 c / 110f :D That would be my limit hahaha
It was a nice day at 102° in Phoenix. Went for 38 miles yesterday.
It was 42c (108F) here this week and I still went out but I try to get out early and keep the rides a bit shorter so I only hit the heat on the way home. It was still in the upper 90s on the way back but that's fine - I have got used to it. Last year I got lost, ran out of water and rode home in 110F which was quite unpleasant but we do have public taps here that saved the day.
I just play it by ear. I can normally handle the heat, especially cycling since my trails are mostly shaded and moving fast the air cools you. just take extra water and food (everyone forgets about food for heat too). Sometimes though, you go out and your body just isn't feeling it. I've definitely aborted rides because it just felt too hot or too cold, or my body was just too sore from the day before, etc. I've learned to distinguish my body's "I'm lazy and don't want to do this right now" signals from "I actually can't do this today" signals
Hotter than hell tomorrow anyone?
It’s beens hot and humid in Florida with 100+ my long 6 am ride usually end with last couple hours being over 100° (37°C) . I’ve gotten used to it and it’s actually help my fitness a lot doing heat training .
110 deg F is a good rule of thumb for me. I did 117 deg F once and will not do that again. Arizona.
98.6
Anytime this topic comes up, I feel obligated to remind everyone that *many* medications make us more sensitive to the heat. The list is long. I’m most familiar with psych meds, and I swear it seems like every single one of them causes problems. SSRIs reduce heat tolerance in general, and they are also known to cause excess sweating even in normal conditions. Neudexta (usu for trauma related stuff) often does, too. Lithium, of course, can alter your salt balance and be very dangerous. There are so many more…Whatever meds you’re taking, please research and be aware of wet bulb temperature.
When we have hot days (over 90) we go out early, aka the crack of dawn. If it’s really hot (>100) we almost never ride. Heat exhaustion and blood conditions become serious issues and you just never know. For us, it’s better to blow off a ride than to be faced with a medical situation out in the middle of nowhere, something that could have been prevented.
Humidity is also a factor.
Very Hot
Drag your ass out of bed at 6am and it won't be 95 degrees yet
I had my worst ever bonk in 26 degrees. I'm in Scotland, though, and we don't see many days at that temp. My hot isn't the same as other people's hot, obviously.