By: morlamweb

morlamweb — Fri, 10 Jun 2016 18:52:06 +0000

In reply to Ken. I disagree with you about light-colored clothing. Dark-colored clothing is no hotter as a rule than lighter stuff. Clothing is not necessary for being visible when you have bright lights fore and aft. Dark colors hide pit stains better than lighter colors, which is a real concern for me.

By: Ken

Ken — Thu, 09 Jun 2016 21:49:52 +0000

Good start. A few more I’ve learned over many summers:
– Use a “cooling towel” (many brands). Soak it before you go out in the heat, and put it between your helmet and head. Re-wet it every 5-15 miles, depending on humidity, winds, and temperatures.
– Get insulated water bottles, and freeze them a few hours before riding — don’t fill them all the way, and don’t screw the top on tight; the expanding ice can weaken or even break the bottle.
– If you’ll be biking home in the heat at 5:00 p.m., start drinking extra water around 3:00.
– Add “light-colored” to your “lightweight” clothing. Ditch the black and dark colors, they’re not good for being visible anyway, and they’re substantially hotter than white and hi-vis colors.
– Plan for more time — pedal a little more slowly.
– Set regular intervals to drink, even if you don’t feel like it. Drink at most every 2 miles; I go down to every mile when it’s above 105 F.
– In dry climates, soak your shirt/jersey before you head out.
– Select your route to take advantage of trees, water/rest areas, and roads/trails with few stops.
– Memorize the signs of hyperthermia, and carry a cell phone.

Comments on: How to handle a summer bicycle commute during a heat wave

By: morlamweb

By: Ken