Is the heat keeping anyone off the bike?

I rode in to work today, and now I'm thinking I might have to bus it half the way home. I live about 7 miles from my office which really isn't bad, but man it is hot out there. I was just wondering if I'm the only one considering wussing out.

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Permalink Reply by Mark Kenseth on July 20, 2011 at 2:49pm

In this heat I try and ride in the shade, taking the side streets, as much as possible. I also try and stop in the shade at red lights, even if it means stopping ten feet behind the line.

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on July 20, 2011 at 2:51pm

I'm not riding much, except very early in the morning.

Duppie said:

Don't let yourself be persuaded by the "I'll ride in any weather crowd". While they might feel comfortable in this heat, it doesn't mean that you will.

Heat stroke is a real danger in weather like this. No need to suffer a heat stroke only because you feel taking the bus home makes you look like a wussy.

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on July 20, 2011 at 2:53pm

I'll second that. I'm using those same ideas when riding or walking in this heat. When I was walking home from the train tonight, my route was heavily influenced by where there was shade or a sprinkler. I crossed the street a couple of times to take advantage of sprinklers.

Mark Kenseth said:

In this heat I try and ride in the shade, taking the side streets, as much as possible. I also try and stop in the shade at red lights, even if it means stopping ten feet behind the line.

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Permalink Reply by Nançois on July 20, 2011 at 3:28pm

These are all great suggestions. I recommend taking the lakefront trail if you can, and jumping in the water every couple miles--nice while I'm in the water, and a lot cooler when I get back on the bike. Definitely makes the 17-mile trip to work and home a lot more enjoyable!

Anne Alt said:

I'll second that. I'm using those same ideas when riding or walking in this heat. When I was walking home from the train tonight, my route was heavily influenced by where there was shade or a sprinkler. I crossed the street a couple of times to take advantage of sprinklers.

Mark Kenseth said:

In this heat I try and ride in the shade, taking the side streets, as much as possible. I also try and stop in the shade at red lights, even if it means stopping ten feet behind the line.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on July 20, 2011 at 4:12pm

Sweating takes toxins out of your body so no, and it has to be this hot before I really start to sweat.

A trip to the lake will cool me off just fine, although by the time I get back home I'm hot again.

But I could really do without being trapped in between cars or a bus at a light on days like this.

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Permalink Reply by Sara Gmitter on July 20, 2011 at 5:25pm

I've still been doing my 14 mi round trip commute. Mornings have been ok but coming home has not been fun. I find myself staying at the office to soak up the AC longer (getting a lot done after others have gone home is a bonus!). Today I was running errands right slap in the middle of the day and it took quite a while to recover once I got home. I'm gonna try some of the iced water ideas. Metal water bottle in a black saddle bag=hot!

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Permalink Reply by Kelly on July 21, 2011 at 1:01am

There is an air quality alert, so that makes sense. It is definitely affecting me as well.

I have been trying to stay out of the heat, but I also have a three year old who overheats quickly. We've been sticking closer to home this past week.

Megan Hauser said:

I usually ride 13 miles round trip to Evanston and back, but I live half a block from the UP North Metra. This week I've taken the train every day. When I leave the house at 5:50 a.m., I think, eh, this doesn't seem so bad, but by the time I come home I'm thankful to be getting on the train. Aside from the heat, the air quality also seems really bad, as my throat feels kind of tight after walking outside for a couple minutes.

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Permalink Reply by BikeBoy5 on July 21, 2011 at 1:19am

58 years old (yesterday!) 11 mile round trip. I leave Bucktown around 230AM and leave downtown around 1130AM. I monitor how well I pay attention to the hazards around me and if I find myself thinking about work or other non-biking things, I take water. My average speed has been up in this weather!? The bad time is when I get home and stop moving. Then my core temp will rise dangerously if I don't water and shade and lately, AC.

BikeBoy5

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Permalink Reply by RP on July 21, 2011 at 1:19am

It honestly never occurred to me to stop biking this week. Maybe 'cause I grew up down south where heat like this lasts for months at a time, rather than days.

Or maybe because every day in Chicago where it's not raining and not below freezing is a day to be treasured and celebrated!

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Permalink Reply by Jeff Blumenthal on July 21, 2011 at 1:20am

The short answer is "YES." Thursday at 10:30 am is the normal riding time for a group of us Senior Citizens. Normally it's up or down the Lakefront Trail, and it really is cooler near the Lake most of the time. This week we had a remote ride scheduled: train to Joliet and then the Joliet Ironworks - I&M Canal path. After some discussion back and forth, we decided that this was a no go for this week. To make a long story short, we cancelled just about everything for this Thursday -- except for a lunch in an air conditioned restaurant.

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Permalink Reply by Madeline Baum on July 21, 2011 at 2:11am

So -- what did you end up doing? Inquiring minds want to know!

I had a bunch of errands to run yesterday afternoon, and it wasn't too awful. I wasn't out in the weather for more than 20 minutes at a time, and I drank water constantly. If I'd had to ride much longer than that, though, I'd have seriously considered an alternative.

At one point I had to wait in the sun outside an entrance while the person inside put her dog up, and that 30 seconds felt like a week! It had to be over 100 degrees with the heat radiating off the building and sidewalk.

But then I got myself an ice cream cone and it was all worth it!