It's a ripping hot summer, so...

I'm in the @JDurk and @robcleary camp on this one. All of my weekday rides are on the road by 5:30am (these are generally 90 min or less tho). Even on weekends for my longer 3-4 hour rides, Im still out at crack of dawn because a) I'm totally a morning person anyway, b) I also like hitting the roads/trails early with almost no traffic, and c) I generally do not do well with extreme heat riding...f that ish.

In terms of clothing, I'm generally 95% in tight kit, sometimes in baggies in the woods.

I do not have a pool, but when I ride back into my driveway from my rides, I always rinse off with cold hose to cool down and remove dirt/dust from trails or the road. This feels good and also limits the crap my dog will inevitably try to lick off my legs when I step in the house 🙂
 
I have no choice but to ride after 3 because of that whole work thing. I sweat like a whore in church. Its summer, its hot. Its been hot in summer since there's been summer. I hydrate before the ride, during, and after. TBH the fuckin horse flies are worse than the heat. After I like to mix soda water with ice, a little maple syrup, and bourbon.
 
rottin' said:
I'm in the @JDurk and @robcleary camp on this one. All of my weekday rides are on the road by 5:30am (these are generally 90 min or less tho). Even on weekends for my longer 3-4 hour rides, Im still out at crack of dawn because a) I'm totally a morning person anyway, b) I also like hitting the roads/trails early with almost no traffic, and c) I generally do not do well with extreme heat riding...f that ish.

In terms of clothing, I'm generally 95% in tight kit, sometimes in baggies in the woods.

I do not have a pool, but when I ride back into my driveway from my rides, I always rinse off with cold hose to cool down and remove dirt/dust from trails or the road. This feels good and also limits the crap my dog will inevitably try to lick off my legs when I step in the house 🙂
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Y'all are making me feel like I'm sleeping in with these start times 😄
 
I ride directly into the pool. No stopping to change or get off the bike. Two problems:

1. You have to have a pool for this to work
2. Water temperature is currently 90º F. Anyone have lots of ice?

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TommyF said:
What do you do to stay cool while you're riding? Any specific clothing that cools better? Spray mister? Just stay in the shade? How about when you're done riding, outdoor portable showers, pump sprayers?? Share your secrets of staying cool.
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Oh, I forgot I freeze my bottles when it gets really hot. I'll fill the bottle roughly 70% and put it in the freezer on an angle so it doesn't just freeze on the bottom but more along the whole side but not block the top. Then fill the rest with very cold water just before before heading out the door. Tends to keep it pretty cool as the melting coincides with the riding & drinking.

Post-ride cooler in the car with a seltzer or other cold drink, and a cold wet wash cloth in a zip lock bag.
 
SAM said:
I ride directly into the pool. No stopping to change or get off the bike. Two problems:

1. You have to have a pool for this to work
2. Water temperature is currently 90º F. Anyone have lots of ice?

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My water is now also 90 degrees, which is too warm. I prefer 84-86, but that's a "first world problem". I remember about 6 years ago, the water temp hit 96.
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Depending on the season sometimes I can tolerate the heat better than others. I ride all year round outdoors so I’m used to both extremes. In the winter when the roads are dangerous and it’s cold and dark I train indoors. But in the summer I also have been joining the early bird club like 5:30-6am and ride for 1-2 hours depending on the schedule. On weekend I will get up even earlier to get 3-4 hours in before the real heat and sun set in. Then I also have the luxury of a pool tho not as fancy as the ones posted above.

For hydration I now use Gatorade Zero since they stopped making G2. I always add a little table salt to my bottles regardless of the weather in also helps prevent cramps for me which I haven’t had in years. For the longer rides I use NUUN tablets with water for tefills
Mid ride they are light and not as sugary and my stomach can manage them much better than more Gatorade.

For group rides I always wear some kind of head covering. This lets me soak it in cold water at a gas station or park and put back on my head it makes a huge difference.

back at the car I bring a cooler with a few bottles of water and I also bring one of those insulated Contigo metal cups filled with ice cubes. That gives me a way to have a nice cold drink of water when I get back as I usually don’t want any more Gatorade when it’s post ride. I also bring some salty snacks like pretzels, peanut butter crackers or Fritos to replace the sodium.

I never thought adding a mesh baselayer made any sense in the summer heat until I became a Pactimo ambassador and bought one on a clearance sale. To me it’s like built in air conditioning it’s so thin but it makes a space between the sweaty jersey and your skin to allow for better cooling and air flow. Seems 100% counterintuitive to add a layer but it totally works.
 
Depends on the day, but I often find starting at 5/6 pm better than early morning rides. Sure, it's hotter, but the humidity is often lower, at least the relative humidity. There are mornings where you can see the mist and nothing evaporates. Yuck.
 
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iman29 said:
I never thought adding a mesh baselayer made any sense in the summer heat until I became a Pactimo ambassador and bought one on a clearance sale. To me it’s like built in air conditioning it’s so thin but it makes a space between the sweaty jersey and your skin to allow for better cooling and air flow. Seems 100% counterintuitive to add a layer but it totally works.
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I wear a FF helmet plus a mesh layer underneath for the very reason you suggest. Helmet is nice and dry after the ride. Would be soaking wet if I didn't wear the mesh layer.
 
I did a road ride at lunch today. It was absurdly hot. This is when I had the opportunity to go so I went.

Riding in this heat will make you more efficient at moving. Never stop. Always take right turns. Avoid traffic lights. Residential neighborhoods have more shade. Don't go uphill.
 
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