I can smell the heat reflected from the road.

My hot bike is the one in the middle. © 2006 Shawn Kielty. All rights reserved.

Jill said ... yesterday:

And people think I was crazy for biking in the winter! When I was living in Utah, I never understood the "But it's a dry heat" justification. Heat is heat, and like you said, low humidity will suck you dry. I've been hiking in Arkansas when it was 90 degrees and 90% humidity, and it wasn't as bad as biking on black top when it was 107 and 10% humidity in Salt Lake.

Your oven is a dry heat too, but you probably don't want to live in it.

They so much do that. Justify the acceptable characteristics of a 115 degree summer by claiming it's a dry heat, especially if they live somewhere else. Often when they are talking about Arizona though, it isn't even a dry heat -- It's a monsoon. Which, in the vernacular of Arizona -- I like to refer to as a dry rain. Once the temps are solidly above 100, when you exercise, you are anything but dry (if you are dry, and exercising, and in heat over 100 degrees -- you need hospitalization). Although your body cools more effectively in 4% humidity than in 90% humidity, the true story is that a tuned and healthy body in good order cools itself extremely well, even when the temps and the humidity are high. Yes it's hot, and I think the bike is cooler than running or hiking, because of the movement. I prefer to be outside because that is where the rest of the life is, despite the pools and spinners and treadmills, and ellipticals, all carefully before the tv's of the windowless gym -- the endless options to the heat.

Ruby said this, "I was in Phoenix once. It was so hot that I could smell the heat reflecting from the sidewalk. It was in the middle of October. I can't imagine, what the summer is like. "

I said this in reply:

"I can smell the heat reflected from the sidewalk. Has anyone heard of infra-red blocking skin cream? No? Go figure. Ground temps can be signifigant.

'If the advertised air temperature for a local area is say, 110 degrees F; you can expect the ground by mid-afternoon to be maybe 150 degrees F and the air temperature at your knees to be about 140 degrees F and at your head level to be about 130 degrees F.These extreme temperatures are a far cry from the reasonably hot temperature of 110 degrees F that you heard predicted on the weather channel that morning. Your body's heat gain by conduction: The above example of 150 degrees F for ground temperature is actually conservative; in fact ground temperatures can easily reach 175. ... Hot air concerns: With air temperatures over 130 degrees F, the air that you breath becomes dangerous.' Source.

One thing he suggests is to cover your body when it's hot, which is the one thing most people don't do. Ever try riding your bike in a Sauna?"

Today is a day for that. The smell of the of the sauna today was part fresh oil and exhaust, and the obvious smell of the heat scorching the nose hairs. Other times it was just huge with the heat radiating off of the road surface . It was hot today. But not as hot as tomorrow. The morning commute was easy as the temp was a mere 85. Just 85.

Date: 1 June 2006
Miles: 21.21
Average Speed: 13.0
June Mileage: 30.94
Weather: 108 °F. Sun
Bike: Roadie.

Miles today 30.94, on the hottest day so far this year. It feels good, but it is tiring. My tires felt soft today.