Thursday, July 13, 2006

Hot it is.

Todays high was officially 113 ° F. And the low overnight was 91. You can see it all for yourself here. The ever happy bike buddy's on the bike thermometer topped out at 113.8°F., which is 274°C. I think. John? It's funny because usually happy bike rider's very same computer reads out distances in kilometers.

It is supposed to be hotter tomorrow with a 50% chance of no rain and 2-3° hotter. It's a wonder that these weathermenpeople can ever get it right with predictions like that.

Date: 13 July 2006
Miles Riding: 12.90
Weather: 113°F. 45°C.
Bike: Roadie.
July Bike Mileage: 21.77

Today's ride was unusually difficult and left me wanting to heave. I still feel mostly that way. My legs were spent after the first hill climb and it was difficult to keep cool.

9 comments:

Jaco said...

I'm impressed that you continue to ride under such conditions. Stay cool...

The Old Bag said...

We're slated for 100 over the weekend, but with humidity in the 70% range...bleck!

Jill Homer said...

Holy cow - the fact that you can stay concious at 113 degrees is an amazing feat. I set out on 20-miler from Salt Lake to Sandy once on a record high temp day, 107, with the dry heat wafting off the pavement like a blasting furnace. After about 5 miles, drenched in sweat and witnessing ghost bunnies skipping across the road, I conceded defeat and hitched a ride on the commuter train. That may be the main reason I moved Alaska. High of 63 on July 14. I'll sit through -20 for that any year.

shawnkielty said...

I think we have to ask some important questions now ... Why does my biking buddy want to do this in the afternoon?

Why do I continue to go with him, to encourage him?

Yesterday there was a firm hot wind -- not unlike a blast furnace. It hurt my eyes. It reminded me of Furnace Wells (the second hottest place on earth).

After yesterday's ride, I am pretty confident we've entered the extreme fitness group. Yesterday is the first time I didn't see anyone else exercising at all. No brotherhood of the sweaty. Not one other person. It reminde me of Needles, CA when it was 116 degrees out.

It's unfortunate, but I made myself a bit ill yesterday, humming up that hill. So I will have to wait until tomorrow to do it again.

It's difficult to keep cool at these temps -- Water running out of the ground is well over 90 degrees. When you sit on the toilet you can feel warmth rising from the water. The blacktop is so hot that it adds to the fierceness of it. The water in the water bottles quickly heats up -- the best thing to do is to freeze them and your camelbak. Run water directly onto your cotton clothes and open skin to encourage cooling. Keep the pace lower to maximize cooling. Stay on the bike and moving.

Thanks Ruby! And Jeanne -- I'd trade what you got with the humidity to get this any time.

Jill -- I think between the two of us we might have the edges of the map covered pretty well. "Holy cow" is so ... right. It's what I would say about your posts in the winter.

I actually am starting to like it here.

a bike rider in the big smoke said...

Our blogs seem surprisingly similar....bikes, photography, and random thoughts. VEERD! (no, I'm not dutch.) Anyway, feel free to ask me any questions about the big smoke or anything! (The Big Smoke is a nickname for Toronto, for some odd reason). My email is robannz@hotmail.com.

It's pretty hot in Toronto too, maybe not 100 degrees, but very muggy. I'm off the bike for a while because of an injured tendon in my thumb that doesn't heal if I ride...but soon...

Cheers.
GS

a bike rider in the big smoke said...

I forgot to mention something. To keep your waterbottles cooler, put them in a wet sock. It acts like a refrigerator, by cooling the water in the bottle through the evaporation of the water in the sock. Works really well, trust me.

Cheers,
GS

shawnkielty said...

Smoky Rider-- Ruby up there is from Toronto also -- Thanks for stopping by.

I think maybe some duct tape for the thumb and you'll be fine on a bike. Duct tape it to your chest and you probably won't have to worry about it.

My ever happy biking pal is from Edmonton. He uses one liter of water for a 1 hour ride in 115 degree temps. I drink that at least and pour another liter on myself.

I know Toronto is hot -- and humid. It's really insanely hot here. It's not usually humid -- but when it is -- run. It can rain and thunder and lightening enough to scare your bike out from under you -- not to mention golf ball sized hail in 105 degree temps -- just to make sure you are quick.

I am going to stick with the frozen camelback for now. Although the sock idea would work great here. I have been here three summers -- and the easiest way is to live hot -- drink warm water -- wear cotton and a hat. Keep cool by sweating a lot and staying healthy. Cover your body because it's dangerous not to.

Unknown said...

Hydrate, Hydrate, and hydrate some more, Shawn! I spent the day today mountainbiking and I am whupped myself!

John said...

Yup. 274.