Cyclists and hot weather

[Johnnytheboy]

Can the good burghers of pedal powered answer a question that's been bugging me?

In the recent bouts of unusually hot weather, I've noticed a pronounced increase in the number of leisure cyclists out and about in the lanes of Dorset.

Can anyone explain why? Because from my memory of cycling (which I gave up years ago) it wasn't particularly enjoyable in a heat wave.

I can understand why you'd want to go out for a bike ride on a sunny day, but not specifically a hot one.

Same seems to apply to motorcyclists - can't imagine putting all that leather on!

Doesn't in any way bother me, I'm just curious.

[Mave]

Johnnytheboy said:

Can the good burghers of pedal powered answer a question that's been bugging me?

In the recent bouts of unusually hot weather, I've noticed a pronounced increase in the number of leisure cyclists out and about in the lanes of Dorset.

Can anyone explain why? Because from my memory of cycling (which I gave up years ago) it wasn't particularly enjoyable in a heat wave.

I can understand why you'd want to go out for a bike ride on a sunny day, but not specifically a hot one.

Same seems to apply to motorcyclists - can't imagine putting all that leather on!

Doesn't in any way bother me, I'm just curious.

Depends on how hard you're working. An hour of gentle excercise out in the sunshine, generating your own breeze and a thirst to work off with a swift half with some mates isn't a bad way to spend an evening ;-)

[-crookedtail-]

Cycling down to the local pub on a sunny evening?

[Unexpected Item In Bagging Area]

If you ride on flatish roads at a sensible pace then it's not a problem, at least while you're moving. You can get rather sweaty when you stop though as you lose the cooling wind.

[HardtopManual]

Tell me about it, I commute to work day in, day out, rain or shine, all the way through winter, but can I get a spot in the bike racks at 8:30 when the sun's out? Can I balls. Bloody fair weather mob!

[Kawasicki]

I rode 40 km in 33C today, searching for hills that were not sheltered from the blazing sun. Why? Because it doesn't bother me that's have to ride a little slower due to the heat, and I am a believer in training mental toughness.

[Bikerjon]

I actually quite like cycling in the hotter weather, but I don't do crazy distances and it's just for leisure/fitness. I wouldn't like to commute by bike in this heat though and I usually find the car aircon much more appealing than my motorbike once temperatures rise above a certain level.

[neil-935ql]

I went out today , I would rather go out in the hot weather rather than the freezing cold , that's really not fun . I did come home early today as I ran out of water at 42km , schoolboy error . As others have said just keep moving and your fine .

[bigdom]

Modern fabrics are more comfortable than the old days, as has been mentioned, enough fluid, slow down a bit, keep moving it's okay.

In regards to motor biking, decent set of summer perforated kangaroo leathers, summer gloves and a helmet with plenty of vents, and keep moving it's fine, only when you stop is it a bit sweaty. As I used to save over an hour each way commuting, it easily makes up for time saved.

[Johnnytheboy]

Thanks for the answers so far. I should emphasise that the extra cycle traffic that I see look like they are really trying, and I'm talking about (to me) unpleasantly hot, rather than simply nice, weather. So thus far the answer I like best is...

Kawasicki said:

I rode 40 km in 33C today, searching for hills that were not sheltered from the blazing sun. Why? Because it doesn't bother me that's have to ride a little slower due to the heat, and I am a believer in training mental toughness.

Not my idea of fun, but then I bought a house with a garden so big I have to rush home and do an hour's gardening every night whatever the weather, so who am I to judge?

[BoRED S2upid]

When did we have a heatwave?

[GrantD5]

BoRED S2upid said:

When did we have a heatwave?

Anything about 20 degrees in this country seems like a heatwave.

You know what I love in this weather, I got stuck behind a rubbish dumper truck for about 10-15 seconds this morning and in the heat it was even worse!

[Johnnytheboy]

BoRED S2upid said:

When did we have a heatwave?

It was 30 c here yesterday and my office was 36c, hot enough for me!

[pembo]

There are quite a few cycling events on at this time of year so they could be doing/getting ready for them.
I've just taken to going out around 8pm when my son goes to bed and stopping at a pub on the way around, the evenings are lovely at the moment.

[JustinF]

If you ony ride on perfect 20degree still days, you'd only get about 6 rides a year in given how changable our climate is, I'll take blazing hot over, windy, drizzly, snowing, hail, sideways sea with slots in etc etc. Just add more hydration and suncream.

[SixPotBelly]

What Justin said. Also, at 20MPH you're in a 20MPH breeze. And that's much more welcome in the summer than it is in the winter...

[nickfrog]

Maybe it's the TDF inspiration that increases the number of road leisure cyclists ?

[Doofus]

nickfrog said:

Maybe it's the TDF inspiration that increases the number of road leisure cyclists ?

Christ knows the country goes fking bonkers for tennis during July!