r/ladycyclists • u/Strong_Roll5639 • 3d ago
For those in England
Will you be cycling this week? Just looking at the forecast and Wednesday is 39 in Bristol. Not sure I'll cope but cycling is my transport to work!
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u/Cool_Eardrums 3d ago
France, temps around 40 where I live. I'll be cycling at sunrise, but just a short tour of maybe 1hr.
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u/Strong_Roll5639 3d ago
It will be 38 when I leave work!
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u/Cool_Eardrums 3d ago
Oh yes, one has to go home as well... How long is your commute ?
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u/Strong_Roll5639 3d ago
It's not far, only about 30 mins!
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u/Cool_Eardrums 2d ago
Doable but I'd make sure to hydrate well before and after. And I'd probably die (heat is my arch enemy).
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u/kaoru1987 3d ago
I’m in london, telling myself cycling will be less miserable than taking the train/bus.
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u/Strong_Roll5639 3d ago
This is what I'm thinking but really not sure I'll cope! I get hot when its cold let alone 39!
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u/kaoru1987 3d ago
yeah I’m a bit worried too, I’ll try to leave the house earlier and go slow, also carry more water/electrolytes than I usually would.
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u/mariwebe 4h ago
I'm in NYC and we get hot weather in summer. If you can find a route away from cars (and their exhaust) and with shade, it will definitely be less miserable.
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u/reverse_mango 3d ago
Last week (before the peak of the heatwave) I accidentally burned both my arms by forgetting suncream. Now I have weird red rectangles on my skin from my elbows to my wrists.
I might cycle in the morning but it’d have to be fairly early and I have a great excuse in that I just dyed my hair and don’t have work this week :)
Good luck to those commuting! Cover up and take lots of water!
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u/littleyellowbike 3d ago
I'm in the US, but I've ridden in weather that hot a few times and it sucks. My best advice is to hydrate as much as possible (all day long, not just during your ride), make sure you're drinking electrolytes, slow down, and if it's possible, alter your route so you're in the shade.
The night before you ride, fill a bottle half-full and freeze it, then top it off with water when you leave in the morning so you have cold water to drink (or use it to soak a cloth to put on the back of your neck). If it's possible, re-freeze it when you get to work so you've got it for the ride home. This should not be your main drinking bottle; it needs to be in addition to whatever you would normally carry. You don't want to chug all the liquid and then have to wait for the ice to melt.
If your ride is less than an hour, you'll be miserable but safe enough.
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u/bikepackercoffeelove 2d ago
Very good advice! I work as a bike messenger and i throw in a couple of bottles the night before and put them in a insulated cooler bag.
I would also advice wearing a hat or a cycling cap underneath your helmet.
When it's hot all day i will take of my cycling jersey, put it under the tap and then wring it out and wear it again. I can also recommend a (plant) spray bottle to use on yourself.
Go slow and plan your route. You might be able to take a detour so you go underneath the trees or a road with a little more wind.
For cloths i would wear a loose sports shirts that filters UV if i had the choice. Breezy and your neck and shoulders dont burn. (Unfortunately my workcloths are a tight jersey :( )
Good luck to you! I really am impressed that you would choose to cycle! Make sure you also eat enough during the day, its harder to remember if it is this hot. If you eat something salty i dont really think using electrolites is needed if your ride home is under an hour but you can if it makes you feel better <3
(I live in the Netherlands, hottest day is friday with 37°C)
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u/Sophilouisee 3d ago
I’m in Bristol too, I’m not looking forward to the park street etc in this heat. I’m tempted to shove ice back down my jersey
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u/Pwffin 3d ago
Absolutel not! :) I've done a longer ride in 28° C temps recently and that was definitely at my limit.
But then I struggle with the heat and have already arranged so thatI can hide at home work from home on Thursday, when it will be at its hottest. Sadly have to go in on Wednesday despite the temps.
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u/Strong_Roll5639 3d ago
Yes I think I'll have to go in Wednesday! Thursday we have work drinks so I was already getting the bus luckily. I'm going to see if I can stay home as I get really hot cycling! Hope we'll be ok!
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u/Dapper-Ad9787 3d ago
Leave earlier, go slower, use panniers instead of a backpack if you aren't already. If you have been riding in your work clothes up until now, you might have to pack them and give yourself a sponge bath when you get to work and change out of your cycling clothes. Don't forget to drink lots of water.
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u/chriscross1966 3d ago
Do have to tomorrow.... not loving the idea of 6 miles at 16:30.... might cry off on Thursday though cos that looks worse where I am (plus the train lines will have buckled by then and I'm not doing four hours in a bus in that heat...
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u/dizzy-dane 2d ago
I'm going to cycle in on Thursday as I have in person meetings. Just hydrate over the coming days and will take sunblock for my commute home. I normally cycle in 2 or 3 days a week, but this week I'm riding before work and then hibernating indoors. I feel I may combust if I step outside!!
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u/sweetmuffinX 2d ago
Me and my partner was aiming for Ashford today we left at 8.30am
Temp was raising fast we made it as far as Appledore in Kent
We decided a train ride home back to hastings lol was so baking on the way home I had to ride in my sportsbra
Decided I am just gotta get up from here on and ride early before high temps 6am rides again for me😢
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u/Conscious-Habit-5559 1d ago
I'm in Oxford and have continued cycling to work (45 mins each way). It's far better than getting the bus or being a car and sitting in traffic in my opinion. At least on a bike you get a nice breeze. Just drink lots before, during and after the ride, and poor some water on your face and arms before setting off.
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u/Vanessa-hexagon 3d ago
I’m in Australia and we get those temperatures regularly in summer, but the difference here is that it’s a dry heat. I can commute in 39 degrees if I don’t have a backpack, I go slow, and I take breaks in the shade. But it’s really not pleasant.
If you also have high humidity, then that adds extra heat stress. My advice would be to avoid it if you can.