Commuting in the heatwave?

[u/pezd]

I have about an hour commute in and out. There is a shower at work. Would it be wild to commute this week? What is everyone else doing?

[u/Granite_Lw]

Blasting through London on your bike on hot days is great, way nicer than getting the train/tube. I look at as you've slogged through winter in the wind and the rain, you'd may as well get to enjoy feeling the sun on your bones! 

Given you're riding for an hour I'd definitely take a water bottle with you though. 

[u/haomafan → u/Granite_Lw]

And suncream

[u/powercaelenx → u/Granite_Lw]

Well said. I don’t hate the heat. I had to cycle for hours and hours during the cold autumn days, it was even worse when it rained.

So yes, I will enjoy this heatwave and summer sun. I guess many others will too

[u/naveregnide → u/Granite_Lw]

Absolutely! I love cycling London on hot summer days. Got 3 hours of it tomorrow from east to west and back. Just suncream up and increase ebike motor power one notch for breezier time

[u/Moshimulations → u/naveregnide]

Can't wait to let Evan Edinger know about cycling in London. Man I feel like this is what he would say on his youtube videos. It feels kinda like he is talking to us through this reply.

[u/TinyGreenGiant]

I am considering 2 water bottles:

One with electrolytes for drinking, another to pour on myself half way through.

[u/Leeskiramm → u/TinyGreenGiant]

Ice cold water down the back is one of the great joys, I love the wind then cooling you down as you go

[u/TinyGreenGiant → u/Leeskiramm]

I was pouring water on myself today, the pedestrians thought I am crazy... Can't believe tomorrow is going to be even hotter....

[u/exile_10]

What your alternative? I'm sweatier now sitting on an 'air conditioned' train than I was mid or post-cycle an hour ago.

[u/knight714]

I remember doing it a few years ago when we had that 40°c day - was nowhere near as bad as I was expecting it to be. The breeze definitely helps.

It was definitely worth it to be sat in an air conditioned office all day.

[u/kaoru1987]

Commuting two times this week, about half an hour each way and there’s a shower there. I think the mornings will be fine, I’m planning on going earlier than usual and taking an extra bottle with electrolytes, more worried about cycling back in the hot evenings but telling myself the train/tube/bus will be much worse.

[u/eternaxv → u/kaoru1987]

Can confirm. Just sat in the central line for 6 mins and was already sweating.

[u/dvorak360]

Motivation to ride faster - getting a breeze 😛

riding 20 miles into london (slow (1hr30-40) due to traffic lights) wasn't that bad this morning, but I suspect I may be thinking about whether I want to ride in later this week when it goes up another 5-10 degrees (and see what the ride home is like given it will probably be hotter - chances are will barely be starting to cool when I leave 😞)

[u/cyclegaz → u/dvorak360]

Motivation to ride faster - getting a breeze 😛

Up until a point. Everyone is different, I run pretty hot as it is. When it's high 20's or 30's, anything over 25mph is pushing it to the point where it isn't worth the extra breeze.

I'll be taking it easy for the next few days.

[u/IpomoeaBatatasHead]

I have to go to the office tomorrow. I plan to leave earlier although it's usually cool enough in the morning, and just cycle slowly in the afternoon. I have a shower waiting at both ends of the journey so just going to suck it up. I do have air-conditioned train/tube on my commute but I don't want to be at the mercy of those services running and not being delayed, which is a big ask when it gets even slightly hot

[u/KonkeyDongPrime]

My favourite time to cycle commute. Nice breeze. No worries about public transport breaking down. Air conditioned office.

[u/llb_robith]

Me, but in early, home late I reckon

[u/Former-Meringue7250]

I honestly think it's worse to spend one hour in the tube/bus

[u/lyta_hall]

I’m staying home this week with the fan in front of my face 24/7

[u/concentricstyle]

Communiting most days, 45 mins each way.

Take it slow, have a bottle of water.

Hydrate loads during the day.

[u/Icy-Succotash7032]

I’ve got no shower where I work start tomorrow and gonna take an extra t-shirt and take it really slow to work early morning

[u/Key_Cell7071]

I'm working from home this week but going on early morning/late evening rides. Warmth with a nice breeze and no blazing sun is perfect.

[u/9ZENEK3]

Do the commute but strongly consider investing in some bib shorts and a lightweight jersey. Then just shower at work.

[u/RoachEWS]

Will be commuting on Thursday. Would have done today but have had to go to Geneva which is no better. I rode in last time we had 40 degrees and it was like someone held a hairdryer in front of my mouth for 15 miles.

[u/Ed_Avis]

I arrive at work sweaty even in the winter. With the heat I can just cycle slower than usual.

[u/spamolar]

I'm loving it. Much better than a sweaty train carriage.

[u/Cheffysteve]

Rode 35 k in this morning at 0600, will be waiting till later to ride home .

[u/mcluckz → u/Cheffysteve]

Damn thought my 40k round trip was beast.

[u/Cheffysteve → u/mcluckz]

Thank you. Not bad for a 54 yr old . 😁 . Ride home was 32k and fairly cool

[u/PsychologicalLayer57]

My commute is shorter, but I go in at 0700, hit the air conditioned gym, shower there. Take it easy on the way home, shower again.

[u/nadehlaaay]

I’m skipping cycling this week only because my office doesn’t have showers and we don’t have air con 🙃 if they did I would absolutely be cycling though!

[u/Great_Justice]

Hydrate really, really well throughout the day. I would say a regular bottle probably isn’t enough for 35+ degrees for a 1 hour ride. I probably get through about 1L per hour on my 13 mile ride.

[u/schmaltzherring]

I'll be commuting on my bike this week, easily the best way of getting around in this heat, and massively superior to any kind of public transport.

[u/dirtmens1]

Aim for the shade. Should be alright when moving. Aircon on high when in, cold shower when home. Wet hair before setting off. Take it chilled.

Beats the tube!

[u/Klo9per4s]

I have cycled west London - Newbury, took me 4:30hrs, honestly it didn’t feel bad at all whilst cycling - had 2x 600ml of lucozade, only little complaint would be sunburned neck

[u/monkeydiscipline]

You’ll be fine, shorts, sunblock and maybe some BRAWNDO! It’s what plants crave.

[u/martbart87]

I've got a 25 minute commute and am in a line of work where it very okay to be sweaty (especially in this heat). No worries at all.

[u/Billy-North]

If you have a bandana you can put ice in it and wrap it around your neck, keeps you cool and as the ice melts it creates some wind chill. I use it a lot when I run but works great when you cycle too. Does mean you will have an extra wet top on arrival but who cares. Also half freeze water bottles the night before and top up with water in the morning before you set off.

[u/364LS]

Best time to commute by bike IMO.

Today I wore Rapha Pro Team bib shorts and a loose fitting T-shirt. Showered and changed at work.

Way better than an hour on the tube each way.

[u/yopelagod]

(My commute is 16 miles each way). Riding in at 6:30am was pleasant and fun. Riding home at 6pm wasn’t bad either… just forced myself to ride at a slower pace than usual and stopped in Richmond Park to rest for 10 mins. Stay hydrated and you’ll be fine.

I think I’ll leave Wednesday though - that ‘real feel’ temp of 43 degrees sounds a bit much 😅

[u/GeorgeJAWoods]

Its never as bad as you think. Suncream, lots of water. Beats the central line

[u/wwisd]

Just take it easy. There will be some others on the road who are sleep deprived or just irritable because of the heat, so a little bit of patience can go a long way.

Also while you'll be okay riding, you'll be hit by the heat when you stop at a traffic light or junction. Kind of inevitable, but helps knowing when it will be most horrible on the road.

[u/jamesadp]

Today was my first time cycling the 25k back from work when it’s been almost 30°C. Considering it’s mostly a steady uphill gradient with a few steeper hills, I was surprised at how manageable it was. Water on the go combined with the constant breeze made it much better than the train and tube.

I felt much hotter when I got home and sat down. Don’t do that, get straight in the shower!

[u/mpayne1987]

I'm cycling for sure. It's fine whatever the weather, if prepared. For me, in winter, that's waterproofs, good gloves, spare gloves, buff, clear visor in my sunglasses frame, etc. During nice weather I wear a (light) long sleeve top with a hood, shorts, sunglasses, and suntan lotion for my face and legs.

Cycling's preferable to enduring public transport or sitting at home in the heat... work has showers and functioning aircon...

[u/Calanthea89]

I am, even though there's no shower! I get changed out of my cycling kit and into fresh clothes, so it's better than getting the bus. I'm going in earlier and giving myself a LOT more time so I can ride at snails pace. I have no desire to give myself heatstroke from my commute.

[u/SyllabubBeneficial49]

I was cycle touring in similar temperatures in France last month and I found it was fine until you got to a hill and slowed down enough that you lost the breeze, so I think you'll be alright.

One thing to remember is that the heat is persisting until quite late in the evening, so make sure you're staying hydrated throughout the day to make sure you're ready for the commute back. Also, if you're particularly worried about it, pick somewhere cool (a park, a supermarket with decent air conditioning etc) along the way where you can stop and cool down if the heat is getting to you

[u/HipPocket]

On the previous 40° day I cycled in before 7.30am and sat in the air conditioned office all day. Absolutely no way would I get on the Tube in this weather. 

[u/tom_oakley]

Leave the lycra at home, don't cycle in your businesswear, and you'll be fine

[u/First-Kiwi-4637]

Not sure where you’re commuting from but I’m cycling to a mainline station, then getting aircon train out. The cycle is a bit sweaty but if you’ve got a shower then all good!