By John Marsh, Editor & Publisher
Do I have your attention? Yes, we may well be a good-looking group, but without a doubt we are hot when it comes to riding in some oppressive temperatures.
Last week’s Question of the Week asked, “What Are the Hottest Temps You Ride In?” The results surprised me, but in light of the following paragraph, maybe they shouldn’t have.
The month of June and the first half of this year both set global warm temperature records, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “There is almost no way that 2015 isn’t going to be the warmest on record,” said NOAA climate scientist Jessica Blunden in a recent AP article.
The heat in Atlanta this summer has certainly followed that script. In June and July, we’ve had 37 days where the high temp reached at least 90 degrees (32C), and 26 of those days reached 100% humidity, with the typical daily average humidity in the 70% range. (But it’s a WET heat….) When I finished a ride earlier this week, it was 97F (36C), with a feels-like temp of 102. The humidity had dropped to a paltry 40%.
And looking at the poll results, I may have it easy! Here’s how you answered:
Over 90F (32C) degrees – 54%
Over 100F (38C) degrees – 34% [Editorial comment: Wow!]
Over 80F (27C) degrees – 11%
Over 70F (21C) degrees – 1%
So for riders around the world – heat does not discriminate, and there seems to be plenty to go around – learning how to manage riding in the heat, and manage hydration, are absolute MUSTS to stay safe in the summer.
But as Coach John Hughes points out below, riding in the heat isn’t just a summer phenomenon. Your body is a veritable heat pump, and you can just as easily overheat on a cool day if you’re not careful. Still, it’s summer now in the Northern Hemisphere, so read on, and ride on – just do it safely.
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