{"id":193977,"date":"2023-09-22T14:54:43","date_gmt":"2023-09-22T14:54:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/?p=193977"},"modified":"2023-09-29T19:06:00","modified_gmt":"2023-09-29T19:06:00","slug":"summer-is-my-winter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2023\/09\/22\/summer-is-my-winter\/","title":{"rendered":"Opinion: Why Summer Is My Winter"},"content":{"rendered":"

Most cyclists can\u2019t wait for summer to arrive. It\u2019s the season to forget about riding in cold weather and enjoy balmy temperatures wearing a simple short-sleeved jersey and shorts. More daylight hours and a holiday break from work mean you\u2019ve got more time to ride, too. But what if you live in a hot climate? The summer can be brutal. Sizzling temperatures force you back inside and reduce the time you ride. Let’s look at why summer is my winter and how cyclists treat the two isn\u2019t too dissimilar.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Vacation destinations<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In the dead of winter, cyclists dream of shedding their layers, tights, long-sleeves and shoe covers to thaw out and roll in pleasant temperatures. Sunny and warm cycling destinations like M\u00e1laga, Calp\u00e9, Tenerife, and Portugal<\/a> top their lists in winter.<\/p>\n

I ride in mild temperatures the rest of the year, but the payback is extreme heat in July and August. My ideal summer holiday takes place in a cooler climate to escape searing local temperatures. Thoughts turn north instead of south. Brittany, France, was the destination this year. It was 20\u00b0 C and rained a lot, so we didn\u2019t cycle that much. But we relished the change in weather and blissfully slept at night (14\u00b0C) under a cosy blanket.<\/p>\n

Cloud cover is your friend<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Clear blue skies in January, February, March mean frigid temperatures. The sun rises later, too, so it takes longer to warm things up. But a good layer of cloud cover usually helps trap, reflect and maintain the little heat there is or develops during the day.<\/p>\n

Blue skies in summer mean the sun is free to beat down on you directly, pushing your core temps further as you exercise and the mercury higher. I welcome cloud cover in the summer months. It protects cyclists from direct exposure and makes a sortie more tolerable. Cloud cover brings higher UV levels, summer or winter, so never forget the sunscreen.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Check the forecast<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Who doesn\u2019t have a weather app on their smartphone? I use mine all winter long, but find it most useful in summer. Peeking at the thermometer out the window or physically stepping outside to get a feel for things isn\u2019t enough. An accurate and reliable weather app, for any cyclist, is a vital resource before heading out the door.<\/p>\n

The daily forecast and hourly breakdowns guide me to the safe hours I can ride in the summer. Humidity levels are equally important. In humid regions, the listed temperature is often different from the realistic \u201cfeels-like\u201d temp. For example, right now, it\u2019s 32\u00b0C, the humidity is 65%, and the \u201cfeels like” temp is a more realistic 38\u00b0C. Six degrees isn\u2019t negligible.<\/p>\n

Bedtime<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Since the days are shorter in winter, cyclists ride later when the sun finally makes an appearance. Even after sunrise, it takes time for things to warm up enough to be tolerable. It\u2019s the perfect excuse to stay in bed longer. People go to bed earlier in winter too, since it\u2019s already dark by the late afternoon.<\/p>\n

To seize the chance to ride in a summer, you gotta get up early when the temperatures are the most clement. And to be ready first thing, you need to be in bed early. This isn\u2019t easy in the summer, as the long daylight hours confuse your circadian rhythm. I need to be up and out at first light if I want to get a ride in. This morning, at 7, it was already 28\u00b0C.<\/p>\n

Ride length<\/strong><\/h2>\n

How long are your winter rides? The answer varies, of course. But I\u2019m betting two to three hours, tops. Getting out in the winter is a challenge in many regions because of the biting cold, frozen feet and hands. You can only take so much before you seek refuge in a warm coffee shop or hear the couch calling.<\/p>\n

Temperatures rise fast once the sun comes up in summer. Even if you get out at first light, you need, and want, to be out of the elements before 11 at least. That limits rides to between two and three hours before exposure to the heat becomes dangerous. In direct contrast, my longest rides are in the winter.<\/p>\n

\"Summer<\/a>
My ideal summer holiday takes place in a cooler climate to escape searing local temperatures. \u00a9 Profimedia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hydration is key<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Hydration is important every day,<\/a> particularly if you\u2019re out riding. You can become dehydrated in winter or summer. A common guideline is one bottle for every hour you ride. It’s a simple rule to follow, but hard to stick to in the winter cold when you don\u2019t feel naturally thirsty.<\/p>\n

I drink more than one bottle in the heat of summer. In 30\u00b0+, you sweat a ton, particularly in a humid environment, expelling precious salt and minerals. I bring along electrolyte tabs and fill up at a fountain when necessary. At least another two bottles go down when I get home. After a summer ride, the tips of my fingers can look like prunes, as if I\u2019ve been in the water too long. Moral of the story is to drink, summer and winter.<\/p>\n

Core temperature<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Extreme temperatures can be brutal on the body\u2019s organism. If you ride in prolonged cold conditions during winter and ignore the warning signs, your core temperature may drop below 35\u00b0C (95\u00b0F). When this happens, you become hypothermic.<\/a> It starts with the shivers and leads to mental confusion. If it worsens, the shivering stops, but the confusion increases. That\u2019s when it\u2019s time to get warm and seek help.<\/p>\n

No, you won\u2019t become hypothermic in the summer. But it\u2019s easy to become hyperthermic. That\u2019s when you overheat because your body cannot manage the situation and absorbs more heat than it dissipates. Also known as heat exhaustion, it too starts with shivers and confusion. It\u2019s a sign your body can\u2019t keep up and core temps are getting dangerously close to or above 37\u00b0C (98.6\u00b0F). If not treated quickly, it can worsen to become a life-threatening case of heat stroke.<\/p>\n

If either happens to you in extreme summer or winter temperatures, stop riding and seek help. Drink in the winter and summer, even if you aren\u2019t thirsty. In summer, water may not be enough. Look for electrolyte tabs<\/a> and other drink powders to add to your bottle if you ride in extreme heat. Or better yet, stay home.<\/p>\n

Ride inside<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Cyclists are fortunate to have technology on their side. Smart trainers have taken the place of boring indoor mag trainers. Today, cyclists can ride and train indoors, even with their friends, from the comfort of their pain cave or living room. Smart apps have turned indoor cycling into a fun replacement for riding outside when extreme temperatures don\u2019t allow it.<\/p>\n

So when it’s really too hot in summer and I feel cooped up at home, I break out my smart trainer and ride inside. This is only a viable option, thanks to air conditioning, of course. I prefer to ride outdoors. So even though summer is my winter, I consider myself lucky to live and ride where I do. Getting up at dawn this time of the year isn\u2019t my favourite thing, but I love a good nap in the afternoon.<\/p>\n

It is a pleasure to ride through my vacant city in summer, too. Everyone has left the city to escape the heat, traffic is at a minimum and the bike lane out of town to the surrounding hills is no longer an obstacle course. It\u2019s such a contrast to the rest of the year. Until the mercury drops, I\u2019ll wake up early, ride a little less, drink more bottles, and enjoy the morning sunrise. Winter is coming soon enough.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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