A roadie mate who is 80 this year in the last heatwave posted a photo of a group of them just finished an 80 mile ride , the guy in the front his face was flushed beetroot red didn't look well at all .
Today he's posted just finished a 60 miler and it registered 39° but there was a breeze 🤔I suggested it wasn't very sensible to which he replied , crack on listen to all the media scaremongering and sit indoors with the TV on 🙄
I know he's amazingly fit for his age and I guess it's none of my business as he's more or less told me but as I said I'm not ready for his funeral just yet 😞
You might " keep getting away with it " but there's a chance it could go horribly wrong
Just read advice from a cycling coach and a thing called wet bulb temperature which is particularly relevant this heatwave with such high humidity.
Anything above 33° is excessive don't excercise
Anything above 33° is excessive don't excercise
Im gonna disagree with that. I have cycled weeks on end with temps above that. I have worked outdoors with temps above that. I have climbed mountains in temps above that. Just keep hydrated and don't push too hard
You might " keep getting away with it " but there's a chance it could go horribly wrong
Which is the attitude I take every time I go for a ride/run/climb.
Not so bad when you're fit, lean and lightweight. Not so clever when you're not.
Interesting pov.
I'm with your mate.
If I didn't exercise in +40 I'd have spent half my life not exercising.
It would be ill-advised to start exercising in +40 sure but if your well condition and take precautions such as hydration , controling effort and covering exposed skin. Your far more likely to come against an errant metal box than harm from the temperature.
Someone we know (and knew a lot better a few years ago when our kids were little) has just dropped dead from heat-stroke on a cycling holiday in France ... He was only 55 😥
Its certainly made me give much more serious consideration as to how much effort I'd put in in hot conditions.
Went out this morning at 0900 (having planned to go out at 0730) and it was a bit sticky. I was only out for an hour though. Wouldn’t have wanted to be out this afternoon…
I’ve just been out for a couple of hours in the road bike. It was hot, but not unbearable, Garmin said 35 ish. Take it slow, drink loads, loads of sun cream and you’ll be fine.
Currently in Italy rock climbing and am frankly amazed how far I can push it. I basically hate hot weather and am useless in it, but I'm here with my son and rock will be climbed.
It's a constant battle to replace lost fluid. Was munching electrolyte tabs and drinking a litre of water at a time. On the more slabby climbs I was quite often placing my foot on a hold that was wet from sweat dropping from me. All my clothes and slings and harness are soaking wet.
Seems ok do far. And road cycling involves much more wind so should be fine
I did a 23k xc ride on Tuesday evening when it was about 30 according to the car. was fine other than feeling like you were hit with a heat hammer every time you stopped
Thank god the likes of oldfart weren't in the desert rats when they were facing down Rommel.
Doesn't happen often but I agree with TJ.
Depends on the individual. I love these temperatures and am absolutely fine in them, I drink more than normal but that's it. I've done 24hr where it's been 27 in the shade so low forties in the sun, and again no problem. I'm perfectly happy riding over 40°.
That's me though. The converse is that I really struggle in the cold, single digits and below especially if it's wet. Different conditions suit different people, maybe your mate is built like me🤷
Riding home from work today is the most comfortable temperature I've been, creating a nice breeze.
Anything above 33° is excessive don't excercise
Nice of you to draw an arbitrary line in the sand for everyone though.
Im gonna disagree with that. I have cycled weeks on end with temps above that. I have worked outdoors with temps above that. I have climbed mountains in temps above that. Just keep hydrated and don't push too hard
Given (I assume) the OP is discussing WET BULB temperature and broadly there's actual science behind this that's used for work place safety I'm not convinced your point is fair.
If you're talking 40deg low humidity in a desert the med that's a very different thing to 40deg at ridiculous % humidity.
I've warn trousers and a shirt in 35deg heat inland in South Africa and felt cooler than high 20s in the sweaty clammy air clag that is the UK.
Sports heat tool has an evidence base.
But the cyclist in question didn't record a wet bulb temperature of 39°C. They will have been nowhere near the wet bulb limit quoted of 33°C.
From that link, max temp: 34°C, max wet bulb: 24°C.
I was confused about your description of WBT but then seemingly drawing a line at 33c, so I’ve just spent a productive hour learning about WBT and WBGT.
I realise now that you meant 33c WBT but that still seems considerably higher than the ‘black flag’ of 29c WBT or 31.1c WBGT.
I was quite interested in the WBT as I had organised a bikepacking trip and decided to cancel hours before the start when the weather warning got upgraded to red, difficult choice when some money had already been paid but 5 days riding and camping with only one night in a hotel with a high of 39c and a low of 25c just seemed too much of a struggle and risk.
The WBGT for the ride is skirting right on the line between high risk/unacclimatised stop and specific cancel exercise advice.
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Around Bristol it's been too hot for me to cycle in the afternoon/evening, there is a bit of a breeze though (last couple of days I've done a 5:30am-8:30am ride, a pleasant 22c setting off and 24-25c by the time I get home). That said I have cycled in the 38-42c range whilst on holiday in Spain and Portugal, it's that point when you go from cooking to start feeling the odd chill down your back and dizziness that you know you've pushed it too far...
Agree with op
It's all fine until suddenly it isn't, then you're putting more strain on already full hospitals dealing with vulnerable people.
Light exercise sure, but pushing yourself in this heat seems nuts to me.
I'm own south though where its 37 to 38 and humid.
I wonder what we would all say to the same group heading out in red / amber warning of wind, rain, snow...
Something like this I should imagine...
I'm gonna disagree with that. I have cycled weeks on end with temps below that. I have worked outdoors with temps below that. I have climbed mountains in temps below that. Just wear your big coat and don't push too hard
Have been out riding in red/amber warnings for hot and cold (crap) weather now. Nope not stopping me. Providing you are not an idiot and are willing to stop and recognise when it is going wrong, I fail to see an issue
I find cycling is a good way to keep cool. So long as you keep at a steady pace and don't push the pace, you have a nice breeze and it's certainly the best way to get around if you need to be somewhere.
When a coach is saying "don't exercise", they are meaning pushing your heart rate high. So long as you keep yourself well hydrated, I'm struggling to see what you think is going to happen if you keep your heart rate to zone 2 levels. Presumably you won't climb your stairs if it goes over 33 degrees, or carry the shopping in?
I'm own south though where its 37 to 38 and humid.
Likewise. Been enjoying the AC on my commute and in the office but the office is shut today for some works so it's bake at home. 🥵
Even my mega fit teens have backed off a bit, one camped in the garden last night because he couldn't get the heat out of his west facing room. So he pitched a tent at 930 as the sun went down. I've just struck camp for him so it won't heat up all day if he does the same tonight.
A WBT of 24 is right at the top end of normal exercise for a fit and healthy person. I'm a middle aged desk jockey and it's probably around the point where I think I'd just take a day off the bike completely and do something less strenuous and it's not worth getting ill over. This isn't combat or a desperate bid to survive something. It'll still be there when the temperature drops a touch.
"I've played Russian roulette many times and have never come to harm" said man before shooting himself.
I've left the bike at home today and driven to work.
I had a ride yesterday evening. Felt considerably more comfortable than the baking office I’d had to sit in all day.
Just read advice from a cycling coach
It's not a protected profession so anyone can call themselves a cycling coach with no qualification at all.
It's all fine until suddenly it isn't, then you're putting more strain on already full hospitals dealing with vulnerable people.
The hospitals are always full around here. If we all used that excuse then we'd sit around all year getting fat.
This, probably 75% of coaches have at or below the BC level 1 qualification. And very very very few of them get called out on it.It's not a protected profession so anyone can call themselves a cycling coach with no qualification at all.
Isn't Wet Bulb Temp (effectively) when it's 100% humidity, so zero cooling by evaporation.
Otherwise a good chunk of my summer road racing and training would have been done at or around that 30-33 degree point. And no one died. TBH, i did an entire 10 day tour/1200+km at over 30 (minimum night time temperature) without any ill effects, other than having to drink 10-12 litres of water and electrolytes a day. And regular pee stops, for the entire peloton.
Thankfully humidity was much lower than 100%.
Isn't Wet Bulb Temp (effectively) when it's 100% humidity, so zero cooling by evaporation.
Its the lowest surface temperature you can achieve by evaporative cooling
At 100% humidity, its the same as air temperature
Its the lowest surface temperature you can achieve by evaporative cooling
What happens to evaporative cooling when you factor in movement, like when you're on a bike?
Another one here who respectfully disagrees with the OP and there seems to be a lot of this on social media lately with people attempting to impose their own arbitrary rules about the weather on others.
I was out road riding on Wednesday evening and it was (I think) about 32degrees and really quite enjoyable. Also went for a run earlier this week in similar weather in the afternoon which many people have been warning against on social media- I mean, it it was too much I would have just stopped and walked a few KMs back via my local Tesco.
A blanket rule of "don't exercise if its over 33 degrees" is kind of ridiculous- everyone's circumstances are hugely different in every case for all sorts of reasons.
By the OP's rule its OK for me to go on an intense V02 max session if its 32 degrees but not to go for an easy 60mins spin if its 34 degrees...which is more risky? There's surely a million different factors to account for every time.
I'm another one who loves it hot - been commuting all this week, 30k rides. I'm a southerner and last night it was 38 degrees on my ride home - enjoyed pushing it, got some Strava medals. The key is listening to your body - if you're feeling good crack on, if not stop!
Group activities changes things a bit though, people who aren't as adapted or fit who might have chosen not to go are persuaded by others. Seen some properly daft group think behaviour at fell running club runs/races.
Its the lowest surface temperature you can achieve by evaporative coolingSo, pretty much yes then.
Just a quick google tells me that 33 DegC wet bulb is equivalent to 44DegC at 50% humidity. London is 31 DegC and 52% humidity today. So another 13 degrees to go (without any change in ambient humidity).
So, yeah, i suspect it's never hit 33DegC *wet bulb temperature* in the UK. Not where you're likely to be exercising anyway.
Maybe on the Tube. But i don't know many people who go down there to exercise.
It's very easy to run out of liquids in temperatures like this. I went out last saturday for a three hour gravel ride. Only low 20's. One bottle will be fine (with carb mix in it) - blooming wasn't and I had to ration my intake to save some - wasn't near any shops !
So, yeah, i suspect it's never hit 33DegC *wet bulb temperature* in the UK. Not where you're likely to be exercising anyway.
Maybe on the Tube. But i don't know many people who go down there to exercise.
You are correct. Its not hit 33 wet bulb in uk and no-one goes on tube to exercise.
Though no-one suggested either of those things.
You are correct. Its not hit 33 wet bulb in uk and no-one goes on tube to exercise.
Though no-one suggested either of those things.
That was the implied advice from the cycling coach?
That was on the Wet Bulb chart advice by a cycling coach if you read it properly unless I didn't explain it clearly?
It's very easy to run out of liquids in temperatures like this. I went out last saturday for a three hour gravel ride. Only low 20's. One bottle will be fine (with carb mix in it) - blooming wasn't and I had to ration my intake to save some - wasn't near any shops !
The weather you’re experiencing is fairly standard in the wet tropics and sub tropics where I am. When I started riding challenging trails in the summer in the rainforest I allowed for a litre of fluid per hour. I’m more accustomed to it now but still need a full bottle for a 1.5 hour ride.
The thing is UK residents are not 'Conditioned' or acclimatised the average temp for the last month has been what? ~18-23 degrees in the space of two days it rocketed up by ~10-15 degrees. Nobody was physcally ready for that especially older people.
I'm with the OP on this; Bravado and "personal responsibility" beliefs aside I kind of feel like the smart thing to do is at least push exercise activities to the cooler parts of the Day (Early or late) if you can. keeling over in the arse-end of nowhere isn't just an inconvenience for the individual, everyone else has to rally round and pick up the pieces when you have a mini stroke 15 miles from home... you ruin everyone's day not just your own.
Choosing to do big volume/longer mileage activity during the highest temps we've seen in a couple of years when you are over ~65 and/or maybe not at peak fitness or 'conditioning' for the environment is potentially asking for a life altering/ending event you didn't need to bring upon yourself.
All of this "I survived summer '76, kids these days..." Boomer bluster is starting to become a bit tiresome now TBH. The current Red/Amber heat warnings aren't there to label anyone not sweating their bollocks off as a bit of a pussy, they're there to help people avoid a serious risk to their health...
Agree with op
It's all fine until suddenly it isn't, then you're putting more strain on already full hospitals dealing with vulnerable people.
Some suggestion of irresponsibility in this article on the Beeb (although covers Europe, not just the UK). UK cardiac arrests up a third apparently.
It's all rather outside my level of knowledge (I've never heard of wet bulb temperatures) but I did a quick Google of the Michael Mosley incident. The temperatures there are suggested to have been 37°-40° (in the shade I think so hotter in direct sunlight). Possibly not that relevant but shows that people can get caught out.
BBC.CO.UK I'm with the OP on this; Bravado and "personal responsibility" beliefs aside I kind of feel like the smart thing to do is at least push exercise activities to the cooler parts of the Day (Early or late) if you can.
I agree
Its the lowest surface temperature you can achieve by evaporative cooling
What happens to evaporative cooling when you factor in movement, like when you're on a bike?
it's more 'what happens to evaporative cooling you factor in a lack of movement'... you just need "sufficient" to allow evaporation to do its thing.
cycling would definitely be sufficient.
around here, humidity is reportedly about 50%, so plenty of scope for sweat to do what it does even if the air temp is mid 30s, the wet bulb temp is 22deg
Another one here who respectfully disagrees with the OP and there seems to be a lot of this on social media lately with people attempting to impose their own arbitrary rules about the weather on others.
you should see what the schools are doing <runs for cover>
