One way to dress for cycling in hot weather
Lloyd Alter
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This post is part of our Better Biking feature, a discussion of many of the ways that we can engage in two-wheeled transport a little more effectively. Stay tuned for more!
If bikes are truly going to be part of our transportation system, they have to be usable all year round. Right now it is really hot across much of North America, and some people are probably looking longingly at that air conditioned car in the driveway. Don't do it! There are lots of ways to adapt your riding to the hot weather. Some tips:
Copenhagenize your ride.
While cycling is very good exercise, urban biking isn't about exercise, it is about getting from point A to point B. This is the point made by Mikael at Copenhagenize, a website devoted to making bikes part of our everyday life instead of a sport
So stop thinking of it as a workout and slow down. No vehicle on earth moves you more efficiently and with less energy, so take it slow and easy, like a ride around Copenhagen.
Lose the Lycra.
No doubt your butt looks great in those tight black shorts, but they are hot, and black is not the right colour to be wearing. Wear loose, light clothing.
Wear your helmet.
This sounds counterintuitive, but most helmets are designed with ventilation channels to funnel the air against your scalp, and they also shade your head from the sun.
Drink lots of liquids
Some suggest that you should drink 15 minutes before you start riding, but don't go crazy and drink like you are in a race; carry a water bottle and drink when you are thirsty. You might put your water bottle in the freezer for a few hours before you ride.
Change your work hours.
The earlier in the day that you ride, the cooler it is. Of course that might mean that you are riding home in the hotter time of day, but at least you are less worried about arriving sweaty or tired.
Take a break.
Stop along the way for an iced coffee or a gelato; pick up a cool juice in the air conditioned supermarket along the way. A quick hit of cool air can do wonders.
Pack it in a Pannier
If you have to carry a change of clothing, don't carry it in a backpack; they get hot and uncomfortable. Panniers are better than carriers because the center of gravity is lower.
Enjoy Yourself.
Take it slow and easy, look around, smile at all the people stuck in traffic on hot asphalt as you glide by. It's summertime!
