🔥 Martynn's Tips: This is a Hot Topic!

From: Haynes - Tuesday Aug 15,2023 11:31 am

How to stay safe when riding in heat

Riding a bike in the heat isn’t something we had to think much about during July and the first half of August, but temperatures are on the rise this week. It’s also easy to get caught out during those dashes across Europe – I wouldn't have relished riding in the record-breaking temperatures in the Med last month.

So here are some tips to help you stay safe in the heat:

1. Stop & rehydrate regularly

Our riding gear is chosen to protect us and keep us warm, but on a hot day it’s easy to overheat riding slowly or when stuck in a jam.

A few years back, I was riding into the centre of a town in Northern Italy on a blisteringly hot day. It was early afternoon, and I hadn’t stopped since breakfast.

As I came to a halt at some traffic lights, the world started spinning, and my vision started to blur. I managed to make it to the side of the road, put the side stand down, then fell onto the pavement. Some kind passerby helped me with my helmet and made me drink some water. After about 15 minutes, I felt much better, convinced them that I didn’t need an ambulance, and got back on the bike.

So you need to remember to stop at regular intervals and take on more water (and food, if necessary), rather than ploughing on regardless.

2. Protect yourself from the sun

It’s tempting isn’t it? The sun’s shining, the locals are riding around on their scooters in T-shirts, shorts, and beach sandals, and you’ve got a jacket, jeans and gloves on. Surely, it’s better to be cool?

Well, being cool is better than overheating of course, and no one is ignorant of the consequences of falling off wearing shorts etc. We’re all grown up, and can imagine how much fun it will be to spend a few hours in the emergency room, having gravel removed from knees, hands etc.

However, I got caught out many years ago in southern France, 35°C plus, and riding to a race meeting about an hour away with some locals. I knew the pace would be slow, so I reasoned that the risk of falling off was low, and the risk of overheating was high. Shorts and T-shirt it was, then.

Riding along at 40 mph was just about comfortable, but when I got back I realised my mistake: no sun cream! I was the proverbial lobster and very uncomfortable for days.

Check out another couple of Martynn’s heat tips here

Technical Editor, Martynn Randall has been with Haynes for 27 years and has written more than 60 Haynes Manuals.

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