Keeping Cool: Can clothing help?

Most Venerated Demi-God Dirt:

There is another option for women, the combo sports bra/spaghetti strap top, very helpful on days like this. The downside is if I hit another sandbar, I’ll get more torn up. But I’m willing to live with that. I’ve seen women wear just a sports bra too, there’s another option. The only time I’ll wear a skort is on a day like this because it lets me get away with wearing a very short bike shorts while creating at least plausible deniability.

White shoes, much cooler, less ugly.

And just the ability to say, enough is enough.

ann

Dirt, you are a veritable font of useful bike knowledge. Thanks for sharing!

I second your epicness. Kudos kind sir and thanks for keeping us safe.

I was wanting to bring this topic up over the last week or so.

I have a really short ride to work but it’s a pretty crappy ride no matter how I try it (but thats another discussion). My better half has asked me to refrain from “commuting” for safety and weather conditions. I have been inhaling extra water all week and have mostly the right clothing. I really want to test myself and push my personal boundaries but I don’t want her to worry too much, at least about the weather. Cars running me down onthe West End of alexandria will remain a hot button topic though.

When the air it’s this thick how much speed to you pro commuters loose. I am finding an average decrease of about 2mph.
I have mostly decided I wiki be unable to do my job properly if I show up drenched in sweat. My shop doesn’t have a shower and I have a feeling most Infiniti owners would not think a whore bath will do the trick. However it seems that no one wants their cars fixed in this great anyway so I should be free to go home soon,yay.

There is a missing 1 somewhere…

I ended up getting out of work early today and went for a ride through Holmes Run and up to the split that goes under 395. I know that temp gauges on bike computers are notoriously misleading but it never went below 100 and as high as 107, but I really like the heat. It was a great ride the trail and road around Cameron Station were deserted, not even one SUV stroller. There was one nut I saw riding a bike in work boots, a long sleeved flannel, jeans and no helmet peddling against traffic.

I was thinking about this thread during the ride watching how things were absorbing and removing sweat. My jersey was a champ.

@SteveTheTech 6174 wrote:

I second your epicness. Kudos kind sir and thanks for keeping us safe.

I was wanting to bring this topic up over the last week or so.

I have a really short ride to work but it’s a pretty crappy ride no matter how I try it (but thats another discussion). My better half has asked me to refrain from “commuting” for safety and weather conditions. I have been inhaling extra water all week and have mostly the right clothing. I really want to test myself and push my personal boundaries but I don’t want her to worry too much, at least about the weather. Cars running me down onthe West End of alexandria will remain a hot button topic though.

When the air it’s this thick how much speed to you pro commuters loose. I am finding an average decrease of about 2mph.
I have mostly decided I wiki be unable to do my job properly if I show up drenched in sweat. My shop doesn’t have a shower and I have a feeling most Infiniti owners would not think a whore bath will do the trick. However it seems that no one wants their cars fixed in this great anyway so I should be free to go home soon,yay.

On my 2.5 mile commute this week, I’ve taken to wearing a loose fitting sleeveless t-shirt, my work pants rolled up over the knee and flip flops. I either strap my backpack into the baby seat or put it in the cargo basket on the back to get it off my back.

By pedaling slowly and finding shade at stoplights I’ve been able to successfully make it into work without sweating. Once there, I can change my shirt, shoes and unroll my pant legs and I’m good to go!

Custis Trail has been nearly devoid of pedestrians in the afternoons. I biked Monday, Wednesday and Friday of this week. I think this afternoon west bound will be deserted. I’m finding that keeping my bike in the granny chain ring on the way home for some time helps. I only really perceive that I am sweating when I stop at a stoplight, otherwise at a relatively low intensity, I never feel damp.

I think a Headsweats bandana under my helmet really keeps things cool as well. This afternoon on the way home, I may just go without my shirt.

Does Dirt wear a sports bra all the time, or just on the pink bike?