Favorite commuting items for summer heat

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  • June 28, 2013 at 4:17 pm #913651
    Arlingtonrider
    Participant

    I thought a thread like this might be helpful to new commuters dealing with riding in the heat and humidity of this time of year.

    My favorites items this year are Keen Commuter III cycling sandals for clipless pedals (designed for spd cleats) and the fan on my desk to help with the morning cool down.

    I’m especially liking the Keen sandals. I was initially concerned that they might get too loose for easy clipouts, but the lacing and velcro has kept them working nicely, even on my narrowish feet. They’re also comfortable for walking and quiet in office hallways. I liked riding in the regular Keen sandals before I went clipless.

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  • June 28, 2013 at 4:25 pm #974190
    Mikey
    Participant

    Other than a second water bottle? My beat the heat trick is to take my ride shirt/jersey (only do this if it is not cotton), and dunk it in cold water just prior to going outside. Donning a cold wet shirt in ac instantly cools you off, to the point of nearly shivering before you head outside. Then when you get outside the heat actually feels nice. The shirt continues to cool your core as the water evaporates (a nice 12 mph breeze from biking helps with this), and eventually gets replaced with sweat. It provides about 30 minutes of comfort even in 95+ F days. Then about 6 miles in you have to find a lawn being watered and run through the sprinkler.

    June 28, 2013 at 4:33 pm #974191
    mstone
    Participant

    You need narrow feet for the keen commuters; for some reason they make them way narrower than their normal sandals. I’m thinking about trying their arroyo cycle sandals, which are supposedly a more normal width, but it’s not a priority. With the T780 pedals I can just wear sandals if I want to, and if I’m riding far enough to want to be clipped in, I probably also want a stiffer sole.

    June 28, 2013 at 4:35 pm #974192
    mstone
    Participant

    My favorite summer items are the nuun tablets and the headsweats.

    June 28, 2013 at 4:47 pm #974194
    jabberwocky
    Participant

    I’ve been known to cyclocross through peoples lawns so I can ride through their sprinklers.

    June 28, 2013 at 4:50 pm #974196
    KelOnWheels
    Participant

    I have Keen sandals on my wish list – my feet get toasty in my MTB shoes!

    I also really want to get a rack & panniers – the backpack was nice in the winter but it’s too hot now. Also now that I’m carrying 6 pounds of U-lock in it and riding drop bars it’s not very comfortable anymore :P My hands are sad :(

    My new favorite thing is Huggies Natural Care Fragrance Free Baby Wipes – they’re like $3 at the grocery store for a pack of 56. Or you could get 448 for $16.

    With those and a camp towel I am all fresh and clean for work.

    Also I have one of these little octopuses from IKEA rigged up under my desk to hang my sweaty gear on so it’s nice and dry when I go home and no one has to look at it.

    June 28, 2013 at 5:07 pm #974202
    Arlingtonrider
    Participant

    Great ideas! Also, Hains Point has some good sprinkers on from time to time. :)

    Costco sells unscented baby wipes too, for anyone who wants a long-term supply. Their daily facial wipes are a nice follow-up to those for women who don’t mind a very light scent that disappears quickly.

    June 28, 2013 at 5:09 pm #974205
    KLizotte
    Participant

    Be careful of buying too many baby wipes at one time since they will dry out over time even if unopened.

    June 28, 2013 at 5:14 pm #974207
    Arlingtonrider
    Participant

    I’ve never had any dry out, but I might act pre-emptively and give some packages of them away at the next happy hour I’m in town for. I bought too many!

    June 28, 2013 at 5:18 pm #974209
    KelOnWheels
    Participant

    Kel’s Overly Personal Pro Tip, Because She Cares:

    Ladies.

    DO NOT use facial wipes (like these, for example) on anything except your face.

    I’m just sayin’.

    Also, unsweetened cranberry juice is disgusting. 😮

    June 28, 2013 at 5:20 pm #974210
    NicDiesel
    Participant

    If anyone wants some Fruit Punch Nuun tablets let me know. I think I have six tubes just sitting in my “nutrition” drawer at home.

    June 28, 2013 at 5:48 pm #974212
    Dickie
    Participant

    It’s actually what I don’t use that makes the difference for me. I skip sun glasses (if it’s possible) as I find my face gets really sweaty without air flow. I also skip gloves for rides under 50 miles, and I skip the drink supplements for my daily commute so I can dump water on my head if I need too. I do like my Craft summer base layer which amazingly helps keep me cooler (seems counter-intuitive) but it works for me.

    June 28, 2013 at 6:03 pm #974215
    dbb
    Participant

    @Arlingtonrider 56540 wrote:

    Great ideas! Also, Hains Point has some good sprinkers on from time to time. :)

    The water the NPS uses to irrigate is pumped from the Potomac. It may be a bit less pure than the sprinkler water found at your home. Just say’n

    June 28, 2013 at 7:22 pm #974228
    Arlingtonrider
    Participant

    @dbb 56553 wrote:

    The water the NPS uses to irrigate is pumped from the Potomac. It may be a bit less pure than the sprinkler water found at your home. Just say’n

    :( I hadn’t thought about that. I think I’ll just close my mouth and speed through the mist they give off anyway – it didn’t kill me the few times last summer.

    June 28, 2013 at 9:07 pm #974244
    PotomacCyclist
    Participant

    The Hains Point “sprinklers” are more like high-powered water jets. You need body armor (or a sturdy helmet) to protect your head.

    The Potomac River is muddy but it’s relatively clean (except after heavy rainstorms, when the storm sewers overflow and mix with the sanitary sewers). I’ve done several triathlon race swims in the river and no glowing skin or new appendages yet. I’ve even (accidentally) gulped down some of the water during those races. But I wouldn’t recommend guzzling Potomac River water. Not very tasty.

    June 29, 2013 at 12:05 am #974259
    sjclaeys
    Participant

    Given our latest weather, my favorite items are my fenders. I am thinking about getting sandals because they must dry more quickly than my shoes.

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