Safe cycling in the sizzling summer heat

Alyssa Schulte

It's so hot your bike will burst into flames.
 
FACT: It's so hot your bike will burst into flames.

Summer heat got you down? Whether you’ve begrudgingly taken to cranking up the AC in your place of residence – despite the hand-slap you’re sure to give your forehead once the electric bill arrives – or choosing to spend your free time in some sort of body of water to cool down, there is one thing you don’t have to change (even with temperatures in the triple digits): your commute. If you’re a die-hard I-bike-everywhere sort of person, don’t let the heat stop you.

Let me tell you how (with the help of this awesome Milwaukee-based biking blog)!

It appears there are just a few simple rules you must follow in order to successfully bike to your destination – without arriving soaking wet and smelling to high heaven:

  • Leave as early as possible, when it's still relatively cool.
  • Dress to impress. Meaning, of course, dress as lightly as possible.
  • Coast. You're not in a race (unless you are, in which case, throw out all of these rules and WIN). But seriously, coast. You won't perspire as much and you'll have a better chance of hitting the green lights if you set a nice, easy pace.
  • Have an after-biking station waiting. Namely, a small fan and some hand sanitizer.

Follow these tips and you're set. And your co-workers won't shun you.

That being said, if you're one of those aforementioned die-hard bikers (and if you're still reading this, you probably are), you should check out Over the Bars in Wisconsin, a very cool blog written by Dave Schlabowske, the Director of Communications for the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin. It's been up-and-running for over a year now, offering insight and tips for bikers in Wisconsin.