[REPOST] We all know biking is totally hot right now, and cyclists are total hotties in general. But there comes a time of year when this is a literal condition as well as a metaphorical one.
For some reason, Aucklanders always want to know how to ride in the rain, and we’re happy to share the knowledge on that score (be prepared… to love it). But what to do when the damp conditions are a little more, uh, up close and personal? Read on…
How do I avoid being sweaty after a bike ride?
A lot of people thinking about commuting by bike ask this question, and let’s be fair, it can be especially relevant on the hotter and muggier Auckland days of the year. Here are a couple of suggestions on how to avoid getting yourself sweat-stained (pick and choose what works for you):
- Take it easy – riding your bike to work doesn’t have to be a race. Resist the temptation to turn it into a Tour de France, especially on hills. Hey, even getting off and pushing a bike up that steepest hill on your ride is a proud thing – you are doing so much more activity than the folks in the cars and buses…
- Take a shortcut – if your ride is only 2-3 km, you should be able to avoid getting sweaty except on the very worst days of the year. But what if your work is much further away than that? Consider combining bike and train, or bike to the bus stop. Maybe you can leave a cheap bike locked up at the far end of your journey, or ride the trains outside of peak hours where it’s easier to fit a bike on the train, or some clever combo?
- Be an early bird – not for everyone, but if your biological clock and your work schedules allow it, maybe get out of the house an hour earlier (which means you can go home an hour earlier too!). In the morning, this will help you avoid the worst of the heat, and in the afternoon, you can bike straight home and jump into a cold shower/ run through the garden sprinkler/ hit the beach!
- Sit this one out – who says you HAVE to bike every day? If the humidity reaches 80-90%, and the sun is scorching the pavement, just chill out and take the bus (or even the car…). You want to associate cycling with fun and ease, not have it be a chore that leaves you feeling unfit for work. Be content with being a happy biker on the days of the year when sweat is way less of an issue.
Avoid the hills – it’s scientific fact: natural environmental humidity TOTALLY concentrates near hills, and greedily latches onto you when you slow down to cycle uphill. Look at the worst hills on your route, and if you haven’t done so already, check surrounding streets to see if a slightly less direct route works better for you. (This mapping tool is very useful, although it doesn’t necessarily know which streets feel safer on a bike)
How do I deal with it if I DID get sweaty after all?
Okay, so the above options didn’t work (or weren’t quite enough)? You still ended up sweaty – what to do, except drink lots of water to rehydrate? Well, again, there are a number of options:
Splash & Dash – It may not be perfect, but hey, using some deodorant is easy, and your workmates will certainly prefer it to nothing if you did end up working up a sweat. Talcum powder works too.
What else works for you? Are you tempted to ask the city to install sprinklers along all the cycleways (those on the NW sometimes get lucky when passing the golf course at Chamberlain Park, or the wall of ferns at Te Atatu)? Any clever tricks with drinking fountains or actual fountains? We look forward to your best hot-weather survival tips in the comments below.
