Hottest in years

They were saying that today might be the hottest day Milwaukee has seen in five years. I believe it.

Even with my love of heat, today you had to be careful.

Sunny, HOT, humid, 102 degrees!
Windy, 12-15
Almost Wales, 36 miles


I never intended to ride west today but of all things my toe dictated direction. At the start today as I was doing my cyclocross through the gavel construction area to get on the Oak Leaf Trail my gout-tainted right big toe really hurt me. I knew I would not be able to climb at all today, thus shooting my plan to ride some laps in Whitnall Park. I would go west where it was flat instead.


Into the wind and up the false flat at a steady pace allowing my body to adjust to the heat. With the wind in my face it was at least somewhat cooling, not that there was anything cool about this effort.


But I enjoy the hot weather. My best advice to riders is to pay extra attention to your body temperature. Your body will tell you when there is danger ahead. Today, I listened.


And I rode smart.


I had an entire water bottle in me between Greenfield Park and Springdale on the New Berlin Path. Feeling good and enjoying the sun and heat, I decided to keep going into Waukesha. The only climb I would have to deal with on the way out and back would be the hill at Carroll University. After getting up that I decided my next stop would be the learning center building in Waukesha that is located just in front of the entrance to the Glacial Drumlin Trail.


It was there that I took a break, paying attention to my body. If you feel the heat building...if you stop sweating...if you actually get tingles or goose bumps...well, you've taken on too much heat and are ready for a breakdown. I avoided that with this stop.


I took off my helmet, gloves, glasses, and went right to the water faucet they have sticking out of the building. Cold water. High pressure. Awesome feeling of water dumped over my head running down onto my body.


I filled water bottles number three and four and decided to check out the GD path for a bit.


Lots of water. Little shade. At times you could feel the bursts of heat like an oven door opening as it reflected off the path. It drains you in a hurry no matter how much water you are taking in.


With no shade and a long stretch slightly uphill I started to overheat. I decided there was no reason to go to Wales. I would stop and turn around at the next intersection, which is where I got a surprise.


As I pulled over at the stop sign at Highway DT I only had one foot unclipped when two guys rolled up next to me, one of them on a white Specialized bike. I had NO CLUE anyone was behind me. I must have been pulling for them for  a while but heard nothing due to all the wind I was riding into.


We exchanged hellos and off they went across the road. Despite knowing I needed to turn around here the thought of a chase and group ride with them occurred to me of course. But I did the right thing. Ironic that I was at Highway DT, my late grandma's initials. Maybe she was the one who looked down and told my brain, nope, let them go and stick to your plan Phil...it's a good one.


So I turned around to head back to that same water stop.


It was much easier going back because of the wind and elevation direction now both being in my favor. I got there in no time and repeated the water stop I did on the way out. Thank goodness for that place!


I climbed Carroll hill no problem and got myself back onto the NB trail, where wow, I was able to crank it up for some reason. Sweat pouring off my arms and hands as I was in the drops for much of the way to Calhoun, just wanting to get out of the sun a little quicker now. It was really burning down on me by this time...coming up on two in the afternoon.


A quick stop at the new Trailside Cycles at Calhoun to talk to the guy who works there, Warren, who happened to be outside when I rolled up and he asked me how it was out there on the ride.

36 miles--6 water bottles.


When I got home I felt pretty darned good. Aside from the toe issue I probably had more miles in me, but I did the right thing. You can only go so long without a water/shade stop, and if you get into a position on the road where you could not do that you would be in trouble for sure.


I was more hungry than thirsty afterward, so after a quick and cooling shower I was rewarded with the post-ride meal of champions:
Peanut butter and honey on toast.


This is one I'll remember in the depths of the upcoming winter...the day I rode when it was over 100 degrees with a heat index of Lord knows what, but I bet it's over 110 degrees!

Season Miles: 1,265