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Apparently cycling in a fully upright position makes a big difference in how much sweat you produce. Also not wearing a helmet means you get to make better use

Apparently cycling in a fully upright position makes a big difference in how much sweat you produce. Also not wearing a helmet means you get to make better use of one of your major heat sinks.

CydeWeys 7y ago
You have to keep in mind the weather there too. But I will say that cycling is surprisingly sweat-free for me (someone who typically sweats a lot). The amount of wind you're generating has a significant evaporative cooling effect that helps a lot even in hot weather. I find that when I'm biking to work, even on hot summer days, I only get noticeably sweaty when I'm sitting in the sun not moving at all waiting for a light to turn, and then when I get into a stuffy elevator at work.
freehunter 7y ago
This is actually pretty important. I did a 50 miles ride once and after about 30 miles the only way I could continue was by removing my helmet. My head was overheating otherwise, and every mile I continued with the helmet on, I was getting dizzier and dizzier. Only after I removed my helmet was I able to continue the ride without any negative effects. I still advocate for bicyclists wearing a helmet, but inside that recommendation is the reality that the standard American helmet I was wearing was causing me to overheat and suffer negative side effects. The only way I made it to my destination was from removing the helmet and taking the risk of crashing and suffering a major head injury. In that way, helmets are very different from automobile seat belts.
- brianwawok 7y ago
  To be fair, there is a wide range of helmets. I have a $20 helmet that feels like you describe. I also have a $200 helmet that I can’t tell I have on. You may just need a nicer helmet...
  - freehunter 7y ago
    Agreed, which is why I said "the standard American helmet". You'd probably be hard pressed to walk into Walmart and buy a $200 helmet. Non-bikers like to make fun of cyclists wearing spandex and weird shoes and etc, without knowing that cycling can be dangerous in a way that a car or walking might not be. It's something people should be aware of. Your $20 Walmart helmet may cause your brain to overheat while you're riding. I certainly didn't know that was possible until I experienced it.

Apparently cycling in a fully upright position makes a big difference in how much sweat you produce. Also not wearing a helmet means you get to make better use of one of your major heat sinks.

CydeWeys 7y ago

You have to keep in mind the weather there too. But I will say that cycling is surprisingly sweat-free for me (someone who typically sweats a lot). The amount of wind you're generating has a significant evaporative cooling effect that helps a lot even in hot weather. I find that when I'm biking to work, even on hot summer days, I only get noticeably sweaty when I'm sitting in the sun not moving at all waiting for a light to turn, and then when I get into a stuffy elevator at work.

freehunter 7y ago

This is actually pretty important. I did a 50 miles ride once and after about 30 miles the only way I could continue was by removing my helmet. My head was overheating otherwise, and every mile I continued with the helmet on, I was getting dizzier and dizzier. Only after I removed my helmet was I able to continue the ride without any negative effects. I still advocate for bicyclists wearing a helmet, but inside that recommendation is the reality that the standard American helmet I was wearing was causing me to overheat and suffer negative side effects. The only way I made it to my destination was from removing the helmet and taking the risk of crashing and suffering a major head injury. In that way, helmets are very different from automobile seat belts.

brianwawok 7y ago
To be fair, there is a wide range of helmets. I have a $20 helmet that feels like you describe. I also have a $200 helmet that I can’t tell I have on. You may just need a nicer helmet...
- freehunter 7y ago
  Agreed, which is why I said "the standard American helmet". You'd probably be hard pressed to walk into Walmart and buy a $200 helmet. Non-bikers like to make fun of cyclists wearing spandex and weird shoes and etc, without knowing that cycling can be dangerous in a way that a car or walking might not be. It's something people should be aware of. Your $20 Walmart helmet may cause your brain to overheat while you're riding. I certainly didn't know that was possible until I experienced it.