Beating the Heat on 2 Wheels
Beating the Heat on 2 Wheels
by Damion Alexander
I’ve discovered the ultimate secret to surviving Tucson’s brutal summer heat: spend six weeks in Colorado. From mid-June to the end of July, I didn’t see a single thermometer over 85 degrees. Lakes, rivers, cool breezes, and wildflowers to the waist. It was glorious.
But eventually, you have to pay the piper. I came back at the end of July and was immediately greeted by a wall of 107-degree air and the smell of asphalt melting. I jokingly posted on Facebook that I had a whole list of pro tips for riding in the Tucson summer heat, then left the post completely blank. Because the truth is, there’s no magical hack. Except, maybe, going to Colorado.
Still, if you’re here, and most of us are, and you’re determined to keep pedaling through the summer, I do have some tricks for staying safe, sane, and semi-sweaty but not dead.
Ride When the Sun Doesn’t
Forget the high temp. Focus on the low. Tucson’s summer mornings and nights often dip into the 70s or 80s, and that’s when you want to be out. Night riding is where it’s at. The heat isn’t the problem, it’s the exposure. If you’ve got airflow and you’re not baking under the sun, even the 90s can feel okay.
Modern bike lights make this easier than ever. And thank goodness for that, because 15 to 20 years ago, it was a completely different story.
Back in 2008, high-powered bike lights were a luxury item. For four to five hundred dollars, you could get a Light and Motion ARC HID system that put out around 600 lumens, just barely enough for serious night riding. But there was a catch. These lights came with actual warnings telling you not to stop riding because the system could overheat and potentially catch fire. I’m not exaggerating! I remember touching those battery packs mid-ride and thinking, this should not be attached to my bike, let alone strapped to my body.
Lights were clunky and awkward. You needed a separate battery pack that was about the size and weight of a brick. Mounting it usually involved some kind of frame strap system or duct tape improvisation. Charging meant finding an outlet and hoping you remembered where you left the charger. And if you managed to get 90 minutes of runtime, you felt like you had the latest and greatest tech.
Fast forward to today and things have come a long way. The cost per lumen is dramatically lower. Batteries are lighter, smaller, and far more efficient. Most lights now are self-contained and USB rechargeable. You can get a 10,000-lumen light for under one hundred bucks that does not require a separate pack and will not burst into flames if you stop at a red light. Mounting systems are streamlined, intuitive, and they actually stay put. Compared to the fire-hazard, sweat-soaked tech of 2008, today’s lights feel like alien technology.
Night Riding Isn’t as Scary as It Sounds
People assume riding in the dark is dangerous. But honestly, it might be safer. You can’t see what’s off the trail, so you’re forced to focus forward. Things that would psych you out during the day just float past your peripheral vision without a second thought.
It’s also peaceful. I’ve ridden thousands of hours at night and have never had a threatening encounter. The scariest thing you’re likely to run into is a rattlesnake. And if you’ve got your bunny-hopping dialed, no problem. I’ve seen bobcats, owls, coyotes, even the occasional frog or mouse, but never a mountain lion or bear. And in most cases, animals are far more afraid of you than you are of them, especially when you’re coming at them lit up like a spaceship.
One of the most magical things you can do on a bike is ride under a full moon with no lights. When your eyes adjust and the moonlight hits the trail just right, it’s surreal. You’re floating. The wind rushes through your helmet, coyotes howl in the distance, and you get that rare desert breeze cooling you down as you pass through a wash. It is better than a Costco freezer aisle.
Which brings me to another key survival tip.
Know Where the Cold Lives
In Tucson, summer riding is sometimes about just not overheating. One of my most underrated pro moves is to know where the best walk-in coolers are. Convenience store beer coolers are gold. Costco’s produce section is heaven. If you’ve been riding too long in the heat, stepping into one of these mini-Arctics will bring your core temperature down fast. Just act like you’re browsing for frozen peas while you secretly rehydrate your soul.
Drink Like a Desert Camel
Start hydrating before your ride. Not five minutes before, but hours ahead. Electrolytes matter. Products like Skratch, Nuun, or LMNT give you more than water alone. During the ride, sip constantly. And don’t stop after the ride, keep it going.
On scorching days, I often bring a third water bottle. Not to drink, but to pour down my jersey. I’ve also been known to soak my kit before the ride even starts. Starting cool gives you a huge head start. A drenched jersey can keep you cooler for miles, especially if there’s a breeze.
Don’t Stop Moving
If you’re riding during the day, movement is key. Your body acts like an evaporative cooler. The second you stop, especially at a red light, the heat hits you like a truck. If you can, time your pace to roll through lights. If not, scope out shade a little ahead of the intersection so you can wait it out under a tree or building shadow.
Dark-colored kits are your enemy. Wear light colors. And yes, a wide brim helmet cover might look goofy and flap around when it’s windy, but it works. It feels like five to ten degrees cooler than bare skin with sunscreen.
Acclimate Like a Lobster
You know that idea that boiling a lobster slowly is supposed to make it easier on the lobster. I am not sure if that’s actually true, but it is a good metaphor for acclimating to desert heat. You can train your body to handle the summer if you ease into it.
That’s what made returning from Colorado so hard. I went from cool breezes to an oven blast. And even though I had been riding before I left in June, I lost that desert edge while I was gone. Coming back into 107 degrees felt brutal. It took almost a full week before I stopped feeling like I was melting.
If you ride consistently throughout the year, especially from spring into early summer, your body adapts. But take too long off or disappear to the mountains, and it is like starting over.
Final Thoughts
The biggest summer challenge is inactivity. If you don’t find something active to do, Tucson summers can sneak up and slow you down. Riding keeps you moving, keeps you motivated, and keeps your mental health in check. Whether it is a night ride on The Loop, an early climb up Mount Lemmon, or a late spin followed by pizza and beer at Hop Shop, there are ways to keep rolling all year long.
Just be smart. Hydrate. Don’t stop. Ride in the dark. Find shade. Learn to love the cooler aisle at Safeway. And if all else fails, go to Colorado.
Damion Alexander
Long Realty Company
520-977-5664