Social media memories reminded me that nine years ago, I was riding bikes with friends during a heat alert. Hi Susan, Cate, David, Nat, and Sarah. It was a big day of hard, hot riding. There were tears. It was Susan’s birthday and some of us were trying to meet training goals for the Friends for Life Bike Rally. We even blogged about it all.
This Sunday was also a heat alert day.
See ‘Dangerously hot’ heat wave arrives in Toronto. Here’s what you need to know. “Environment Canada’s heat warning has officially settled in as experts warn “dangerously hot and humid conditions” will grip much of the GTA this afternoon heading into Tuesday night. As of 5:43 a.m., the alert now suggests temperatures could reach 30 to 36 C, with humidex values between 40 and 45 and overnight lows of 21 to 25 C “providing little relief.” “You can’t escape it. It’s there,” Environment Canada’s senior climatologist, Dave Phillips told CP24.”
Sundays in June in my life usually involve bike rides. But this year it was just Sarah and me. Spoiler alert: This year there were frequent stops, a wait for the ferry, and even a lunch break.
While I love riding with Sarah– it’s how we met, riding bikes–I miss riding with groups of friends! Riding friends, you are missed!
We were in Toronto this weekend and after considering various riding options, decided to ride out to the Toronto Islands. We only rode 25 km, but it felt like a good exercise in getting acclimatized to riding in warmer weather.
Loved the new bike path on the bridges on and off Villiers Island, loved the ferry, and noodling slowly around the Islands.
Also love love love how many people are riding bikes in Toronto. Great to see so many kids out there.
All was fine until our last dash uphill up Jones on our way home. It wag okay riding but whenever we stopped at a light everything steamed up.
We collapsed on the front porch, drank chilled mango juice, and gradually cooled down enough to tackle the job of carrying the window unit air conditioner upstairs and installing it.
Wish us luck making it through this week’s heat wave.
