I rode up the Manayunk Wall today. Well, 90% of it. It was already quite warm and about noon. I was wearing a long sleeve "rash guard" shirt which is excellent for hot weather and has a very high UV protection rating, but it still cuts the wind and makes it more difficult to cool. I had to stop in the shade about 20 meters from the top because I saw my HR was sitting at 194bpm and I wasn't cooling down, in spite of controlled breathing and basically meditating while riding. I got the HR down below 180 after a minute in the shade then got back on the bike. This is a 17% grade and the steepest paved road in Philly. It used to be part of the "Philly Classic" which lost funding and ended I think in 2019. It's not a long hill, at about 500m, but it is long enough to make one suffer for a good few minutes. I was riding the Concorde, pushing a 38/26 gear, so it wasn't that bad, I just need to be better hydrated and wearing a better jersey next time I have a go at it.
We're gonna be under thunderstorm watch and heat wave through this coming weekend, so if I get to try again soon, it will have to be early in the morning, and definitely not after a rain, I'll just be sliding down the hill if there is anything which prevents my tires from gripping.
Phil