Video: ‘Riders of the Night’
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In the face of record heat, one city’s mountain bikers go fully nocturnal.
The summer of 2023 was the hottest on record for Phoenix, Arizona, with a daily average temperature of 97 degrees Fahrenheit for all of June, July and August and a total of 55 days with highs of at least 110 degrees. In such conditions, getting out on the trails isn’t just uncomfortable; it can be downright deadly.
Mountain bikers, however, tend to be a foolishly tenacious crowd. Faced with such searing conditions, many local riders have taken a cue from the wildlife and gone fully nocturnal to escape the heat.
“Down here, it’s the only time that’s safe and tolerable to ride,” says Arizona rider Kurt Refsnider. “You can only spend so much time by the pool, and not everyone has a pool.”
