peterws

The value of it?

Even on a hot day road riding, you'll not soak your top whilst doin' it even if you're a few hours in the saddle. Except if the traffic lights keep you waiting . . .probably the wind generated helps to dry things as you're eating up the . . kilometres.
In the gym, a 30 or 45 minute course can leave you soaked despite air conditioning. It's high intensity, interspaced with short rest periods. My hr reaches 130 max, but I'm drenched when through.
I love it despite the obvious discomfort and feel much benefit as a result.
But sweating so much? Waddya think, guys?

Machka 

What is the question here?

revchuck 

Where I live, it's unusual to finish a ride with one's jersey NOT wringing wet during the warmer half of the year. I sweat far less in an air-conditioned gym.

canklecat

One last thought before I go get sweaty this morning...

LongT

I can go a little over 1 mile outside and be pretty wet from sweat, it is humid here! After 17 miles I wring out my gloves and so much water comes out it looks like they had been soaked in water. When I raced on the velodrome I would come off the track,and hardly be able to see due to sweat in my eyes. Other riders in the same race would only be damp. Everyone is different! Probably too much information!

WNCGoater

Yeah I'm not sure of the OP's question but pretty much on the East coast of the US and the SE in particular, humidity levels are such that you're not ending a ride with a dry or even damp jersey. At least not in the summer. 10 miles or 40, no different, I finish with a soaked jersey, my shorts feel like I'm wearing a soaked diaper, gloves and helmet soaked, things in my jersey pockets are wet, even the top tube on my bike has salt drops from sweat dripping from my chin. There have been times I've sweated so much my nipples get raw from the salt. (Okay, I know you didn't need to hear that.)
Anyway, except for the rare cooler day, or spring, winter, fall when humidity is a little lower, there is little evaporation apparent on my gear from the wind generated by riding.

FlashBazbo

OP, you asked the value of sweat. Technically speaking, the value of sweat is probably the price at which a willing buyer and a willing seller, neither being under compulsion, would make a sale transaction. Unfortunately, I don't know any place to sell sweat. If you find a place, let me know. I've got plenty and, even at a very low price, I think I could turn a pretty good profit.

DiabloScott

There are a couple of factors here.

1. How much do you actually sweat.
- How hard you're working
- What temperature you're working in.
- What you're wearing
- How much you're drinking
2. How much of that sweat evaporates.
- Environmental temperature and relative humidity
- Wind or fan speed
- What you're wearing

I used to get a big kick out of gym exersizing and being drenched with sweat; always checked around me to see if anyone noticed... usually not.

mwalsh5757

I literally sweat like a horse when I'm on the treadmill, even with the AC going. I'm talking absolutely wringing wet, like someone has doused me with a bucket of water. It's gross, but I kinda like it - I feel like it gets all the toxins out of me (although science says that's complete bunk). I do know if I skip exercise in the AM my body feels sorta clammy and nasty the whole day, so it must be doing something. I wish sweating directly equated to fat loss though, I'd be super skinny!

On the bike, I guess because of the breeze cycling creates, I'll sweat some in the same amount of time but not to the point of being drenched.

TimothyH

I'm in Georgia and was struck by the intensity of the sun when I moved south from Long Island. Perspiration pours off constantly and ten minutes in the sun one is dripping. .

Never wore a hat when doing yard work up north but I do down here.

A slightly change latitude makes a big difference and the OP is in Lancaster, presumably PA.


-Tim-

canklecat

Used to be, I didn't sweat enough. It was hard to work up a good sweat, no matter how much effort I put into it. And I also had a lot more problems with cramps and feeling exhausted later rather than invigorated.

Finally occurred to me I might be deficient in electrolytes. I rarely used salt in food and avoided salty foods. I didn't take vitamins or supplements. I didn't like the taste of Gatorade or Powerade.

So I started eating the same thing before every ride to see if it helped consistently: yogurt with cereal and a banana. Sure enough, I felt more energetic and maybe sweated a little more.

But after experiencing painful stomach and leg cramps during a ride in early June when the temp was only in the 70s, I tried some of the electrolyte supplements other cyclists recommended, especially NUUN. Then I switched to DripDrop because it's more cost effective -- more concentrated per dollar -- and comes in small sealed single serving Mylar packets that are waterproof and tuck inside any little niche in my saddlebag.

I started sweating buckets. And everything was covered in a frosty white residue, which had never happened to me before. But I felt better during and after the rides.

The downside is I have to clean stuff more often. I used to be able to go a week or two between cleaning my gloves. My hands just didn't sweat much. Same with my shoes -- I could get by for a month without wiping down the exterior. Not now. And because salty residue is hygroscopic I have to dry everything thoroughly before tossing it into the laundry hamper, otherwise it'll mildew. So I keep a fan next to the drying rack and mesh laundry basket. I wipe down my helmet straps and inside after every ride, but I also need to soak the straps in a bucket of water once a week to get out the residue.

Frankly, it's pretty gross. But I feel better so maybe I was doing it all wrong for years by omitting most salt from my diet and not taking any electrolyte supplements.

But I'm afraid if I stop too long to rest on my rural rides I'll be swarmed by horses and deer wanting to lick me for the salt.

SylvainG

During the Winter months when I'm on a stationary bike or treadmill at home, I have cooling fans (not the puny fans in the equipments but floor units) blowing air at me to keep me 'dry'.

Biker395 

The only time I mind the sweat is when it's dripping down into my eyes.

peterws

Better make this clear, guys. Lancaster UK is a bit cooler than the "other" one. And once the temp gets up to 70 the top comes off anyway (might be the only opportunity this year!), although we have had some stifling days in Augusts past. . . . . .not yet though.
As for the sweat, well, I've noticed since writing this, that cotton tops show sweat readily wheras the wicking stuff being man made, tends not to. It's no less comfortable however.
I tend to drink no water during the 45 minute session, although on occasions I have.

I've never been aware of sweat like this, but then I've never been pushed so hard over that short time. Never, in my life. It's addictive.

I'm kinda wondering if short sharp bursts are the way ahead for older guys, you know. Four or five times a week doing this and I'll markedly lower the odds of getting knocked off my bike anyway since serious road rides will be seriously curtailed. . .and I feel a lot better/livelier too. Just a few thoughts.

I might be in the wrong place to exercise them . .

rumrunn6

I've learned to live with it but I wish I didn't sweat as much as I do

mwalsh5757

I think all who sweat profusely feel the same way. I'm OK with it while exercising vigorously, but not so much while I'm simply doing busy work (particularly in a public setting).

TimothyH

This explains a lot.

I'm in Georgia, USA. Other posters are in Louisiana on the Gulf Coast and in North Carolina.

Wileyrat

Wanna sweat? Ride in Tucson during monsoon season.

I went out last Sunday at 6am for a two hr ride...When I started out it was 79 degrees at 91% humidity.

WNCGoater

Hey, that's supposed to be "dry heat" out there! Arizona and 91% humidity? Who knew?

DrIsotope

We've had freak summer thunderstorms, getting us +90º and +70% humidity. It's horrible. I don't think the sweating is any worse, it just doesn't evaporate, so by the time a 2-hour ride is over, I feel gross... and sticky. Usually this time of year we're in single-digit humidity. I'll drink four bottles in 2 hours, sweat out 10lbs of water, and the jersey will be mostly dry when getting home.

RunForTheHills

I had a contract in Guam a few years ago. I would get up at 5:00 in the morning to run before the sun came out, but it was still 77 degrees (yes, pretty much the same temperature every day) with humidity in the 90's. My shoes would be so wet when I got back to the hotel they would squish with every step.

MidSouthBiker

It just doesn't feel like a good workout unless I work up a good sweat. Of course here in the Mid-South during Summer that is not difficult to achieve with this heat and humidity.

revchuck 

Where I live that's called "nice riding weather".

I'll be in your neck of the woods in November for a week of riding, including El Tour. It'll be my third trip in less than three years.

1989Pre 

One water bottle has sea salt in water. The other has fruit juice in water, so I don't worry about sweat. I am more concerned with sun exposure.

OldsCOOL

If you dont sweat you are not working.