Bomb Komodo

I live in a high humidity area. One thing I notice, during the winter when the humidity is lower, it sure is easier to cycle. I am able to ride for hours.

Since I have lived here most of my life I am used to doing these things - salt pills, drinking tons of water all week, Popping gels, drinking electrolyte water while I ride.

The thing is that sometimes even that is not enough if you are a heavy sweater. I firmly believe the heavy sweating from humidity causes me to weaken faster than anything. And keeping the electrolytes balances still seems like a dark art. I am unaware of any Dr. who can tell us exactly how many and what type of electrolytes to take pre/during and post ride.

With that in mind. How do you folks deal with the humidity?

I take High 5 powder in water pre /during and after. a Salt pill pre. If I ride over 40 miles, I pop at least one gel. I pop another salt pill. Could I be doing more, and what do you do?

superdex

I moved to Colorado.



(I also use Hammer Endurolytes, they work for me)

noodle soup

Arizona and Southern Nevada worked for me, but the same idea.

I use Nuun or Hammer Fizz during rides, and drink a couple more bottles of it after(and throughout the night)..

Beach Bob

Whenever I travel to high humidity for a ride... Chamois Butt'r.....first and foremost.

Shimagnolo

Same here.

Bomb Komodo

I will try these. They look very good.

The question though - I also take this - https://highfive.co.uk/product/hydra...rgy-source-41/ pre/during and post ride.
Additionally, on long rides I eat a gel or two.

I start to wonder how much is too much. For me it seems like - nothing. Because I have bonked and cramped many times. I sweat a lot and its the type where you can see the white stains on your socks and shirt. So I think I just lose a lot of electrolytes and need to constantly be replenishing them.

superdex

I sweat a lot -- have to rinse the chin straps once a week (or more) in the summer. I take at least 2 endurolytes/hour in the summer. The High5 looks like a great caloric source, but not exactly an electrolyte supplement. Perhaps adding in the endurolytes will help....

RPK79

I like Skratch Labs.

Bomb Komodo

Ok cool thanks. I have yet to figure out the best way to pop pills while I ride. I usually stash them in a ziplock bag, but I am not great at grabbing them and opening the bag yet. I guess I should figure out that out, since it makes sense to have some every hour.

superdex

I have them in a jersey pocket sans-ziploc, and just fish them out. they live long enough in the pocket without a bag to not worry about it

tomato coupe

There's nothing good about Colorado. I suggest moving somewhere else.

Bomb Komodo

Im trying it then - thanks!

Carbonfiberboy 

Train in the hottest part of the day. Put Endurolytes in a squeeze purse and shove it up your shorts leg. Hammer sells the purses on their website. For long rides, I carry extra in one of Hammer's little cylindrical containers. I take enough Endurolytes so that I stay a little thirsty. If I'm thirsty, I don't take any, haven't been thirsty, take 2. I need 1-2/hour in hot conditions, some need 6. Hammer now makes a more powerful Endurolyte for those who need so many. I drink to thirst, not any particular amount/hour.

therhodeo

Adaptation. That and being lean. When I was 235 I had trouble. Sub 160 now and have no problems.

rumrunn6

wasn't sure what supplements & hydration had to do with humidity & then read this. CREDIT MIT school of engineering

On humid days, when the air is already saturated with water, sweat evaporates more slowly. This explains why it feels so much hotter in high humidity. When relative humidity reaches a high enough level, the body's natural cooling system simply can't work. Sweat evaporates very slowly, if at all, and the body heats up.

for the OP, where approx do you live & in what temps do you ride?

tomato coupe

Gels come in a lot more flavors.

jitteringjr

What he said.

Gatorade has always worked for me so I imagine I am not a good example here.

Bomb Komodo

South FL and I ride in temps that can hit 90ish. (I try and ride in the early AM, but long rides can last until 11-12).

Bomb Komodo

Nice, I got the extreme Endurolytes coming.

Doge

Humidity is weird in that while you may sweat a bit more, the fluid hangs on your skin longer giving the impression there is more sweating then there really is.

Nationals is in Hagerstown, MD end of July next year.

memebag

Do not combat humidity. Humidity will win.

Embrace humidity. Drink it in. It's good for the skin.

I put a little Gatorade powder in my water when it is very hot and humid.

joejack951

I have been known to eat potato chips during and after rides to replace the extreme amount of salt I lose through sweating. I have also started mixing my own drinks for rides. I add as much salt as tastes 'right' on a hot and humid day. Taste testing pre-ride it always seems super salty but during peak sweat it tastes just right.

wipekitty

+1

I left Colorado over seven years ago, and have still not adjusted to the massive amounts of water and gross humidity everywhere else. Nooooooo!

In all seriousness, though, for humidity: Drink early and drink often (water that is). I like Nuun, but I've used homemade concoctions as well. I've had some of my worst, near-vomit-inducing rides in humidity...as well as some of my best and fastest efforts. It definitely wipes me out, though. I sleep like a rock.

redfooj

i moved to the rockies, and then to the alps

rubiksoval

You don't combat it. You just adapt to it a bit more. You will always be slower. Just the way it is.

Drink more during the day, keep your house warmer (less AC), less AC in the car, etc. After 2-3 weeks there's a marked improvement, but I still register around 5-10% power loss in longer efforts most of the time according to my cursory analysis when the dew point is 70 and above.