livedarklions

Gotta say, when I've let myself ride into objectively horrible weather, I haven't credited myself with "valour", just really bad judgment of the conditions or poor preparation.

livedarklions

Wait, I shouldn't stop at a swimming pool and take a swig?

A350driver

There’s probably a lot of good electrolytes in the pool, from all the kid’s pee!

rumrunn6

my elderly Dad recently had a high potassium level that he needed treatment/meds to correct. don't know more than that. but was surprised to hear it

rumrunn6

if that were the case, we could all carry a "recycling" fluid system, kinda like a closed loop. who would buy that? what would they pay?

koala logs

Spider silk is known to have thermal conductivity on par with metals. Having sports wear made out of spider silk would be like wearing a metal heatsink and would literally be cold to the skin. The only problem is that spider silk is hydrophobic by default and would be an issue wicking away sweat, unless those big brained professionals can figure out to make spider silk non-hydrophobic.

pdlamb

Potassium imbalance isn't too unusual; competent cardiac units usually have bags of potassium solution they can add to an IV to raise blood potassium, and the drugs to get blood potassium down are so old they're generic. That said, I haven't heard of chloride imbalance.

MTBbumpcrush

Good luck for you,be sure to have enough water supply when you are riding in hot condition！

Frenzen

don't forget the sun screen if its super hot, these are some that are made to be sweat resistant.

seypat

I had to give up/call the SAG wagon at mile 100 of the HotterNHell last year. Started getting dizzy. Then started puking. Tried to remount and go on but the same thing happened again a few hundred yards down the road. It became a safety issue at that point. After sitting in the pickup with the AC blowing on me until I was dropped at the finish line, I was good as new.

seypat

It was hot at Storming Of Thunder Ridge last month. I managed to finish with some breaks between the last SAG and the finish. I ate the post ride meal, took my shower then headed for home. 2 hours later my legs were still cramping so hard that I had trouble getting out of the car. Actually fell back into the car and had to sit for a bit.

bwilli88 

One nice thing about living and riding in Cambodia, just about every little mom and pop has either sugar cane juice or fresh coconuts. a mix of the two will keep you riding for a while.

Mojo31

I would if that’s all that’s available and you really need liquids. Just don’t guzzle it. I’ve consumed water from our pools (not by choice) without any I’ll effect.

Mojo31

Even better if you can strip out of the sweaty kit and jump in a pool.

koala logs

The only times I bonked in 90 to 100F long rides, is I ran out of food or electrolyte drink. On 3 hour rides, I bring two pannier bags. One is an insulated bag for three ice cold water bottles with a little amount of salt (+1 bottle in the downtube), and another half bag full of bite-sized rice cakes with cheese on them (cheese is just for the taste and electrolytes) . I can reach those items easily on the rear rack without stopping. That's how much I consume in 3 hrs! I have worse fuel economy than a Toyota Prius!

andrewclaus

On cycling and hiking trips in the heat, my mantra is "support the sweat." Drink and eat whatever you need to keep up a healthy, salty sweat. That and the wind, as mentioned, is what cools you down. Sweat works better in low relative humidity, so take it easier as RH gets into the 80s and 90s. I have a swamp cooler at home and I can feel how the output decreases on a slightly humid day, say 30% RH.

And pay attention to your brain. If you start feeling dizzy, or someone in your party is getting confused, stop as soon as possible in a cool or wet place, as mentioned.

I cycled across the Midwest on a solo self-supported tour, during a heat wave with temps in the mid 100s. I still managed 80 to 100 miles per day by cycling early and late and taking afternoon breaks in businesses and public libraries. I camped most nights, with temps at sunset in the 90s, only able to sleep because there was a steady breeze. Morning temps were in the 70s, in fog, with 100% RH.

locolobo13 

This. Or as Harry Callahan said, "You gotta know your limitations."

I've pushed too far both on and off the bike. Fortunately, riding mostly in a metro area there's usually a convenience store within a few miles. When planning a ride I check google maps for convenience stores and fast food places.

rsbob 

Just read an article about more senior cyclists which stated that as we age, we are not as efficient keeping ourselves cool due to a reduction in sweating. The way to counter that is to up fluid intake - the old drink before you are thirsty. In my 30s I was a lot more cognizant and drank more fluids until last year when I had a heat episode which left me quite dizzy. On one of my most recent longer rides, even though I was carrying two large water bottles with electrolytes, which I drank mostly down by mile 35, I stopped at a mini-mart and was astonished that I could easily drink down a full bottle of energy drink without out even thinking about it. My body needed it even though my brain was saying, you are ok with your two bottles. Ended up going through 4 water bottles and the energy drink and finished the 65 miler feeling much better than I usually do just drinking two bottles for that distance. Mom says, drink your fluids even if your brain says otherwise.

ClydeClydeson

If the temperature is above ~25 deg C (don't know what that is in caveman units) and I am not very careful about regulating my exertion level, after the ride I will get a nasty headache and usually feel nauseous. I have been experimenting with stopping and quickly drinking a slushy or other ice drink to intentionally give myself an 'ice cream headache' - my theory is I am directly icing my brain to reduce inflammation.

Fredo76

Wetting your hair and ears helps for a cool-down, just like wearing a hat helps for warming up. Up to half of heat loss is from the head.

drlogik 

The body is like a leaky car radiator. It will keep you cool as long as you keep putting water in it. If your radiator runs out of coolant, the motor will stop. If you run out of water, your body will start to shut down and the first signs are no sweat, which is an early symptom of heat exhaustion. If you don't replenish, the next stage is heat stroke.

If you feel thirsty, you're already behind and it is hard to catch the body back up, especially if you continue riding. Better to have a continual supply of water going in. My story earlier in this thread was my hard lesson, AND, I knew better and still miscalculated. It's easy to do. Take 50% more than you think you'll need. If it's over 95 degrees, take twice+ what you think you'll need or have re-supply stops planned and don't miss any.

VegasJen

Here we are in the first week of June and I can see that my riding days for this summer are numbered. I just checked the local forecast and temps all week are going to be well into the 100s (something like 40C?), and probably won't be below 100 through August. Anyway, I can ride early in the morning if I want but it's amazing how fast it gets hot in the desert. The overnight low might be down into the 70s but by 9am it can already be 90* or better. It will probably stay this way until late September. I love it out here about nine months a year. But the 3-4 months of summer are absolutely brutal.

koala logs

I do this too. I also get a haircut before a long ride in hot conditions. Having a short hair helps. But leave a bit more hair at the top for protecting your scalp from sunlight.

Also wet my shirt as well. But what really gets me in hot conditions is poor hydration or inadequate fueling when I didn't bring enough electrolyte water and food on the ride.

The Chemist

I did a 140km ride in August a few years back. Was a blazing hot 36 degrees with 60+% humidity. By about 100km in I was getting dehydrated (salt stains on my shorts, weak, light headed). Fortunately for me a few kilometres later I was caught in a typical summer afternoon downpour, and that gave me enough of a second wind to get home. If the weather had stayed sunny for the duration, I have my doubts I would have been able to finish the ride.

rumrunn6

where are you?