Coping with Heat/Sun

SunWuKong
SunWuKong Posts: 364
edited May 2008 in Training, fitness and health
Having read through the FWC thread and feeling a nauseous towards the end of yesterday's long and hot ride. What do you guys do to cope with hot and sunny conditions?

Comments

  • woody-som
    woody-som Posts: 1,001
    plenty of fluids, and electrolytes if you suffer really bad or its very hot and/or long ride.
  • ut_och_cykla
    ut_och_cykla Posts: 1,594
    fluids- electrolytes or fruit juice or real food(ripe banana), but mostly water. Don't just drink vast quantities of water tho' because you lose salts from body which must be replaced. Practice cyling in heat gets the body used to it too Use cool clothes, protect head from direct sun, use water to cool body if its Provence hot!
  • Bronzie
    Bronzie Posts: 4,927
    SIS Go is good in the hot weather - or experiment with something like Dioralyte from the chemists for cheaper alternative.
    It's a Lifestyle! -+-+- Coggan Training Levels
  • ColinJ
    ColinJ Posts: 2,218
    ut_och_cykla wrote:
    fluids- electrolytes or fruit juice or real food(ripe banana), but mostly water. Don't just drink vast quantities of water tho' because you lose salts from body which must be replaced. Practice cyling in heat gets the body used to it too Use cool clothes, protect head from direct sun, use water to cool body if its Provence hot!
    That's a warning that should be taken very seriously or you could end up dead from hyponatraemia :shock: !

    Ideally you don't want to lose much weight on a ride because that would suggest dehydration but unless you've stuffed yourself with food, you shouldn't be gaining much weight either. That would suggest over-hydration.

    You could always tip water over yourself to help cool you down, especially on your head and neck. Remember that infamous mountain stage win in the Tour de France by Floyd Landis? He must have poured tens of litres over himself.

    PS Also...

    Wear clothing light in weight, and light in colour. Sleeveless jerseys help (you could always cut the sleeves off an old one). Long zips undone as far as possible are also good but beware - those of you with long memories may recall my unfortunate WASP-DOWN-THE-BIBSHORTS incident :shock: !
  • dcj
    dcj Posts: 395
    Full length zip on the jersey is a must, don't forget to unzip early on the climbs.
    Zip up just before the descent starts.

    Use a helmet with lots of vents.

    At the feeding stops stay focused - look for shade, take your helmet and shades off to give the sweat a chance to dissipate.

    Spend a minute or two just being calm and self-contained before setting off.

    Condition yourself to aclimatise by riding in hot weather - such as taking your bike on holiday.

    All these things make a difference to preparing for a big day.

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