What I Learned this morning

[pooks]

This morning we finally managed to get out early before my husband left for work and have enough time for more than a quick two miles.

Even though it felt muggy when I first stepped outside (almost 80 degrees) the sun wasn't overhead yet and it was cool enough when we started riding. I talked him into doing 4 miles even though he was worried it would make him late to work.

Well, when we got home, I knew I could keep riding, but I also knew that I forgot to toss his shirts in the dryer before we left and they were still wet (ooops) and rather than tell him, I planned to run do it quickly and hope they got dry by the time he showered!

Except.

My glasses had fallen out of my pocket. (I can't read the time without them and had checked the time before we did our second lap.)

I was thinking, toss shirts in dryer, grab car keys, go back to place where checked time -- when he said, "Well, are you coming?"

He was ready to ride back and look (only a couple of blocks away) so I said sure. Only they weren't there. I just kept riding the route and watching the ground. He didn't follow me, so I thought, hey what the heck, and just rode the entire route again -- and did find them near the furthest point (run over by a car, natch!). But what I realized during that last lap is how good it felt, how much I was enjoying the ride, and how cool it was. And I realized, it isn't the distance that's killing me, it's the heat.

That isn't a REAL surprise. I have little heat tolerance. But it was good to realize that my legs/body were up to longer distances, even if I'm too big a wimp to push through the heat. I could have easily gone another lap if I hadn't suddenly remembered --

His wet shirts.

Ooops.

I headed home quickly and they still got dry before he was ready for them.

And I showered, got cleaned up, hopped on my bike and rode the 3/4 mile to Starbucks where I am now sitting outside in the shade enjoying the breeze.

Tomorrow with no work schedule to keep to, I intend to get up early again and be prepared to do my longest ride yet before it gets too hot.

Oh, the other thing I finally came to terms with this week is that I simply can't stay up as late as I'd like and still get up early enough to ride in the morning. I'm going to have to give up my night time goof-off-late time and go to bed early (gack) if I want to have the energy to ride first thing, instead of doing what I've been doing which is taking hours to shake off the lethargy and work myself up to riding midday.

[Brandy]

Oh, the other thing I finally came to terms with this week is that I simply can't stay up as late as I'd like and still get up early enough to ride in the morning. I'm going to have to give up my night time goof-off-late time and go to bed early (gack) if I want to have the energy to ride first thing, instead of doing what I've been doing which is taking hours to shake off the lethargy and work myself up to riding midday.

Good for you! I realized this same thing a few weeks back and I'm loving my early morning rides. Like you, I don't have a high tolerance for heat, so this has been perfect.

[salsabike]

So, pooks, how many miles total did you do? 6? 8? Whatever, good for you! You'll be able to up your mileage sooner than you think.

[pooks]

I did 6.5 the first trip, and another 1.6 when I went to SBUX. So 8.1 total, but two separate rides (and the second one was just a fun ride, of course).

[bikerchick68]

pooks... you're already learning what your body needs! I am another person that suffers in the heat... I actually get the shakes and it gets ugly... sigh...

this weekend we are going to be triple digits heat... no riding for this lil chick!

[luv'nAustin]

I also have to avoid the hottest parts of the day as I not only get the shakes, but I quit sweating and get goose bumps. At that point, I know it is time to slow down and head for home.

Now, I only ride in the early morning. In the summer we like to meet between 6:30 and 7:00. I love fall and early spring when I can sleep in a little longer.

[pooks]

I haven't pushed it that far on my bike, but I'm prone to the same stuff happening when I'm overheated.

Hard to believe I'm a fifth generation Texan. I will never get used to the heat.

[MomOnBike]

Add another to the heat-intolerant crowd.

This summer I've been getting up as early as 4:30 to get a decent ride in. And this is from someone who hates mornings!

But still, the morning rides wake me up and get the blood flowing, and the rest of the day is free for other stuff.

Actually, I just can't wait for fall and the nicest riding of the year.

[pooks]

4:30! You must be riding before dawn!

[Kano]

Good you found the glasses Pooks -- sorry they got hurt! I need mine for everything -- was sure glad to have them when a bug and I collided the other day! Maybe you want to wear them for all riding?

This thread has intrigued me -- all the "heat intolerant" riders -- I HATE heat with a passion, nothing worse than sweating....

I've found that I ride better in heat! We have nice dry heat here, sweat catches up with us when we stop riding. My body parts seem to thrive in the warmth -- all muscles and joints seem much happier to be working in the warmth than when it's cool out!

That said -- I'm a bit bummed: had a "rest" this past week, letting aching muscles recover, and now I'm out on the road without my bike, missing the riding a lot. Why couldn't the old body have waited a few more days to need the rest? BUT, DH rested too, and he had a great LONG ride today (said he had a bit of a headache tonight, I said, more gatorade, dear, and eat that lovely dark chocolate in the fridge -- why chocolate, he asked. Magnesium, I told him. YES, he went right to the fridge! Usually, he rolls his eyes at my "doctor mom" suggestions!) I sure hope I don't lose too much ground with this forced break! I'm giving serious thought to a 50 mile ride in August!

Karen in Boise

[bikerz]

I also have to avoid the hottest parts of the day as I not only get the shakes, but I quit sweating and get goose bumps.

Hey Austin - that just happened to me today for the first time! I was on a (supposed to be) 40 mile ride and at about mile 30 (1:00 pm) I started feeling like that - chilled and goosebumps - freaked me out a bit because it was stinking hot (well over 100F)! I called a friend to SAG me in. No more hot hot rides for me!

[Bikingmomof3]

I am doing something quite similar. Due to the heat wave here, I am getting in about 6-7 miles either early in the morning or right before sunset. I am so thrilled to have finally discovered the joy of biking.

[luv'nAustin]

Smart move bikerz! I'm afraid you could have gotten very ill if you would have ignored the signs and kept on your bike! We have to be smart when dealing with the heat.

[mtkitchn]

I did my first century yesterday up in IL/WI and the heat about killed me. I'm very heat intolerant to begin with, and it was around 100 degrees (humid, too) with no shade where we were riding. I bonked around mile 80 and had to be pulled the rest of the way by my partners, but the bad stuff came later. After the ride, I was lightheaded, barfing and felt hotter than I've ever been. Couldn't concentrate on anything and thought I might croak. I kept rubbing ice all over myself and hung out in the air conditioning. Drank a lot of ice water, went to bed early, and didn't start to feel like a human until around 2am.
I'm glad I got a century, but I think if you're heat intolerant you should watch yourself. I really should have SAGged out of the ride.
Bring on Autumn, please!!!

[bikerchick68]

oh man... what a tough first century... yep, sounds like you actually had heat exhaustion... I am much like you in that I have ridden when I should have sagged in... mostly cause I'm stubborn and don't want to quit! BUT, I also paid the price because on that ride I blew out my ITL Band and ended up off the bike for a couple months healing... tough lesson, but learn it I did...

Biker <sounding rather yodalike> chick