Thanks for all the hints. I did have a bottle of electrolyte stuff - made by crystal lite. Maybe not the best, but powerade / gatoraid upsets my stomach. I'll have to look into getting the Cyclomax and Recoverite - thanks Jiffer. I've seen the Emergen-C in my local grocery, so I know I can get that, and I've used it before.... hummm to counteract regular bouts of heat exhaustion when I used to work in the bottom of the Grand Canyon, in the summer. Am I a glutten for punishment or what? Will add the three things to my shopping list, and see what I find first.

I've lived here 6 years, and been biking through the summers for the past 4. So I'm sort of used to the heat and humidity. What's it like to ride in humidity less than 50%? I forgot.

I was thrilled to be able to hang with the big boys. It's been a long struggle to get my lungs to cooperate (EIA). Fortunately most of these guys don't do the weekly rides after work, so I won't be punishing myself to the same level. And one of the best riders does the weekly rides, will put in whatever pace you want, no matter which direction the wind is blowing. So if we want to be punished at 20, he'll do 20; and if I'm having trouble and need to pace at 16, he's slowed down, let me hide behind him until I recover, then pulls me at something faster. Too bad John is married...