Heat??

[jlnc]

Yeah!! A medical reason to eat potato chips!!

[Bike Writer]

Great article Emily. I agree with everyone assessment that this year our weather went from winter to late summer temps in a flash and almost no one has had a chance to acclimate. To the original poster, don't feel bad we are almost all in the same boat. I felt like I was going to croak over the last two super hot and humid weekends on bike rides and here I sit in Michigan with temps at noon today of 59 F. Go figure. Monday and Tuesday we roasted in the upper 90's with heat indexes hovering at 100.

Variety is good. But it does nothing to help get acclimated.

[OakLeaf]

All I know is if I don't get calcium and magnesium on a hot sweaty ride I WILL get cramps. If I take extra (usually Endurolytes), then I don't.

A friend of mine brings a handful of Endurolytes caps on hot weather and almost always winds up giving away what she doesn't take, to other people who are cramping.


Last year I looked up some studies on mineral losses in sweat, and they were significant. It's too early for me to go chasing those links down again, but I probably posted a link at the time.

[emily_in_nc]

I bought pita chips (whole grain) and vegetable chips today and plan to take both on our long ride tomorrow. I'm so excited for some variety (and salty stuff!) on a ride as I get tired of nothing but sweets, and now I see that I really do need the extra salt (high of 94 predicted for tomorrow + humidity).

[jlnc]

Another hot, humid weekend in NC...but the weather is supposed to be much better this week, can't wait for it to break! Did you ride today Emily?

[tzvia]

When the heat hits So Cal, I double up on my daily minerals and its helped me, haven't cramped on a ride in years. I used to poo poo the electrolyte 'craze' as a waste of money but now I always take a bottle of GU drink on my hot rides (chews on cooler days) and hit the minerals when I get home. Water alone is not enough.

Also, as was said here already, drink water regularly whether you are riding or not- by the time you are thirsty, you are already dehydrated.

Yes there is some acclimation, but I think it is as much a ratcheting up of the water and minerals that needs to take place, and making sure things like clothing choice and sunscreen fit the weather.

Remember, humidity makes it harder for the body to cool itself by sweating, as the sweat does not evaporate as quickly (if at all, yuck). So I don't go on my 'grunt' rides when the humidity and temperature is high. Thankfully that doesn't happen often in So Cal. It's usually on the dryer side here when it is really hot.

I keep hearing good things about Hammer's Endurolytes, gotta try it after my GU powder runs out...

[emily_in_nc]

Another hot, humid weekend in NC...but the weather is supposed to be much better this week, can't wait for it to break! Did you ride today Emily?

Yes, though only 32 miles rather than the 55+ I'd planned due to other circumstances (posted on the "June 11 rides" thread, even tho it's actually June 12), but the heat played a factor. I will say that I enjoyed my salty snacks a LOT! during my rest stop under a big shade tree. Nice change from sweets!

[Catrin]

Good information, thank you!

I noticed on my last couple of hot rides that one of my calves started to cramp a bit when climbing the steepest hill on the route. I've never experienced this before - I know I was drinking enough as I drank a LOT on that ride - is this the kind of cramping that comes with mineral depletion? I didn't have this last year, but LAST year we worked up to the hot weather.