Heat??

[Aggie_Ama]

I didn't get a chance to read all the responses but I struggle badly with heat even being a 30 year native Texan. Last summer twice I pushed it to throwing up, not a fun experience. Once on a trail, once in the gas station trash on a road ride. UGH! I am considering trying a Kul Lite Vest or similar product. Have also considered for mountain biking soaking my jersey in ice water since I carry everything in Camelbak. I tend to shorten my rides if I have to but here are some other things I learned the hard way:

• Acclimate
• Monitor HR, mine spikes with less effort in heat so I have to keep myself at lower effort.
• Ice in sports bra! It is heavenly and keeps core cold.
• Ice water bath for BUFF or other headband
• Pour water in your helmet
• Electrolytes, I only saw you mention water. I always have Camelback on mountain bike rides but carry an electrolyte drink in cage.
• One thing I learned doing endurance events (centuries) and racing is hydrate during the week. I rotate Gatorade and water especially weeks I know I will be putting in a hard or long effort.

[Catrin]

[*] One thing I learned doing endurance events (centuries) and racing is hydrate during the week. I rotate Gatorade and water especially weeks I know I will be putting in a hard or long effort.[/LIST]

Aggie - are you saying here that you drink Gatorade off the bike during hot weeks that will have hard/long riding? I may be mis-reading this so wanted to check.

[Becky]

Aggie, I do the same thing with Elete added to my water. I haven't tried Elete in my Camelbak yet (it rained hard this weekend), but it has worked great for me both on- and off-bike in other applications.

[Aggie_Ama]

Aggie - are you saying here that you drink Gatorade off the bike during hot weeks that will have hard/long riding? I may be mis-reading this so wanted to check.

Yes, I will make sure I am drinking water but also usually have either a 20 to 32 ounce Gatorade a day. I like the low calorie G2, it isn't as sugary as the old stuff. I can't remember why my DH told me to do this the week of my first MS150 way back in 2005 but when I slack on doing this I have overheated or dehydrated easier. He can't remember what the reason was, I am sure he read an article at the time. In fact I DNF'd one of my two races because I dehyrdrated. Even though it was going to be my longest race to date, in a drier climate and the weather was forecasted to be unseasonably warm in November (80) I slacked on my hydration plan.