Extra fuel for extra hot days?

[itsalldownhill]

You know, Muirenn, I'm not sure...I've never worried about my hydration in my adult life (I ran xc when I was a teen, and then have spent the majority of my adult life being a general slug after having children), so I may well not be well hydrated all the time. I'll pay closer attention to that and see if that helps. I generally eat pretty healthily, but do admit to being a coffee and diet soda drinker, which probably doesn't do wonders for my hydration levels. Will do a little more experimenting today...

[Catrin]

I was going to start a related thread - but I had a similar situation last night. I ate as I normally do prior to an evening ride - I had a roasted chicken wrap at home. My Camelbak had Heed/ice in it (I have a smaller one that I reserve for this purpose).

Energy wise I felt fine, but as the OP said, I felt "urpy" for the first 9.5 or so of my 15 mile ride. I was riding in a fairly shaded park and wasn't pushing things overly hard. After 9 miles I almost went home - the large nature park I ride in during the week is across from my apartment - but decided to take one more lap and my stomach finally settled down.

In the end my time was better than usual even though I had tried to take it easy - avg spd. was a PB of 14.7. I do seem to remember having the same symptoms last summer on very hot days - though it wasn't THIS hot.

So for those who ride after dinner on weather like this - do you change your usual pre-ride dinner for lighter fare? I hydrated all day yesterday, as well as before and after my ride. I felt fine afterwards.

[grey]

We had a rider turn back yesterday because she just didn't think she was going to make it - this was in the first three miles of a 30 mile ride. I noticed a number of the rest of our group had difficulty getting going also. I don't know what their routines are exactly (I do know they all eat 90 minutes before a ride though), but I can tell you mine, and how I felt - and I felt so "off" that I wasn't sure I wanted to ride (that's not me! I want to ride ALL THE TIME!).

Usually, I get up at 5:30, have a couple of eggs and a slice of toast, and probably a fresh fruit smoothie before a 7am ride. Yesterday I didn't want all of that, all I had was the smoothie. On the ride, I felt like it hadn't settled yet, and like I was in a struggle for energy. The energy issue could be unrelated (ah la a certain phase of the moon is about to arrive, I'm always tired for a few days around THAT). It was about 5 miles before I started to enjoy riding.

Temp was just over 90 before too long, and humidity at 65%. Usually my first bottle contains Nunn or Camelbak tabs and the second is just water, USUALLY that keeps me going just fine.

I also avoid caffeine, sugar, etc. to help prepare myself for the next ride. I drink 2-3 liters of water per day, and fresh herb tea (I grow herbs in my yard). Post-ride if I sweated profusely (whoever said women don't sweat never met a woman who rides a bike) I'll make another smoothie and eat dinner leftovers in the fridge.

Lately though, it seems I need an extra meal for every 10 miles I ride. I ate five times after the 50 miler, and 3 times after yesterday's 30. This does not do good things for my grocery bill... vegetarianism may have something to do with that, meat tends to hang around a lot longer than veggies.

[ny biker]

Hot weather always sucks the energy out of me. I don't think it's abnormal to feel weak when it's so hot -- your body wants you to stop moving, because it's working hard to keep you alive.

Extreme weather also affects your ability to digest food -- your blood is busy doing other things.

Don't ride at noon on a crazy hot day. If you have problems riding when the weather is not so extreme, then you might have a problem.

[Catrin]

...
Extreme weather also affects your ability to digest food -- your blood is busy doing other things...

This makes perfect sense! So in such weather I need to eat longer than 30-45 minutes before I get on the bike...I honestly didn't think of that. I am NOT riding tonight, it is even hotter than yesterday...plus I am going to a TDF watching party that my LBS throws every year