Battling the wind......

[CyclingRN]

Thanks everyone for the feedback! @ pre-ride meal... I started with a decent bowl of SC oatmeal with fruit and almonds, couple of scrambled eggs, piece of MG toast . Gel x1 15 minutes before ride, 2 water bottles on bike (Powerade in one and regular H2O with a couple of Hammer Endurolyte Fizz tabs in the other). Now, that breakfast alone was much for me. There were stocked stops every 12.5 miles but I wasn't hungry. And that's usually my problem, I have to make myself take a snack in every 30 minutes or so. Since we were riding in 95 degree heat with 80% humidity, the heat index put us at about 104 degrees! I didn't want to take in to much and then find myself throwing my toe nails up!!! It was intense!
I drank plenty of fluid, both on the bike and at the stops.

I am usually my toughest competition, so I elected those 50 miles as a way to push myself. It was a self inflicted wound!

I have another ride on the 22nd. Given my work schedule, I've got 8 days open to try and get extra miles in. I may not shoot for 50 this time. But my inner voice is gonna say " you can't do any less than 40"!! Looks like I've gotta put her on mute and listen to my body....

[indysteel]

Oh my lands. This was in high heat, too? That was a self-inflicted injury!

Here's my feeling about riding in hot and humid conditions. I realize some people can and do adapt to it, but unless and until you do, it's wise to err on the side of caution. If you're afraid to eat in the heat because it might/will make you throw up, your body is trying to tell you something IMO. Go short and take it easy.

[CyclingRN]

Oh my lands. This was in high heat, too? That was a self-inflicted injury!

Here's my feeling about riding in hot and humid conditions. I realize some people can and do adapt to it, but unless and until you do, it's wise to err on the side of caution. If you're afraid to eat in the heat because it might/will make you throw up, your body is trying to tell you something IMO. Go short and take it easy.

Indeed!! I threw myself under the bus on that one!! I am definitely going to ease into this next one. I will do what I can when I can, and accept what I can't do at that given time. There are many experienced cyclist in my area and it's a bit intimidating, I want to be that good. I guess you can't be good if you are belly up in a ditch!!

I really appreciate every response, this is why I joined the TE forum.

[indysteel]

Indeed!! I threw myself under the bus on that one!! I am definitely going to ease into this next one. I will do what I can when I can, and accept what I can't do at that given time. There are many experienced cyclist in my area and it's a bit intimidating, I want to be that good. I guess you can't be good if you are belly up in a ditch!!

I really appreciate every response, this is why I joined the TE forum.

I've so been in your shoes. When I first started riding, it was in an effort to endear myself to my then-boyfriend, who was a pretty strong rider. Oh, what folly. One of my first serious rides was 42 miles. With him and only him. On a hot day. The only food I had on me was a Peanut Butter flavored Clif Bar. I wasn't yet adept at drinking from a water bottle while moving, so I got pretty parched during the ride. I finally begged for a break so that I could eat something, but I was feeling so poorly at that point and was so thirsty, that the Clif Bar tasted like dry oats. I couldn't even choke it down. I can barely even look at one now, let alone eat one. I'm not even sure how I managed to finish that ride; it was a nightmare.

I rethought my strategy at that point (and we broke up not long thereafter) and took a more measured approach. He and I remained friend as it turned out, and I eventually got strong enough not only to keep up, but on occassion to kick his butt! So, we learn from both our mistakes and our victories.

[CyclingRN]

I've so been in your shoes. When I first started riding, it was in an effort to endear myself to my then-boyfriend, who was a pretty strong rider. Oh, what folly. One of my first serious rides was 42 miles. With him and only him. On a hot day. The only food I had on me was a Peanut Butter flavored Clif Bar. I wasn't yet adept at drinking from a water bottle while moving, so I got pretty parched during the ride. I finally begged for a break so that I could eat something, but I was feeling so poorly at that point and was so thirsty, that the Clif Bar tasted like dry oats. I couldn't even choke it down. I can barely even look at one now, let alone eat one. I'm not even sure how I managed to finish that ride; it was a nightmare.

I rethought my strategy at that point (and we broke up not long thereafter) and took a more measured approach. He and I remained friend as it turned out, and I eventually got strong enough not only to keep up, but on occassion to kick his butt! So, we learn from both our mistakes and our victories.

Lol!!! Oh have I been that chick also! Before I managed that water bottle skill I also would be bone dry at a rest point, scared to talk because I figured smoke would come out of my mouth!!! That laugh was right on point! Thanks!

[marni]

second and triple the idea of easing into riding longer distances in big chunks in hot humid weather. The general rule for increasing distances in riding and or running is to not increase more than 10% a week.

Headwinds- consider them as resistance training or give up. Get in a good aerodymanic position in your drops or aerobars, lighten the gear load, hit a slightly slower pace and think positive thoughts.

It is impossible to calculate the drain that heat and humidity can take on you in spite of the preparation and hydration. Just as it is nearly impossible to classify the weathermans' temperature with what the actual feels like temperature is while you are out riding. I mean I knew today's 50 mile ride was brutal because of the heat and the wind, even though we started before the sun cleared the horizon and kept a good pace. Felt lik 85-90 because of the breeze and some cloud cover. Apparently because of the humidity, the actual feel like temp was 109. That may have been why I felt so wiped out. I do know that in addition to my normal preride breakfast, I went through twice as many gu gels as normal, added shot blocks , and refilled both bottles at a convienience store twice.

I know we all like to prove we are tough, but there is a time to be cautious. I will be sooooo glad when the temperatures drop back out of the high 90's ad maybe into the low 80's- sometime in November.

marni

[CyclingRN]

second and triple the idea of easing into riding longer distances in big chunks in hot humid weather. The general rule for increasing distances in riding and or running is to not increase more than 10% a week.

Headwinds- consider them as resistance training or give up. Get in a good aerodymanic position in your drops or aerobars, lighten the gear load, hit a slightly slower pace and think positive thoughts.

It is impossible to calculate the drain that heat and humidity can take on you in spite of the preparation and hydration. Just as it is nearly impossible to classify the weathermans' temperature with what the actual feels like temperature is while you are out riding. I mean I knew today's 50 mile ride was brutal because of the heat and the wind, even though we started before the sun cleared the horizon and kept a good pace. Felt lik 85-90 because of the breeze and some cloud cover. Apparently because of the humidity, the actual feel like temp was 109. That may have been why I felt so wiped out. I do know that in addition to my normal preride breakfast, I went through twice as many gu gels as normal, added shot blocks , and refilled both bottles at a convienience store twice.

I know we all like to prove we are tough, but there is a time to be cautious. I will be sooooo glad when the temperatures drop back out of the high 90's ad maybe into the low 80's- sometime in November.

marni

Thanks Marni, great advice. I am definitely gonna scale back in this heat. It's brutal and this is the heat that could put you in the hospital. I am going to master this wind, one way or another! I'm not going to let it whip me, I just have to adapt!!! One things certain, I will not push myself to that point on my next ride!!!

[Owlie]

Thanks everyone for the feedback! @ pre-ride meal... I started with a decent bowl of SC oatmeal with fruit and almonds, couple of scrambled eggs, piece of MG toast . Gel x1 15 minutes before ride, 2 water bottles on bike (Powerade in one and regular H2O with a couple of Hammer Endurolyte Fizz tabs in the other). Now, that breakfast alone was much for me. There were stocked stops every 12.5 miles but I wasn't hungry. And that's usually my problem, I have to make myself take a snack in every 30 minutes or so. Since we were riding in 95 degree heat with 80% humidity, the heat index put us at about 104 degrees! I didn't want to take in to much and then find myself throwing my toe nails up!!! It was intense!
I drank plenty of fluid, both on the bike and at the stops.

I am usually my toughest competition, so I elected those 50 miles as a way to push myself. It was a self inflicted wound!

I have another ride on the 22nd. Given my work schedule, I've got 8 days open to try and get extra miles in. I may not shoot for 50 this time. But my inner voice is gonna say " you can't do any less than 40"!! Looks like I've gotta put her on mute and listen to my body....

O_O In that weather? No wonder! I've got 3 years of riding under my belt, and I still have trouble in heat. (I did a 50-mile ride on July 4 in similar conditions, and I am truly surprised I made it back to the car.) Be careful, and listen to your body. I either don't ride or go for 20 miles or less in that kind of weather.

I'm impressed, though.

[CyclingRN]

O_O In that weather? No wonder! I've got 3 years of riding under my belt, and I still have trouble in heat. (I did a 50-mile ride on July 4 in similar conditions, and I am truly surprised I made it back to the car.) Be careful, and listen to your body. I either don't ride or go for 20 miles or less in that kind of weather.

I'm impressed, though.

Owlie, I left a slime trail.

[Bethany1]

Nebraska has wind and plenty of it since it's all prairie. You just learn to live with it and not let it drag you down. I lower my gears since it's like climbing a hill and keep going. It's been hot/humid here and I just keep my rides short..12-15 miles. Bring plenty of water/food and learn to listen to your body. It also helps to have wicking jerseys/shirts to help cool you off. Wind means to just slow down and enjoy the ride. Since it never goes away, it just becomes a part of you.

[tzvia]

When I am out in the heat (lots of that out here in So. Cal.) with that Santa Anna wind, and lately humidity to boot, I up the water and electrolytes and ease off the ride, listening to my body and not my mind. If I feel thirsty, I blew it; I'm dehydrated already. So I drink like a drunken sailor. I find I can't take anything like bloks or a Cliff bar if I am feeling thirsty and there goes the ride. Two bottles, one with just water and the other with Cytomax or Gu to start, with electrolyte bloks when I run out of the electrolyte drink and have only water. Call me a 'packer' but I pack a banana, two Cliff bars, two pkgs of bloks, and an extra emergency pkg of bloks in the saddle bag.

Dress for the occasion. Good quality jersey with UPF rating, water/sweat rated sunblock and those sun sleeves (yes they really work) can all help your body cool. I also wear a white Head-Sweats under my helmet. I find my head really gets warm with the Sun beating down through the helmet holes, the Head-Sweats really helps reflect it and pouring a little water in the helmet and on to it helps cool me.

As for wind, there's no getting around it. We get Santa Anna winds out here that can gust from the NE/NW and feel like someone just grabbed your rear wheel and stuck your head in front of an open broiling oven. Bring your elbows in close to your body, pivot down as much as you comfortably can at the waist, move down to the drops, don't sit up like a sail. I spend quite a bit of time stretching and trying to stay flexible when off the bike for this reason. I need to be able to stay in the drops for long periods, for as long as I am riding into the wind. Anything you can do to lower your frontal mass and streamline will lower the energy you need to produce to move. This will also help in keeping you cool as you are not revving your engine as hard to produce forward motion into the wind. This may sound silly, but don't forget to breathe. I find if I am really grinding it out, I hold my breath when I get tense. More wasted energy. So I have to remind myself to lessen my death-grip on the bars, smooth out my peddling and drop into a lower gear, stop bouncing/weaving on the bike, lower my head, stop clenching my teeth, soften my facial muscles, breathe smoothly.

For sure, don't up the ride miles way beyond what you are used to on a hot humid windy day. Take it in increments and listen to your body.