Heat rash

[thekarens]

So here's what I was told today by one of the coaches - the heat rash starts to show up when your core starts to get overheated. I'm still trying to figure out how that happens, but it was at this point that I was handed a baggie of ice to stuff my bra with.

That's interesting! I'll have to figure out a way to carry a bag of ice :-)

[ny biker]

That's interesting! I'll have to figure out a way to carry a bag of ice :-)

If your jersey has back pockets, you can put one there.

[luvmyguys]

If your jersey has back pockets, you can put one there.

I had a bottle of frozen water in a jersey pocket and a freezer bag of ice stuffed into the front of the jersey.

[ny biker]

Word is that the pros use pantyhose. I don't know if they cut regular pantyhose into sections and tie the ends or if they use knee-highs, but apparently they put ice in them and then put the ice-filled nylons on their backs inside their jerseys. That way when the ice melts there is no plastic bag full of water to deal with.

[BikeDutchess]

Word is that the pros use pantyhose. I don't know if they cut regular pantyhose into sections and tie the ends or if they use knee-highs, but apparently they put ice in them and then put the ice-filled nylons on their backs inside their jerseys. That way when the ice melts there is no plastic bag full of water to deal with.

I may just have to try this next time I have to lead my club ride. On Thursday it was 100 degrees when the ride started @ 6 pm, and even though it was only 15 miles and I was wearing a bandana with cooling beads, I had a tough time finishing.

[Aggie_Ama]

Word is that the pros use pantyhose. I don't know if they cut regular pantyhose into sections and tie the ends or if they use knee-highs, but apparently they put ice in them and then put the ice-filled nylons on their backs inside their jerseys. That way when the ice melts there is no plastic bag full of water to deal with.

This is common to see in Texas. I think people use knee highs but I could see using the whole thing if you happened to have hose around.

[Aggie_Ama]

I wonder if those instant ice packs would work as well?

[GLC1968]

I used to have this problem when I lived in NC and was often riding in the hottest part of the day. For me, it happened on my thighs, regardless of the shorts, sunscreen or what was covered and what wasn't. Pouring ice water on my legs did nothing to stop it. Some days, it was so violent that they were huge welts for days and a full week before the discoloration went away.

As someone else mentioned, it's your core. Keep the core cool (ice in a buff on my head helped me) by whatever methods possible and you can reduce the effect. BUT, once it starts, there is no stopping it. It has to be prevented to work.

I used to feel this odd tingling feeling when it was happening...minutes later, the welts would start to appear. I was riding this past Saturday in the worst heat I've biked during the last 5 years and I felt the tingling again. Luckily, we were able to immediately move into a shady area and I doused myself with ice water and was able to avoid the reaction this time. I think it helped that relatively speaking...it wasn't THAT hot out this time.

PS - there were a couple of threads about this a few years back if you try searching for something like 'weird rash'.