Bow down to the hostility of the heat now
You'll be stronger later
Bikin' Shorts
Handling the Heat, Humidity & Hills

We had a rather mild April/May season. Perfect riding mornings.
They are now only a memory. The heat has arrived, and with a vengeance. Along with it, since we have had so much rain, that same heat has combined with that moisture and we have humidity that is higher than normal.
Most of us work in an air-conditioned environment every day. Most places we visit, including our cars, provide a cool environment. With limited exposure to that heat/humidity combination, we are ill equipped for our longer Saturday morning rides.
In hope of helping you enjoy the journey more,  here are a handful of tips, beginning with this: Ease up on the intensity a bit and hold your distance for a few rides. This will allow your body to acclimate without going into deep deficit, making recovery easier.
Hydrate for Heat!
Hopefully, you start out the day fully hydrated and urinating. That is the first step to a good ride. Next, remember to drink during the first 2 hours of the ride. This will help take care of you in the latter stages of a longer ride. Not large, outrageous amounts all at once, but rather a few sips every few minutes. Keep the water coming in at a steady rate for the duration of the ride, because it is most certainly going out. On rides of more than 2 hours, you should still be urinating about once every 2 hours. The darker the color (and the more odor), the less hydrated you are.

With higher than normal humidity, it takes longer for the perspiration to evaporate. Since your body is not cooling down rapidly, it will sweat more in an attempt to cool down. The wicking affect of your apparel is also slower, so you'll sweat even more. This is a great time to use your jersey zipper and vent that jersey a little bit. Every once in a while, open up the jersey and let a little breeze inside. After a brief cool down, zip it back up.

Apparel note: the more exposed skin you have - the more you risk dehydration. Wear a sleeved jersey and consider getting sun sleeves.

Finally, watch your tempo. Since this is not spring time, don't jump out of the gate like a frisky pony. Go out with a steady pace and get your legs warmed up. Be aware of how rapidly you heat up. You will become aware of the heat sooner than usual, probably before you get up to what would normally be your cruising speed. Once you notice the feel of the heat/humidity, just hold that pace as best you can for the duration of the ride. Take this approach for your next couple of long rides and you will find yourself feeling stronger and once again able to pick up the pace. Slow down now and you will be faster after a few weeks of "heat acclimation".

Bow down to the hostile heat now and you'll be stronger later.
Tour de Italia 2014
Chew Up The Hills

If you're riding in Italy this Saturday, you'll have some hills. Even if you don't ride in Italy, you'll probably have some hills to deal with. Since the tendency right now is to exert ourselves so much we overheat, we want to stay on this side of that threshold. So, as you arrive at the hill and begin to lose your leg speed/momentum, shift the gears one or two clicks "easier" and increase your leg speed. Work to get up and over the hill, as opposed to "grinding it out". Once you top the hill, ease up the effort but keep your legs moving. As your breathing and heart rate return to their "normal" level, get back to cruising. Ride on!
Endure The Wind

Time after time I hear people claim that "the wind beat me up today". The ONLY way that can happen is for you to FIGHT the wind. The best way not to lose a fight is never get into it. Yes, I know that the wind feels like a personal insult. It is "in your face" and buffets you around at will. Just ignore all that. Pick a gear and a leg speed that you can ride all day. This is the best method to avoid wearing yourself out. Then, IF and WHEN you get a tailwind, you have some legs left to launch some speed. One last thought to make it easier - imagine that all that wind is a result of how fast you are going!
Bikin' Mike Keel | BikinMike.com | 972-578-5719 | Email | Website
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