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Not a pretty day today. It was around 90 degrees today " the hottest day of the year" and we rode 32 miles around San Juan Island - which has a alot of hills - not mountains but lots and lots of steep hills. I am currently doing 100 to 200 miles a week on my bike and my stocker is doing 20 miles a week on her single and 40 - 80 miles miles a week on the tandem with me. In the northwest we don't have heat - and just this little bit killed us - I had cramps and yelled at my stocker for not doing her part, and what should of been a nice day wasn't! There must be secret to riding in the heat? I tried to stay hydrated and ultimately had to use some gel. My stocker would be mad at me for saying this , but I felt I was pulling her up each and every hill. We are not a new team 8000 miles together over the last 2.5 years.
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Not much advice here, just a bit of comiseration. A month ago my husband and I rode 40 miles with a 104 degree (F) heat index (and this is Minnesota so this is not that unusual to have hot and humid days). It was a flat ride along a river with less than 100 feet of altitude difference from beginning to end. First 20 miles - no problem. By mile 30 we were having some serious performance issues. We had to stop at a campground store for a bag of crushed ice to pack underneath our riding clothes to keep our core temperatures down. (Dehydration or heatstroke weren't problems as we continued to perspire profusely and had no symptoms to indicate serious medical issues.) The last 10 miles were utter misery and we had to stop every few minutes. I honestly wasn't sure we'd make it. We'll be a little more careful about weather forecasts next time, that's for sure.
And you two were doing that with hills!
My guess is that in Seattle you regularly ride more hills than we do so that probably wasn't your stoker's problem and she was just reacting to the heat.
I look forward to hearing from some of the warmer climate teams and their techniques for coping with the heat!
You really just need to get out in it. Often. I live in Austin, and I can ride hard in just about any reasonable weather. If the actual temperature (not head index) gets above 102 or 103, I start to hit a wall and can just cruise (no interval training on those days, but recovery miles are fine).
Two weeks ago, I did hill repeats 5x on 1/2 mile up 13% avg grade when it was 100-degrees out. Didn't bother me a bit -- but I'm out in it every single day. I sure went through some water though. 28 oz every 25 minutes, and drank 60 oz immediately upon arrival back at the office.
The same approach keeps me happy in the winter. Back in Denver, I would go on 40 mile rides when it was 5 degrees out. I just had to make sure I pulled my fingers into the gloves every 5 minutes...
I'm what you'd call an "outdoors person" ;)
There must be secret to riding in the heat? I tried to stay hydrated and ultimately had to use some gel. My stocker would be mad at me for saying this , but I felt I was pulling her up each and every hill. We are not a new team 8000 miles together over the last 2.5 years.
Yeah... there's a secret: everything in moderation. And, yes, you probably were carrying more than your weight but that's one of the responsibilities of being the captain.
Hydration is critical, for both you and your stoker: was she drinking more than her fair share of sports drinks as well (note: water alone on super hot days will not cut it)? My wife -- who wasn't much of a cyclist -- was clueless when it came to hydration and cycling, waiting to drink until she was thirsty instead of staying ahead of dehydration by drinking throughout the ride and the hotter it is, the more critical this becomes. Same thing goes for taking on food or energy gels when it's hot: you must eat a lot more than you would on a cooler ride to replenish your energy stores BEFORE you start to bonk and fatigue.
When fatigue seems likely due to unexpectedly harsh conditions (weather or terrain) on a recreational ride, moderate your output and take it easy... to include taking more off-bike breaks. Pushing through the "pain" and fatigue has it's place in cycling, but clearly not on every ride and you need to "read" your stoker's feedback and anticipate what you need to do to help them through the toughest times and to keep fatigue from getting the better of you as your temper gets short: don't think you're the only one this has happend to.
If you are not using them already, I'd like to recommend Polar's Insulated water bottles. We've been using them for a few years. We usually freeze them over a couple days, two nearly full and two about half full. We top them off with cold water just before leaving and they will last about two hours. At our lunch stop we request a pitcher of ice and another of water to refill them.
I'd like to recommend Polar's Insulated water bottles.
We used Polar bottles for a while and they did seem to keep the water cooler far longer than standard bottles; however, the large size standard water bottles hold about an extra 5 oz of water when compared to the Polar bottles. So, depending on how you look at it, while your water stay cooler longer in the Polar, you only end up with the equivalent capacity of 3 large-size thin-wall water bottles on the bike. For us, we decided it was more important to have the extra 20oz of fluids, regardless of temperature.
Weather, heat or cold, is an issue and you can take some precautions for both.
Having lived in Tucson for the past 28 years, we have coped, with some adjustments, to when/how we ride. Up to 100 days in summer of 100+ degrees, albeit with very low humidity (single digits).
Ride early . . . start just before sun-up; avoid mid-day hard riding. Do as suggested: freeze a couple water bottles the night before or add lotsa ice in camelback. Put a sock as insulator around water bottles, and if real hot, wet it down; that acts a bit as an evaporative cooler to the contents.
Wear light colored looser clothing; soak a bandana and wear it around your neck. Wear a cycling cap, and wet it. Take a bit more frequent breaks in the shade (hard to stand in the shade of a cactus or a telephone pole!). Loss of electrolytes and salt can do a number on your body . . . replenish them. Don't yell at your stoker . . . it doesn't help!
Worst/warmest event we've ever done was 325 miles in 3 days with 22,000 ft of climbing, finishing in Phoenix at 104 degrees; never did that one again.
Have bike commuted in 112 degrees with 2% humidity . . . heat was bouncing off the blacktop and feeling it through soles of my shoes; eyes burning behind my shades. Wet bandana and hat dried in less than 15 minutes. Not recommended!
That's why we are currently 'summering' in northern Utah!
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem
We rode in the Seattle heat today as well. Two things come to mind: first, I'd save a hilly ride for a cooler day! Not everyone takes the heat equally well--that's not voluntary, just how different bodies work. Two, you don't say much about how much hill training you've been doing. If you have, great; if not, I would sure do some before tackling a hilly ride on a 90 degree day. It sounds like this wasn't usual for her, so I'm guessing she was doing the best she could.
My daughter and I also rode in the Seattle heat yesterday on the tandem. It was probably a bad choice of days, as she is just 12 years old. We only did approx. 25 miles, when I noticed that she quit talking and was breathing hard. After a lengthy water and food break, we headed back into hellish head winds to Kent. She did well, though, and I was proud of her. :D
You have to get acclimated to riding in heat. If it's not hot that often where you live then that won't be possible and you'll just have to back off from your normal exertion level on really hot days.
My 10.5-year-old son and I also rode in the Seattle heat yesterday, just over 40 miles with a 500 foot climb at the end. We packed our CamelBak's full of ice and then topped off with water just before leaving, and stopped at Starbucks for a pitcher of ice water about 2/3 of the way through. The wind wasn't too bad where we rode, and we actually appreciated the cooling effect of the headwinds.
Did over 2 hours in the heat in the hills east of Vancouver, BC yesterday. I had just replaced the drive chain and installed a new chainring and wanted to test the equipment before taking it down to NWTR next weekend.We're 200 km north of Seattle, so basically the same weather. Temperature was in the 30's C (at least 90F). I went thru one large bottle; my stoker went thru the equivalent of 3 bottles, since we stopped a few times. I'm really used to the heat from years of racing in warm climates but the stoker is a casual cyclist.
It's been mostly cool and damp in the Pac Northwest this year, and this weekend was the first hot weather of the the season. We had done about three hours on the flats the previous day, so we took it pretty easy yesterday up the climbs, and there were several big ones.
One thing that I find helps in hot weather is to just not push it on the climbs. If you think the stoker is not pulling her weight, just ease up on the pedaling a little. The speed will go down, but you'll usually notice that the bike keeps going. That's the stoker making her contribution. On hot days you just have to lighten up a little or risk overheating the motors. And then find routes with lots of shady descents; my stoker just loves those.
After a really hot ride, I usually get a large slurpee. Doing a "brain freeze" is a quick way to cool down!
- L.
I had just replaced the drive chain and installed a new chainring and wanted to test the equipment before taking it down to NWTR next weekend.
After a really hot ride, I usually get a large slurpee. Doing a "brain freeze" is a quick way to cool down!
- L.
Hey there ihbernhardt, hope we see you at the rally. We'll be on our blue fade C'Dale. It was hot down here too (in Utah) last weekend. Humidity about 15%. I guess it's supposed to cool down for the rally, and we're looking forward to the relatively flat valley of Corvallis with all that oxygen, unlike up here. On Friday we did about 45 hilly (hot) miles during the maximum heat of the day, and near the end stopped for a cold drink at a convienance store. I inhaled a large, very cold Sobe fruit drink. Man, did it hit my stomach. I suffered the last 10 miles or so with terrible stomach cramps. I remember years ago as a grade school student when the coach always used to tell us to take it easy on the real cold stuff. It never used to be a problem, but it sure got a grip on me on Friday. But, I was good to go for a long hot ride on Saturday with lots of climbing. Drank a little more easily and thoroughly enjoyed the ride.
Hope we'll meet up at the Rally. Probably hopeful thinking, considering the large number that will attend. Drive safe. OHB
I had cramps and yelled at my stocker for not doing her part, and what should of been a nice day wasn't! There must be secret to riding in the heat? I tried to stay hydrated and ultimately had to use some gel. My stocker would be mad at me for saying this , but I felt I was pulling her up each and every hill. We are not a new team 8000 miles together over the last 2.5 years.
Last saturday we finished the "climb to Kaiser" ride in Central California. 155 miles 13,500 ft. It was 77 F at 4:30 in the morning and got up to 105 F by 2:00 pm. It took us 13 hrs to complete and it was the hardest thing we have ever done. The heat really took a toll on our ability to produce power. I lost count after 6 of how many camel backs of gatorade I drank. We took endurolite pills at almost every rest stop.
My wife/stoker is a great team mate, period. About a week before the Kaiser ride, in one of our last "easy" training rides, my wife told me: I am tired. I made the terrible mistake of telling her: No, you are not. That comment hurt her confidence on my ability to understand her and respond to her needs. While almost finishing Big Creek Grade during Kaiser she told me she was tired. This time I told her: OK, lets stop, take a break, and see how we feel. Her response: no, lets keep going a little longer and see if we can finish this climb. Not only we finished that climb but the next one and the rest of the ride... at one point we were crusing at 24 MPH on the rollers!!
I noticed I had a very hard time getting my heart rate above 130 afterr 3 or 4 hours of ridding in the heat. The hills that we have done so many times felt much harder. I could have concluded that... I was pulling my stoker each and every hill.... the true is that we both were death tired.
Thanks for everyones comments it changed my outlook on riding in the heat and in being nice to my partner who I dearly love. We'll hope to see everyone in Oregon - I heard not all the rides will be flat. Weather forecast is low 80's - but that's the long range forecast. We'll be on the Silver Co-Motion Mocha - sticking around afterwards for wine tours and a Blue Grass Festival - someone told us we could camp at the school till the 5th. I hope that's right
When it gets really hot I take the camel back filled to the brim with ice cubes and water. Some times I freeze it ahead of time. Then put a gatorade in the bottle cage. The camel back helps keep the body cool. I even used it for the first half of a road race (gasp) last year.
Also drink water and gatorade prior to leaving. Hydrate the day before if possible.
If it's not a race, it's not a race. Stop take a break, get some more fluids.
ah yes - we have some experience riding in the heat here in Oklahoma. We see a lot of 100+ days in the months of July and August - - all training rides for the Hotter 'n Hell in Wichita Falls, Texas at the end of August! We don't really have a secret - except to be more aware of what we eat and drink the day before a long hot ride. We stay hydrated the day before - avoid coffee and alcohol. During the ride, we load Cytomax in our water bottles. Plus, we drink on my command - every 15 minutes, thirsty or not. It's either an important job or a way to make me feel like I have some power!
I'm the stoker so I suffer a bit in the summer. There's not much in the way of a breeze in the stoker position. So, I like to stand when we're climbing (yep, there are a few hills in Oklahoma) it gives my legs a stretch and allows me to get a bit of a breeze. Even if the breeze feels like a hot blowing furnace! Howeve, I get even. I get to hide behind my captain in the harsh winter winds and am grateful for my position then!
After the Northwest Tandem Rally we went riding for another week in hot weather - but we fared better, I thinks it's because we hydrated alot, lived on gatorade, took potassium suppliments for crampiing, and didn't push it. What we did have issues with were our saddles - never never take saddles with a couple of hundred miles on them and none longer than 35 miles on 4 or 5 consecutive 70 mile days in the heat. You guys are smarter than me - I had a painful experience and learned the lesson that the price of the saddle ($100 each) doesn't correlate to comfort.
I wanted to add another hard-worker story. The three of us went out on our triplet on sunday for our usual 25 mile ride. It was 100 degrees and it was our slowest ride ever. My rear stoker had not been out for at least a week and she was not comfortable in the heat. I certainly understand about feeling like your pulling at least half if not all the weight. We had a 12.5 mph average and I felt like I had a real workout. I had to check everything when we got back to make sure it wasn't brakes rubbing or anything. Nope everything fine.
On the other hand, my 4 yo stokette and I went out last night and a had a fantastic ride. We led our group ride with an average above 17 mph. I couldn't believe that She never complained of the heat, above 95.
In extreme heat, you have to remember that the stoker(s) don't have as much wind exposure as the captain. So it would be just normal that they warm up more.
As for "what is too hot" ? It depends on temperature, but also on humidity. And last but not least, it depends on how one is used to the heat. I have ridden 2 days on a tour at 32 or 33 C and I was really happy that the road was flat. Any minor hill became a real obstacle. But then, I live in Québec, not Virginia.
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