Though I have raced some of the most well known routes and climbs in Europe, famous for their difficulty, my most difficult ride was my first summer metric double century when I was rather young.

The route of my century was quite simple, from Miami to Lake Okeechobee and back. There were no hills whatsoever, almost no turns, and very little traffic. I had been riding since the previous winter, and had completed a century on the same in late Spring. Being straight out, and straight back in, there was no way to cheat by taking a short cut, or not finishing a loop or two.

But now it was August, and the morning I started the ride, it was clear, sunny, and very warm and humid.

The ride started well, and I made good time heading northward. The highway shoulder had a fair amount of debris from blown-up truck tires, carcasses of alligators, turtles, buzzards, and other animals which I couldn't identify. There was nothing to see but sugar cane growing from horizon to horizon. When I got closer to Bayshore, I had to dodge deep rumble strips, which went all the way to the painted lines, forcing me either to ride over them, or swerve into the road lane to get around them. The route may have been flat and straight, but I had to keep my eyes open and concentrate on the road in front of me.

But I had left quite early, and had reached the turnaround point at the lake when the full heat of the day set in. The temperature was over 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and humidity over 90%. Still, I had done a lot of shorter rides, and fast group rides during the summer, so I thought I was acclimated to the heat.

Unfortunately, it wasn't so. I was sweating so much that my shorts and jersey had turned gray from the salt from my dried sweat, and I had salt crystals accumulating on exposed skin. I kept drinking water to replace what I sweated out, as well as some salty snacks to go with my power bars. But it wasn't enough, the heat began to get to me.

The problem with my route was that along the way there were no shops, stores, or places to stop, and not even a tree to provide shade. I dropped my pace down a little, but as I did, the air passing over my body slowed down, and it's cooling effect. Having been a medic in an Infantry unit in the Army, I had intimate knowledge of heat exhaustion and it's symptoms.

Slowing down made me hotter, which made me feel a little dizzy, and darkened my vision. Had I stopped, I would most likely have fainted on the spot, which is not a good thing to do in the middle of nowhere, with no people about, and almost no passing traffic. Heat exhaustion can quickly graduate to heat stroke if not treated, so I motored on. Thankfully I had carried a lot of water. Pouring it on my body would not have helped much, as I was completely drenched with sweat and salt.

As I rode on, an occasional cloud began to pass between me and the sun, and the momentary shade was a tremendous relief. I wished for more clouds to make my ride easier, and god heard me; clouds quickly appeared out of thin air, and soon the sun was blotted out. It was much cooler, and I felt much better.

But god wasn't content just to send me clouds, as raindrops began to fall. In the space of only a few minutes a full blown thunderstorm exploded into life above me. I was completely drenched in pouring rain, the dried sweat and salt in my helmet poured down my face, and into my eyes. I used some of my water to rinse out my eyes to stop the stinging pain. The rain was falling so heavily that soon all the sweat was washed away.

The road was now 2 inches awash with water, and from being too hot only 20 minutes earlier, I was now freezing cold. Lightning flashed and crashed all around me, and I was quite aware that as being the tallest object in my surroundings, I would make a great target. I picked up the pace, and made as quickly as I could for the 595 overpass, which I sat under until the storm broke up.

I then pedaled at a snail's pace until I got back to were I had parked my car, which was another 20-odd miles up the road, which put my tally for the day at 125 miles. The drive the rest of the way home was surprisingly difficult, it seemed I barely had enough energy to turn the wheel, or use the brake and gas pedals. I avoided the temptation to jump into bed when I got home, and made sure I ate a good meal before sleeping. The next day I was quite drained, but I still got on my bike and took a 20km spin.

Now I am much more careful when planning where and when I will ride.