Doggus

Copperas Cove - the online forecast high was 95. I'm pretty sure we hit over 100 on the course. The cat4 started at 1pm.

I got into an unexpected solo. My power now compared to several months ago - I swear, an imposter is riding my bici.

My power file shows:
I was away for 6.1 miles - 20:15 minutes. Compared to Walburg a few months ago, which was a nice cool race, my 20 minute power was down by 40 watts (I'm 79 kilos).



What is normal power/endurance loss at these temps? I got out there and knew there was no friggin hope for me today.

When the pack did pull me back, it was at the base of a substantial climb nearing the finish. I was quickly dispensed out the back door, not normal for me on a climb.

Racer Ex 

It going to vary by individual, some folks have a higher heat tolerance than others. but it will go down. My race was only slightly better BTW, after getting in the winning break at mile 5, 48 miles later I cramped with 1km to go. Salvaged 7th.

mikearena

For the past two weeks I've been riding in 95*, 50% hundity, 3:00 in the afternoon Florida weather. I've felt like crap every day.

Today, I woke up at 7:00 and was on the road by 8:00, and finished by 11:00 (~75* to about 88*). My average power was up about 20 watts today, my average heart rate was down about 5-10 bpm, and my perceived effort was way down.

For me at least, the heat plays a huge role in my performance. Now I just need to find out a way to stop working mornings....

ZXiMan

89-95 degrees here and 70-85% humidity = heat indexes of 100-107. That's what I've been riding in lately. I've been so bad lately I thought I was overtrained, but now I'm beginning to think it's a combination of the heat and perpetual dehydration. My heart rate has gone way up, P.E. up as well and output noticeably lower while doing the same training volume.

Voodoo76

Dont have a power meter but I do notice HR up when it gets over 90. But oddly my perceved effort doesn't go up with my HR. And I feel like I have more legs, can push more gear. Havn't raced in a few years (working to change that!) but I used to fly when it got hot out. Never cramped up short of 100mi.

txvintage

The heat index lately has been just brutal. I think hydration startegy needs ot be extneded a day longer right now as well as tweaking the nutritional plan.

With the heat over the past week or so glycogen reserves can be sweated off in the parking lot.........

kensuf

Jack Daniels the night before, and copious amounts of water over the head the day of.

txvintage

fixed

spinwax

Yes, heat REALLY affects your power. I live in Vegas and ride in 100+ degree heat a lot! It is amazing how some longer rides just are a struggle when it is hot no matter how much you drink, eat and try to keep cool.

fordfasterr

it has been hot and muggy down here in south fla.

kensuf

Dr. Lim would disagree with you.

Creakyknees

I told you Doggus, it's the socks.

grolby

In my most recent road race (Quabbin), what had been consistent temps in the mid-upper 60s gave way to race-day temps of close to 90 degrees. It was a real shock, definitely didn't help. I got dropped with 20 miles to go. I can't make it an excuse, though; the guys who managed to stay in the front group (at least over that particular climb) were hurting, too.

txvintage

What can I say, it's the next evolution of the Floyd system.

kensuf

Hmm. Maybe I'll try that on the next local group ride.

fordfasterr

This week will be good for those who can suffer the most!

jcpups608

Not to hijack the thread, but I have a 40 mi road race tomorrow with forecasts of 95+ degree temps and no one to hand me water on the course, any suggestions?

nitropowered

40 miles, take two big bottles and a small or big bottle in your jersey pocket

The hotter it gets, the harder it gets for me to take in water. It just pools up in my stomach. Proper hydration the day before is key

fordfasterr

be sure to add 1 or 2 scoops of HEED into each bottle before the race !


Good luck.

jcpups608

I like the enervit G-Sport stuff, same diff though. I've never carried a third bottle before but I'll give it a go. It's the 5th race in a 10 race series-3 road, 7 crits and today is the only rest day. Tomorrow should be interesting.

kensuf

2x24oz bottles. Maybe pack a 16oz bottle of water in a jersey pocket to dump over your head.

kensuf

Heed gives me gas. I'm more of a rapidaid or gu2o kind of guy.

wfrogge

Along with the heat we are having high ozone levels here in Memphis. This has been flaring up my asthma like never before........ Like you my PE will be pegged at what I think is FTP by power numbers show 40 watts lower for the hour effort.

I'm off to the doctor looking for EIA drugs. This weather pattern dosent look like it will break anytime soon.

fordfasterr

it's gonna be racing in the RAIN today... crap.