Buzzatronic

I have a double century coming up on Saturday and it's gonna be real hot (90-95). I'm considering having a frozen bottle in one of my pockets but realized I may be able to use small gel type ice packs in my jersey pockets to try and keep me cool instead.

Anyone tried this? Does it work? Is it worth the effort?

merlinextraligh

it's not going to do you much good in your jersey pockets. Ice in a sock wrapped around the back of your neck at the top of the jersey does actually give you some cooling for a bit. Bring a sock, fill it with ice at convenience store stops.

RollCNY

I was just reading about this the other day, and apparently it doesn't work, and in fact worsens temp control. The ice pack causes the vessels under your skin to contract, and worsens blood flow, restricting cooling. Splashing yourself with water works far better.

myqlj

I used a gel pack a couple of times this week on 95+ days. It worked for a bit, but was not as helpful in my pocket, and was probably less than helpful once it warmed up, because it blocked evaporation in that area.

A chunk of ice in the jersey above my Camelbak was almost a life-saver last August at mile 85 of the HH100. I was so overheated by that time there was plenty of heat transfer, and the melted water provided additional cooling benefit. I like the ice in the sock idea.

merlinextraligh

Alan Lim apparently believes it works.

Ask Nick: Ice socks, time trial follow cars and mechanic qualifications - VeloNews.com

How Garmin-Chipotle keeps its riders fresh for the Tour - VeloNews.com

The ice sock approach also has the advantage of evaporative cooling as the ice melts and runs out of the sock.

Looigi

It's rare that I need to, but if I'm overheating on a particularly hot arduous ride I've sometimes stopped at a convenience store, bought an ice bar, stayed in the air conditioned store while I ate it and then refiled my bottles adding ice. Of course I wind up buying way more ice than I need for a couple of bottles but the combo of ice bar and iced bottles will usually get me another 20-30 miles.

RollCNY

I am trying to remember where I read it, and if I remember, I will post the link. I am not trying to argue for or against, only that by funny coincidence I saw commentary on it just a few days ago. Wait, it might have been in that silly Bicycling magazine that keeps showing up at my house. I will have to check later.

merlinextraligh

The point about the ice pack contracting blood supply makes some intuitive sense. I'm thinking the ice sock approach would be better because you're geting the evaporative effect as the ice melts, and you're not carrying the weight of the melted water.

StanSeven

What's an ice bar? Ice cream?

topflightpro

Regarding ice being not helpful, you read it in Bicycling Magazine.

OP, you do not want to do an ice gel pack on a ride. After it melts, you'll be stuck with a pack of gel in your pocket. It will be heavy and it's plastic, so you will have that on your skin holding in heat. (I know because I use one during trainer intervals in the summer.)

Two better options:
1. Buy some pantyhose or nylons that you can fill with ice and stick down your jersey. When it melts, the water will drip down your back and you will not have a large mass in your jersey. You also can refill it at stops during the ride.

2. Fill some Ziploc sandwich bags with water and freeze them. Stick them in your jersey pocket. You can poke holes in the bags for water to drip out as it melts or pour the cold water out on your head. And you can easily toss out the bags when they are empty.

Al Criner

The ice sock on the neck is a time-tested solution. There are also now bandannas and towels that can be used for cooling. You wet them down and put them on neck or head.

merlinextraligh

I pulled it up on my phone, and its classic BICYCLING

The article is by James Haerrara of Performance Driven Coaching. He quotes Stacy Sims, PHD (founder of Osmo Nutrition) as RollNYC sets out.

Then Herrara in his Pro Tip says he has his BMX athletes wearing Cooling Vests by Artic Heat in warm up and between races, and touts a neck wrap made by Artic Heat.

The neck wrap is just a commercialized version of the ice in panty hose trick.

It would appear impossible to reconcile the endorsement of the Vest, and the neck wrap, with the advice not to put ice next to your skin.

Buzzatronic

Awesome, thanks for all the advice. I'll look into doing an ice sock instead. I'm lucky enough to have my wife at a few of the stops along the way so I can pick up cooling gear as needed (we leave at 4:30am and I most certainly will not need the ice sock then. ).

dave1442397

I was riding in hot weather last week and one guy had a combination neck scarf/head cover that he bought at Lowe's (the hardware store) for $20. He soaked it in ice water before teh ride, and said it keeps him cool for hours. It's the same evaporative effect as a towel, but it can't fall off during a ride.

banerjek

If it's really that hot, just stop by any fast food restaurant and ask for a large glass of ice water. Drink a bit and dump the rest over your head down your helmet vents and let it run down your jersey

Or don't ride so hard. Just drink plenty and you'll be fine

Ice41000

I don't think it would be good for your kidneys. Just drink and eat more and you'll be fine.

Buzzatronic

I actually saw a commercial for these last night. The blue neck gaiter looking thing right?

Ridelots24

dat soundz like a krazy goot idea yo.....

Nachoman

I once put a camelbak in the freezer overnight and had ice cold water to drink, and on my back, for about five hours in Hawaii heat.
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The above comment should not be interpreted as an endorsement for the use of camelbaks while on a road bike.

Looigi

Ice bar = popsicle: Frozen flavored water on a stick.

hueyhoolihan

when touring along the Omak river in Washington state a while back 100+ remperatures, i stopped at every opportunity to douse myself with water. ALL OVER. when i saw a guy watering his yard with a hose, i stopped and said, "soak me". he did! nothing, IME, ls as efficient as being cooled from the outside-in.

Sullalto

How often does it get that hot there? I don't think I saw a temperature over 85 when I lived on the Olympic Peninsula.

ckensto

I have to say that the cooling tees worn under the jersey, like the Craft cooling tee version I started using this summer really seem to help. They seem to wick and distribute the sweat better and enhance the evaporative cooling particularly when you unzip the jersey a bit and are moving pretty fast. When I stop, I take unzip or take off the Jersey and squirt a little water on the Craft tee and it really cools nicely. I can even get a quick chill from this particularly if its not super humid. They need to be form fitting, but when they are on they are so light you don't know its on. Like a second cooling skin. I got another one to rotate. The Craft cooling tee seems better than others I have used in the past more for wicking base layers, although a Performance version is pretty good too and much cheaper, but not quite as comfortable or efficient as the Craft.

bikemig 

I'll take it as an endorsement. That is the best way to stay cool on a hot day that I know of. Plus the important thing is to get cold water inside of you to lower your core body temp. If the ride is longer than a few hours, you can stop at a convenience store but a bag of ice and refill your camelback. There is nothing better than having cold water to drink on a hot day.

ckensto

I wore a camel back on my first RAMROD and baked on the last big climb. It was minimizing the evaporation from my back and I left it with a sag and never wore it again after that. In my experience, the frozen stuff doesn't last long at all on hot days and has to be replenished frequently. Cold water and good evaporative cooling and misting work well. Some of the hot rides I've been on like the Death Ride at the base of Carson Pass have misting stations. So effective.