Sweat Thread - Heat and performance

[KnobbyMech]

Perhaps some of you can relate to this and offer some advise.

 

I have realized that I perform very poorly at races or rides where it is very hot and/or humid, sometimes to the point of going into a grinding halt with zero energy or drive and often also cramping despite proper hydration.

 

The opposite is true for very cold races. I also realized that I sweat only a fraction compared to my buddies who would not have a problem with the heat, but would get colder faster than me.

 

To me it is now clear that your ability to sweat effectively has a direct effect on controlling/regulating your body/core temperature, not to mention the inability or poor ability to get rid of waste product through sweating and thus putting more strain on kidneys etc. Perhaps even affecting inbalanced acid levels, etc.

 

I also suffer from eczema and this flares up dramatically when it is very hot, making me think it also relates to my body's inability to control heat.

 

Your thoughts please.

[JanJan]

As reading your post, I realized that I relate to every point. I also have the urge to go to the loo (or the nearest tree) more often during hot races. The worst is because I don't sweat so much, my face glows like a tomato and every rider that I pass, asks me: "Donner, is jy ok?"

 

The only advice that I can offer that helps me is to climatise to a specific area a few days before a race. Even an intense 30 minute, midday ride a day before a race gives my body a shock wake up. Although I have no knowledge in the dermatology field, I'm sure a shock like that stimulates my sweat glands and pores, which allows for sufficient "fat crying.

 

Hope it helps!

[Rapunzel]

Agreed JanJan - many people train early morning or late evening and their bodies don't learn to cope in the heat.

I've found that the more fit I am, the more I perspire (no glowing, I sweat buckets).

Do try to ride with a pulse monitor to give you an idea of what your body is up to. If your pulse is racing and you're hardly able to pedal, you're probably putting your body under extreme stress which is neither healthy nor fun.

[KaKa]

We get a lot of practice to ride in extreme hot weather but I still suffer in the heat, and extreme cold

[KnobbyMech]

Thanks guys. I just Googled "hypohidrosis" or "anhidrosis". Scary, especially since I recall I did use to sweat buckets while still in High School.

[Ramrod]

Thanks guys. I just Googled "hypohidrosis" or "anhidrosis". Scary, especially since I recall I did use to sweat buckets while still in High School.

Tell us more.

[davetapson]

I've never had a problem with heat, but I grew up in hot places.

 

Try training in hot conditions - be sensible - take water, take it easy. You're not going to get used to racing / riding in hot conditions if you don't actually do it.

 

I suspect it won't take long to get some tolerance. I seem to remember that they conditioned raw miners by having them step on and off benches in a sauna type effort for an hour three times over three days and that made a big difference. Maybe someone from the mining industry can supply facts?

 

But, one thing I do know is that if you avoid training in heat, you ain't gonna get conditioned to it.

[carrera4s]

Some people are unfortunately just naturally heat intolerant.

 

My advice:

 

1. JanJan and Rapunzel's advice is good to (a) acclimatise before the race and (b) to check yourself during the race.

2. Sweat produces moisture which the wind then evaporates which cools you down (Evaporation is a endothermic reaction so it pulls heat out of you.). Therefore, if you do not sweat much, throw water over yourself to evaporate which will cool you down (this is MUCH more effective than drinking more water to try to cool down). This is most effective in hot, dry conditions - less effective in humid conditions since the water will not evaporate as quickly.

 

Also see this advice from running a marathon in the heat (and cold & rain) - this should equally apply to cycling in those conditions:

 

http://running.competitor.com/2013/10/training/marathon-prep-running-in-bad-weather-conditions_85653

 

 

Some background to this advice:

 

I used to work on the mines and there it could be very dangerous if one's body does not adapt to the heat (specifically in the deep gold and platinum mines). The mines then use a Heat Tolerance Test" to determine which individuals are "heat intolerant", and which are not. One could fail the test if you are even slightly sick, or suffering from a hang-over, thus the mines allows you to come back once or twice to be re-tested if you fail the test. If you failed the third time, you are redeployed to cooler working areas.

 

See this article about AngloGold Ashanti:

 

http://www.anglogold.co.za/subwebs/InformationForInvestors/ReportToSociety04/values_bus_principles/safety_health/sh_cs_sa_7_12.htm

 

Another area where heat tolerance is critical is when one wants to join the Mines Rescue Services (Proto teams) - These teams go in when there is trouble and they sometimes work in very hot temperatures (sometimes putting out underground fires). As such, their Heat Tolerance Test is a bit more onerous than the "normal" test - you "work" for 1 our in a hot, humid environment (32 / 34 degrees).

 

Unfortunately fitness has nothing to do with heat tolerance. I was reasonably fit when I took the MRS HTT and still failed it dismally - my temperature went up to > 40 degrees (has to be below 39 degrees to pass), despite me feeling OK during the whole test (I also sweated the least of all the participants). They immediately treated me for heat stroke and had me checked up by a GP before allowing me to go home. They even made me sign a document that I will NEVER again attempt to pass an HTT again...

 

The mines also uses an acclimatisation process for people that were off the mine for a week or longer to make sure they adapt to the heat.

 

When I was very hot underground, I would pour water over me and find an intake airway (where the wind effect is quite strong - best way to cool down).

 

Hope this helps.

[carrera4s]

I've never had a problem with heat, but I grew up in hot places.

 

I also spend 2 years as a child in the kalahari - did not help me at all to get heat tolerant.

 

I think it is a genetic issue... I think acclimatisation will only help to an extent, thereafter you need to help your body...

 

Now that I think about it - maybe try a sauna to help with the acclimatisation? One can buy portable saunas for c R 2000 to R 3000 on BidorBuy. Or if you have the cash, get an Ozone sauna...

[KnobbyMech]

Tell us more.

 

Sweating is your body’s way of cooling itself off. Some people are not able to sweat normally because their sweat glands are no longer functioning properly. This condition is known as hypohidrosis or anhidrosis. It can affect a person’s entire body, a single area, or scattered areas.

 

The inability to sweat normally can cause overheating, which can lead to heat stroke—a potentially fatal condition.

 

More here: http://www.healthline.com/health/sweating-absent

 

[KnobbyMech]

About being used to heat; I hear what you say, but my current office often reaches 34deg (temporary office, but been in it for months now). I get home totally drained and fatiqued every afternoon and I do not get used to it. It is 32 deg now as I sit here and there is not a drop of sweat anywhere on my body, not even under the clothes.

 

Apart from sweat evaporating cooling you down, it is also a mechanism to get rid of excessive heat i.e. unwanted heat exiting the body. That is the part no Camelbak can help with and the part that worries me most.

[KnobbyMech]

Some people are unfortunately just naturally heat intolerant.

 

When I was very hot underground, I would pour water over me and find an intake airway (where the wind effect is quite strong - best way to cool down).

 

Very interesting read. I also worked a bit underground and could not believe what the guys could tolerate. The sooner I got out of there, the better.

[Izak]

I start sweating when I look to my left too fast!!

Although I am very fit I sweat very easily and profusely. Never had an issue with heat in races etc. as long as I keep myself hydrated. This probably also the reason why I NEVER get a headache.

[Martin PJ]

Interesting topic. The heat affects me badly in races too. The colder it is, the better I go.

 

Much of my training is early morning, train through the winter and hardly ever train in the heat. So this is probably a big contributing factor.

 

In the heat I loose a lot of weight in sweat - 4 to 5 kgs and I only weight 70 kgs, so it is not a lack of sweating that is the problem.