Dealing with heat

[pastapouch]

be carefull with putting ice and water on your head when youre warm' date=' that may just be causing worse headaches.[/quote']

It seems to help on the indoor trainer, and pouring ice water down my back has helped in the past when cycling in the heat.  I will concede that it's usually down my neck and back, not my head.

For burning and keeping your head cool theres CoolX headgear for that.

Googling CoolX... yields X-Ray scanners   Doh!  Where can I obtain some?

Its the range name, it may be Under Armour/Heatgear, has been winter so haven't used it for a while.

Will check who made it.

[Barend de Arend]

 

How long have you been riding' date=' you may need some time to get conditioned to the heat. The fitter you get the better your body will cope. Make sure you are well hydrated BEFORE you ride. You could possibly just be babalas?[/quote']

 

Eight years.  I've cycled to Durbs 5 or 6 times (lost count.)  I've always suffered in the heat.  I'm just trying to suffer less this year.

 

I can get top-10s in the A bunch, but the VA bunch still eludes me.  I guess that qualifies me as fairly fit.

No alcohol the night before.  I drink water before I start (at least 500 ml.)  That does help.

 

When it's 10 degrees out, I wear no armwarmers or legwarmers.  When it's -5 I'll wear legwarmers and a long-sleeve shirt.  If it's colder than that I'll use the proper winter kit.

 

When I train indoors I use an ice pack (in addition to a fan, fridge-cooled water over my neck and back, and drinking water, and an open window.)  If I forego the ice pack, headaches start.

 

I use rehydrats.  How many, and how often depends on the day.

 

I pour water over my neck and back, and put ice cubes in my helmet when I can.  That helps a lot.