Made it home from InZane... With a lotta help from my friends!

[Black Dog]

Thanks to a ton of help, from many of my friends, I made it home safely from inZane, about 1:30 a.m. this morning. As some of you may know, I had some real issues with the heat and humidity at in Zane this year.

Starting on the trip down, on Friday last week. After about 350 miles we pulled into our first night stop in Crawfordsville Indiana. The temperatures had been the upper 80s low 90s with very high humidity. When we pulled into the hotel parking lot, I was unable to park my bike... my left arm, was having spasms so bad, I couldn't even hold in the clutch. Thanks to Don, who held my bike while I got off. I could not even walk into the hotel without assistance. My legs were not working and I was about ready to pass out. After sitting in the lobby and getting some AC on me, I was able to make it up into the room and slept like a log.

The following morning, I was feeling great, and ready for the next day's ride. We went from Indiana to Huntington Virginia, for our second stop. That day, we got stuck in that crazy heat and humidity for over two hours (feet on the ground, walking the bike, 50 feet at a time) because of a crash on I-74 just west of Cincinnati. When we got to Huntington, I had the same issues as the night before.

After some rest and cool AC, we were ready for the trip to Roanoke on Sunday. We pulled into Roanoke, about 3 Sunday afternoon. I was feeling okay, but still wiped out.

Thought I got a good amount of rest Sunday night, but when I got up on Monday morning, I still felt like crap... Once I showered and got dressed and came down to the front of the hotel, I knew things weren't right, because everybody who saw me asked, are you okay? Thanks to Ron, Easy Rider, for talking me into going to urgent care to be checked out, and waiting for me the whole afternoon. Once there, it was determined I was suffering from dehydration, and on the verge of heat stroke. They pumped me up with an IV, and it made me feel a hundred percent better.

I know many of you are thinking, stay hydrated, stupid. I don't know what I could do to stay more hydrated, I drank at least a 16 oz bottle of ice water every gas stop on the way to Roanoke. On Saturday and Sunday, it was alternating Gatorade and water every gas stop. My problem is, that for every 16 oz of water I drink, I sweat out 15 oz in the next half hour, in this heat.

I see my doctor, on Friday, for a pre-surgery physical. (Knee replacement on July 5th). You better believe, we will be having a long conversation about my inability to deal with hot humid weather.

Thanks to everyone who helped me, Jim C., who lives only about 20 minutes from me, and is part of our Wisconsin group, had a trailer down along with his wife Linda. Lothaire and Dawn, also from the Wisconsin group, Don and Barb from the Wisconsin group, and all others that were so concerned about my well-being. Jim, Loth, and Don worked on and off during the week, in the heat and humidity, to add an additional chock to his trailer. We managed to get both bikes loaded Thursday afternoon, and I had wonderful air-conditioned Comfort the whole way home, yesterday.

A very special thanks to my guardian angel, Ron Heathman, or EEEEasy Rider from Indiana. He was very concerned about me, on Monday, and talked me into, and went with me to the Urgent Care.

Despite feeling foggy for a good deal of the week, I did have a very good time seeing all my old friends again. I didn't get to do any riding, for fear of dropping the bike or worse yet crashing. It's hard to admit, but I'm getting too old for these kind of rides in that kind of heat. I am going to a nearby dealer, to check out and possibly purchase a trailer for my bike for the next in Zane.

In closing, I want to say a very special thanks to our entire staff, and this whole big Goofy group we call the VRCC Family. The event was wonderful, the location was awesome, and we, in our very small group, managed to raise $7,500 for our chosen charity. That's pretty incredible, I don't care what group you're talking about!!

Black (Hot) Dog










  
          

 

[old2soon]

NOT pooh poohing this at ALL. But I wanna say-most if not All of the reason I weren't at 17 or 18. Aug of 16 I unloaded cuz I ran outa O2. NOT a fun thing NOR a good feeling. And my feeling good or NOT tied Directly to the amount of heat and humidity. Glad you made home SAFELY and thx fer gittin to the E R for the Needed follow ups. Much rather talk to you than About you!  RIDE SAFE.

[Bighead]

Drink more 16 oz is t very much every 200 miles. I keep a 60oz yeti in my saddle bag just for the (stuck in traffic moments) glad you got home safe......the heat and humidity in Roanoke is nothing compared to 300 miles south. But them again we tend to get used to it.....

[Steve K (IA)]

Steve, sorry to hear about your ordeal.  Glad you made it home okay with help from some really good friends.  

[Bigwolf]

Glad you made it home safe.  I take your story to be a message that I need to pay attention to.  Heat and humidity is taking a heavier toll on me than it used to.  I think I am going to get a camel back and also shorten my riding distance on such days.  Better safe than sorry.

Bigwolf

[f6gal]

Glad you're home safe!! 

BTW, the final tally for InZane donation was $8000!

[scooperhsd]

Steve - Rule #1 when riding in that heat and humidity (especially since you're from relatively cool WISCONSIN) - if you don't need to take a nature break every 30 - 60 minutes - you aren't drinking enough. I would apply this even in a cage without airconditioning ( the A/C CAN breakdown, and  it's just as debilitating in the cage as on the bike (ask me how I know sometime)).

That said - glad you got the help you needed when you needed it. If you're riding - a camelback would be a very good idea.

[..]

If you aint peeing you're dehydrated.

Drinking lotsa water every so often doesn't work. You need a steady intake.

Hold your hand out flat palm down.

Pinch the skin on the back of hand.

Release skin, if it's take a moment for the pinch to flatten you're possibly dehydrated.

[rainman]

Steve glad to hear you made it home safe  enjoyed hanging with you and the rest of the group.
take care and can't wait till we can hang together again.

[DDT (12)]

Steve,

Really great to see you again! Man, you gave us all a start with the heat reaction you endured!!! Glad things worked out, of course, and that you're on the mend! I imagine you're pretty happy with the outcome, too. Dennis (o2s) said it rather well... "We'd rather talk to you than about you!" You take care and I'll see ya some time, someplace... soon, I hope!

DDT

[Black Dog]

Thanks to everyone for the good thoughts and advice...

My youngest son, has been on me like stink on poop, making sure I'm drinking something like Pedialyte, every time he sees me (We live together).

Mid 90's here today...  Only time I went outside, was with the dog, at 7:30 this morning.


Happy Fathers Day, to those that can (or want to) claim that title 

Black (cooler) Dog

[old2soon]

Glad you're home safe!! 

BTW, the final tally for InZane donation was $8000!

                    While I was NOT in Roanoke I have participated before and all I can say here-NOT too frikkin shabby fer a bunch of Gnarly old-older bikers!  Afore ye say anything-rekemember I Have met Most of y'all!  Again-Proud to be a small part of this Very elective group.  RIDE SAFE.

[..]

Thanks to everyone for the good thoughts and advice...

My youngest son, has been on me like stink on poop, making sure I'm drinking something like Pedialyte, every time he sees me (We live together).

Mid 90's here today...  Only time I went outside, was with the dog, at 7:30 this morning.


Happy Fathers Day, to those that can (or want to) claim that title 

Black (cooler) Dog

Riding long distance or hot days I would recommend Pedialyte to everyone.

Much better than Gator/Power ade.

[Oss]

I prefer room temperature water and will lick some salt from a salt pack (free in all gas stations it seems) to keep electrolyte up

Hey if cattle can lick salt so can Oss

Every stop I get my head wet and wash my face also and try to put ice bag in upside down helmet while gassing up and using rest room

A cool helmet is better than a 110 degree one

Glad you made it home, we were worried about you my friend

[Pappy!]

Britman touched on it.
If you are not peeing regularly? ...... you are not drinking nearly enough. Period!
You were sweating most of your hydration away in the wind.
I am a 5th gen Florida boy who lives and works in what got you. I probably drink two to three times what you say you were drinking.
To be a bit graphic, if you are peeing very yellow and occasionally? Not enough water. Should be clear to mild yellow and frequent or....you guessed it....not enough water.

Edit - Forgot to mention an evaporative cooling vest for you. Am betting you would do much better using one in addition to more water.

[¿spoom]

Thanks to everyone for the good thoughts and advice...

My youngest son, has been on me like stink on poop, making sure I'm drinking something like Pedialyte, every time he sees me (We live together).

Mid 90's here today...  Only time I went outside, was with the dog, at 7:30 this morning.


Happy Fathers Day, to those that can (or want to) claim that title 

Black (cooler) Dog

Hey buddy, glad you're feeling better. As others have mentioned, that wasn't a lot of water. Vix has to keep bugging me about drinking more day to day, but on the road trips to Sturgis, Key West, NY etc. I had to drink a few quarts per hundred miles or I had nothing left to sweat. It was 94° and very humid today and I drank 3 bottles of water in the 2-3 hours I spent at a car show. That was half walking around and half sitting in the shade with old friends I'd come across as I walked.   

[¿spoom]

I prefer room temperature water and will lick some salt from a salt pack (free in all gas stations it seems) to keep electrolyte up

Hey if cattle can lick salt so can Oss

Every stop I get my head wet and wash my face also and try to put ice bag in upside down helmet while gassing up and using rest room

A cool helmet is better than a 110 degree one

Glad you made it home, we were worried about you my friend

Room temp drinking water for me, too. Doctor told me it was better, and I find I can't gulp down really cold water in great qty compared to warm water, that seems to slide right down.

[..]

Britman touched on it.
If you are not peeing regularly? ...... you are not drinking nearly enough. Period!
You were sweating most of your hydration away in the wind.
I am a 5th gen Florida boy who lives and works in what got you. I probably drink two to three times what you say you were drinking.
To be a bit graphic, if you are peeing very yellow and occasionally? Not enough water. Should be clear to mild yellow and frequent or....you guessed it....not enough water.

Edit - Forgot to mention an evaporative cooling vest for you. Am betting you would do much better using one in addition to more water.

Let's not forget that as soon as pee hits the toilet water it's diluted and will look "weaker" than it really is.

DO THIS AT HOME.

When you think you are hydrated go pee in a glass jar, zip loc or other container.

You will be shocked at how dark the liquid is.

DRINK MORE WATER.

[cookiedough]

wife nags at me as well not drinking enough water all the time.  My kid and wife probably drink 5xs the water I do daily every day.  I have 2 barefoot willie black cupholders (one on each handlebar) and keep about 16 ounces or so in there at all time sipping a few sips every now and again while riding coming into towns with my modular flip up helmet which is nice to have on HOT days like today.

I think you brought the HEAT back to WI though since a few short 20-30 mile rides this weekend was enough for me.  I installed today a national cycle windshield on my 98 tourer and like it, but it is pretty darn tall definitely made for someone over 6 feet tall more like 6 1/2 feet tall.  NO way can see OVER that windshield unless a center for the NBA at near 7 feet tall and I have the fork mounts nearly as down far as possible.  I think the hard corbin seat does not help either lower as well.  It keeps the bugs off me but is pretty far out in front that does not really block any wind wrapping around the windshield which is fine on HOT and HUMID days like both days this weekend 90 and above.

[fudgie]

Magnesium helps to esp with spasms/cramps.

[Robert]

As many have said, stay hydrated but if your in the heat all day and even a bit active you cannot drink enough water to quench your thirst, its almost impossible even with a bit of sugar that speeds the uptake of fluids. I have taken in enough water that I couldn't hold anymore and still come home and had a gallon of ice tea and still had yellow urine and felt not all that good. The hydration drinks do nothing for me either and in fact make me feel worse.

I am out most of the day and then ride and maybe on the first day your ok since you can drink enough and stay a bit dehydrated. The next day is the killer though since starting out a bit dehydrated and then sweating the body doesn't have the reserves that it had from the first day since they have been used up. This not only applies to water but to the vitamins and minerals that are required to keep you hydrated. Any riding or being in the heat from there is all down hill. The body is wonderful and usually has enough for one day of heat and sweat but anything longer requires some real care and careful preparation for riding.

Not to mention the loss of strength and awareness sometimes even a good nights rest which you seldom get in this condition doesn't help all that much. Some days I have been totally wiped out and feel it for a couple of days.

I am out in the heat 24/7 in the summer its like I am constantly wet, either with sweat, rain or shower cooling down. Proper riding gear that provides ventilation and yet protection from the sun is important and some of the other remedies here will help but planning is your friend if your not used to the heat and humidity. Along with taking your vitamins and mineral supplements.

To put this into some numbers Saturday took about a 300 mile ride that was for the most part highway speeds except for lunch with the wife, where I had about 36oz of ice tea and was hydrated before that. Stopped and got gas about 1/3 the way through and bought a liter of water. That was almost gone by the end of the trip since I really didn't stop to much and by a couple of hours after the rest of that was gone plus another liter and even the some of another one. That was about 100 oz by the falling of night for a 4 to 5 hour trip in 90 percent humidity and about 89 degrees.

[~ Timbrwolf]

.....Glad you made it home my friend. And it was great that you had so many good
people looking after the "old man".. 



...Faith and I are planning another weekend up in the UP at the same
place we met you last year. You,re more then welcome to meet us and
hang out for the weekend......in the cool UP.. 

[old2soon]

As many have said, stay hydrated but if your in the heat all day and even a bit active you cannot drink enough water to quench your thirst, its almost impossible even with a bit of sugar that speeds the uptake of fluids. I have taken in enough water that I couldn't hold anymore and still come home and had a gallon of ice tea and still had yellow urine and felt not all that good. The hydration drinks do nothing for me either and in fact make me feel worse.

I am out most of the day and then ride and maybe on the first day your ok since you can drink enough and stay a bit dehydrated. The next day is the killer though since starting out a bit dehydrated and then sweating the body doesn't have the reserves that it had from the first day since they have been used up. This not only applies to water but to the vitamins and minerals that are required to keep you hydrated. Any riding or being in the heat from there is all down hill. The body is wonderful and usually has enough for one day of heat and sweat but anything longer requires some real care and careful preparation for riding.

Not to mention the loss of strength and awareness sometimes even a good nights rest which you seldom get in this condition doesn't help all that much. Some days I have been totally wiped out and feel it for a couple of days.

I am out in the heat 24/7 in the summer its like I am constantly wet, either with sweat, rain or shower cooling down. Proper riding gear that provides ventilation and yet protection from the sun is important and some of the other remedies here will help but planning is your friend if your not used to the heat and humidity. Along with taking your vitamins and mineral supplements.

To put this into some numbers Saturday took about a 300 mile ride that was for the most part highway speeds except for lunch with the wife, where I had about 36oz of ice tea and was hydrated before that. Stopped and got gas about 1/3 the way through and bought a liter of water. That was almost gone by the end of the trip since I really didn't stop to much and by a couple of hours after the rest of that was gone plus another liter and even the some of another one. That was about 100 oz by the falling of night for a 4 to 5 hour trip in 90 percent humidity and about 89 degrees.

             You sir have Nailed my problem along with my breathing. Just cutting my grass on a hot humid day and taking in large quantities of H2O and sweat dripping off of me the next two days after the exertion in the heat and humidity I feel like crap-and feeling like crap IS an improvement. I've also noticed that while using the cage with the A/C W F O that I Still Need good quantities of H2O.  Also noticed me starting to say something about 5 years back I NEVER thought I'd utter-too hot to ride!  Oh-the other thing has been touched on but here goes-with all the liquid and the exertion in the heat and humidity and continuing to drink large quantities of liquid my urine takes 2 or 3 days too lighten up again-color wise. In a nutshell-I can NOT bounce back near as quick as I used ta did. Well-least ways I still be above the lawn and NOT part of the lawn!  RIDE SAFE.

[Black Dog]

Again, thanks again for all the advise, from those that have been affected the same as I.  Feeling much better now, and my pee has the look of weak lemon aid, due to all the water I've been pounding down these days.  Will never make that mistake again 

To assist in my quest to arrive at the next InZane in much better shape than last week, I now have a brand spankin' new  Aluma MC210, 2 bike Trailer  (trailer weighs in at a scant 600 lbs, and has a nice wide pull out ramp, that stores up under the deck floor) parked back by my shed.

Ride safe everyone!

Black Dog

[Wolfhound]

Steve, man, good to hear you are doing better again.
I was really concerned when I saw you suffering under that heat and glad that you took all the advice by those around you seriously.
Great decision on that trailer and you took action really fast.
It took me several months to pull the trigger - and made the wrong decision, because I should have invested in a closed one.

It’s been really great to hang with you and the Wisconsin gang again.
I had some really funny moments...   
Hope we can share the wind again next year.
Take care