Long Distance Riding in Hot Weather... published in Iron Butt Magazine

[Jetflyer]

93 degrees (and hotter) seems to be a significant threshold for the human body.

"Above 93°F, it’s a different world. The
wind is no longer your friend."

http://www.ironbutt.com/ibmagazine/IronButt_1002_62-66_Hot.pdf

[saddlesore]

Interesting read.  Living in Wisconsin I don't have to worry too  much.  Also driving a Valkyrie I have more fuel stops with a chance to rehydrate.
I picked up a couple of long sleeved Reebok shirts designed to do just what the article mentioned.
The science is a bit over  my head but I know the shirts work.
Thanks for posting. 

[sheets]

Nice to see it explained clearly and scientifically.

[Daniel Meyer]

Pretty good article. I've a lifetime's experience riding and working in high temperatures. Seldom see it explained correctly.

Only mention I didn't see was related to the water required...you cannot absorb the amount required to keep up in extreme temperatures, particularly if you are uncovered...start drinking (water!) well before your run...and be aware that you will outpace your recovery in a day's ride. Some time in the AC and rest eventually become mandatory. Related to this..."water toxicity"...it's a serious thing. Google it.

A heavy denim shirt seems to be the best for riding...stops the convection pretty good while still allowing the sweat to hang around and do its job more efficiently.

[Jetflyer]

There IS a graph in the article that specifies how much water intake is needed at each temperature.

[Robert]

I get so used to bad articles on heat thats its nice to see a good one. You cannot drink enough during the day to compensate the water loss of the body once you are in the heat for most of the day. It takes time to replenish and the effects on the body are pretty harsh while dehydrated. Its normally 100 to 105 degrees and humid most of the summer here in Fla. The sun also really does a number to you so there is no way I was drinking 88oz of fluid every 4 hours.

[Jetflyer]

The feeling of being "thirsty" is a delayed symptom of a body that is already dehydrating. Drinking ahead of feeling thirsty is ideal.

[doubletee]

Pretty good article. I've a lifetime's experience riding and working in high temperatures. Seldom see it explained correctly.

Only mention I didn't see was related to the water required...you cannot absorb the amount required to keep up in extreme temperatures, particularly if you are uncovered...start drinking (water!) well before your run...and be aware that you will outpace your recovery in a day's ride. Some time in the AC and rest eventually become mandatory. Related to this..."water toxicity"...it's a serious thing. Google it.

I normally  drink Gatorade or other sports drinks to replace the electrolytes, minerals, etc. that can be depleted when sweating profusely and needing to drink a lot of fluids.

[KG]

To much Gatorade can be bad for you. We alternate gatorade and water in very hot weather.

A old memory from the old days some may remember when the Coach would say " Take a salt pill and walk it off"

[Big Ed]

Good article. Thanks for sharing.

[Willow]

Very interesting reading. 

I choose to not share my thoughts on the difference between iron butt and candy ass.   

[NITRO]

There IS a graph in the article that specifies how much water intake is needed at each temperature.

Right, but your body is unable to absorb that much water per hour. You're going to lose more than you take in no matter how much you're drinking. You'll just end up peeing a bunch.

[Jetflyer]

Wrong... peeing a bunch is a good thing.

The objective is not to break even, on your water absorption/consuption. Urinating a lot, is a good thing in a healthy person. And, the water that makes it to your bladder WAS all absorbed to get there! The only water that does not get absorbed is the water you spit out.

A urologist will tell you that very light colored or clear urine indicates a well flushed system. Deep yellow is too highly concentrated, and deposits are left behind.

Ever say hello to a kidney stone?

[The emperor has no clothes]

The objective is not to break even, on your water absorption. Urinating a lot, is a good thing in a normal person. And, the water that makes it to your bladder WAS all absorbed to get there! The only water that does not get absorbed is the water you spit out.

A urologist will tell you that very light colored or clear urine indicates a well flushed system. Deep yellow is too highly concentrated, and deposits are left behind.

Ever say hello to a kidney stone?

No but my wife has and I hope it never happens to me

[..]

I've ridden in HOT weather on numerous occasions.

My body likes it when I drink lotsa water. Little and often rather than a massive glug a couple of times a day.

And it likes it when I eat a couple of tomatoes and a couple of bananas during each riding day .

It doesn't like Gator/Power ade with all the crap ingredients.

Of course you've read the ingredients???

[Rams]

Very interesting reading. 

I choose to not share my thoughts on the difference between iron butt and candy ass.   

Hmm, I guess I'm gonna have to make that call to take advantage of all that wisdom locked away in that brain.    With or without the filter, it's still good stuff.   

[Willow]

Very interesting reading. 

I choose to not share my thoughts on the difference between iron butt and candy ass.   

Hmm, I guess I'm gonna have to make that call to take advantage of all that wisdom locked away in that brain.    With or without the filter, it's still good stuff.   

 

Unfortunately I amuse myself more than is generally acceptable.   

[doubletee]

I've ridden in HOT weather on numerous occasions.

My body likes it when I drink lotsa water. Little and often rather than a massive glug a couple of times a day.

And it likes it when I eat a couple of tomatoes and a couple of bananas during each riding day .

It doesn't like Gator/Power ade with all the crap ingredients.

Of course you've read the ingredients???

To each his own. I only know what has worked for me through years of playing ice hockey, working outside in hot temps, etc. I'm not trying to force my solution on anyone else.

[HayHauler]

In HOT weather I ride with a CamelBak, which is a backpack with a bladder in it and a hose to drink from while riding.  Scott in OK turned me on to it and it has saved me the past few years.
1.  start drinking water early in the morning
2.  drink small amounts all day, not just at stops
3.  continue to drink in the evening to load up for tomorrow's ride.

I think of it this way, the lining of the stomach has much less surface area than all of your skin.  So there is no way you can absorb the amount of water through the stomach that your skin can expel. 

Hay, it works for me.

Hay 
Jimmyt

[Chrisj CMA]

Very interesting reading. 

I choose to not share my thoughts on the difference between iron butt and candy ass.   

Hmm, I guess I'm gonna have to make that call to take advantage of all that wisdom locked away in that brain.    With or without the filter, it's still good stuff.   

 

Unfortunately I amuse myself more than is generally acceptable.   

Im glad someone is amused......it would be sad if all that effort went un-appreciated 

[..]

I've ridden in HOT weather on numerous occasions.

My body likes it when I drink lotsa water. Little and often rather than a massive glug a couple of times a day.

And it likes it when I eat a couple of tomatoes and a couple of bananas during each riding day .

It doesn't like Gator/Power ade with all the crap ingredients.

Of course you've read the ingredients???

To each his own. I only know what has worked for me through years of playing ice hockey, working outside in hot temps, etc. I'm not trying to force my solution on anyone else.

 Nor I. Luckily we are all different otherwise we would all be riding V Twins

[Gryphon Rider]

I think of it this way, the lining of the stomach has much less surface area than all of your skin.  So there is no way you can absorb the amount of water through the stomach that your skin can expel.
Hay 
Jimmyt

Now, I am wilfully ignorant when it comes to most medical stuff, but isn't it the small intestine that does the absorption part of digestion?  I just Googled it, and read that the absorptive surface of the small intestine is 250 m², the size of a tennis court.  I don't think even the largest of us have that much skin.

[Hooter]

Peeing a bunch is a good thing.

The objective is not to break even, on your water absorption. Urinating a lot, is a good thing in a normal person. And, the water that makes it to your bladder WAS all absorbed to get there! The only water that does not get absorbed is the water you spit out.

A urologist will tell you that very light colored or clear urine indicates a well flushed system. Deep yellow is too highly concentrated, and deposits are left behind.

Ever say hello to a kidney stone?

Ya, last winter and it was a bitch! They couldn't break it so they just went in a grabbed it. It was stuck in my ureter and was 4.2mm X 5.2 mm. What a treat that was! Then there was the stent that was in for 5 days. Goes all the way from the end of Ol Jim up into the kidney. Bout 24" long total. Piss blood, then you get to pull that stent out...Having suture material from the bladder hangin out ol Jim with a knot in it, that is a pleasure too. The knot gets like sandpaper going in a out of Ol Jim. Don't drink water like I didn't, look foward to this some day. Drink water, its the best for everything.

[Chrisj CMA]

Peeing a bunch is a good thing.

The objective is not to break even, on your water absorption. Urinating a lot, is a good thing in a normal person. And, the water that makes it to your bladder WAS all absorbed to get there! The only water that does not get absorbed is the water you spit out.

A urologist will tell you that very light colored or clear urine indicates a well flushed system. Deep yellow is too highly concentrated, and deposits are left behind.

Ever say hello to a kidney stone?

Ya, last winter and it was a bitch! They couldn't break it so they just went in a grabbed it. It was stuck in my ureter and was 4.2mm X 5.2 mm. What a treat that was! Then there was the stent that was in for 5 days. Goes all the way from the end of Ol Jim up into the kidney. Bout 24" long total. Piss blood, then you get to pull that stent out...Having suture material from the bladder hangin out ol Jim with a knot in it, that is a pleasure too. The knot gets like sandpaper going in a out of Ol Jim. Don't drink water like I didn't, look foward to this some day. Drink water, its the best for everything.

"ol jim" hurt just reading this    

[98valk]

another good article by David Hough
http://www.soundrider.com/archive/safety-skills/when_youre_hot.htm

[Felonious Thump]

Looks like I need to do some shopping. Until now I road in cooler climes. Salt Lake is over the manic 93 for much of the summer daylight hours. Learned a lot from the article. Thanks for sharing.

[Jess from VA]

I'm not a big fan of night riding, but two summers back it was murderously hot, the power at my brother's in Ann Arbor went out and no AC, so at 10PM I suited up and rode the Turnpike OH/PA home to VA.  At least there are no intersections on the freeway.... thou there are still deer.  It was actually quite pleasant riding all night, 30 degrees cooler than daylight and no beating sun, and much less traffic.   

[HayHauler]

I think of it this way, the lining of the stomach has much less surface area than all of your skin.  So there is no way you can absorb the amount of water through the stomach that your skin can expel.
Hay  
Jimmyt

Now, I am wilfully ignorant when it comes to most medical stuff, but isn't it the small intestine that does the absorption part of digestion?  I just Googled it, and read that the absorptive surface of the small intestine is 250 m², the size of a tennis court.  I don't think even the largest of us have that much skin.

Hay, it's my story and I didn't google any of it.  It works for me.  
Hehe

Hay
Jimmyt

[slabghost]

another good article by David Hough
http://www.soundrider.com/archive/safety-skills/when_youre_hot.htm

This link has been updated.
http://www.soundrider.com/archive/safety-skills/when_youre_hot.aspx

[Oldfishguy]

Nice piece of work.

[Mr Whiskey]

Unfortunately I amuse myself more than is generally acceptable. 

Now when I say that they call me a perv 

[sandy]

It's HOT here in AZ. 108 today. I carry a 100 oz Camelback and drink big gulps every 10-15 miles. If you wait to drink at fuel stops, you'll never catch up on what you lost. Always use a hi vis yellow mesh jacket. Also mesh back gloves. Gotta keep the sun off your skin.

[MarkT]

I have two  cupholders on the hamdlebars of  Deerslayer and BluByYou (1800GW).  The Butler insulated mug holds a quart (I think) and the other holds any standard quart or less paper cup.  Keep at least the Butler full of only ice water and drink at least every 5 minutes in hot weather.  Typically stop about 110 miles and refill it - usually mostly empty.  Wear a long sleeve thick tee under a mesh jacket soaked in water in very hot weather.  Invented an evaporative shirt irrigator with tubing reservoir and pump and was working on bringing it to market when I found someone else had already done that.  As for me, riding in 100°+ temps is when I really need such a system, while it's rare for that to happen, to go to the effort to gear up for it. I've seen the astronaut - cooling systems and might invest in one if it happened a lot but it doesn't so not worth it to me. They are available both with chilled liquid tubing sewn into jackets as well as chilled air duct systems. Actual air conditioned garments.

[98valk]

drinking anything other than water can actually cause the body to need more water.
and eating too much meat, breads, (and not enough vegetables and fruits), requires more water to digest.
so what we eat and drink can make us dehydrated during hot temps even though we think we're drinking enough water.

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/8-common-myths-about-dehydration.html

[Wizzard]

Peeing a bunch is a good thing.

The objective is not to break even, on your water absorption. Urinating a lot, is a good thing in a normal person. And, the water that makes it to your bladder WAS all absorbed to get there! The only water that does not get absorbed is the water you spit out.

A urologist will tell you that very light colored or clear urine indicates a well flushed system. Deep yellow is too highly concentrated, and deposits are left behind.

Ever say hello to a kidney stone?

Ya, last winter and it was a bitch! They couldn't break it so they just went in a grabbed it. It was stuck in my ureter and was 4.2mm X 5.2 mm. What a treat that was! Then there was the stent that was in for 5 days. Goes all the way from the end of Ol Jim up into the kidney. Bout 24" long total. Piss blood, then you get to pull that stent out...Having suture material from the bladder hangin out ol Jim with a knot in it, that is a pleasure too. The knot gets like sandpaper going in a out of Ol Jim. Don't drink water like I didn't, look foward to this some day. Drink water, its the best for everything.

you aint alone,, I had the same experience. Would not wish that on anyone

[solo1]

A really interesting article.  I wonder how much things change for the worse when you're much older.

For me, personally, It was time to leave riding.  I just came up with too many excuses not to ride.  This dumb body can really object to things that it no longer can handle.  I had become extremely intolerant of heat while riding.  Anything beyond 8o degrees was out of the picture.

I'm leaving shortly for a 150 mile run in the Miata. The top will be down on the way up but coming back I will probably put the top up and turn on the AC.  I can now determine how much wind I want.

I have become a wimp

[old2soon]

A really interesting article.  I wonder how much things change for the worse when you're much older.

For me, personally, It was time to leave riding.  I just came up with too many excuses not to ride.  This dumb body can really object to things that it no longer can handle.  I had become extremely intolerant of heat while riding.  Anything beyond 8o degrees was out of the picture.

I'm leaving shortly for a 150 mile run in the Miata. The top will be down on the way up but coming back I will probably put the top up and turn on the AC.  I can now determine how much wind I want.

I have become a wimp

       Wayne-I've met you and broken bread with you-you AINT a wimp. What I chose to believe cause I'm having more temperature issues than I've ever had myself is that we are adjusting more to the enviorment we find ourselves in. Case in point-a P G R ride for Gold Star children this Sunday in Branson Mo. BUT the heat index for Sunday in Branson will be around 110  112 Degrees F!  As much as I'd like to be there NOT going to put my health at risk. When we have air temps here of over 90 Degrees F in the shade of my front porch i use the cage. RIDE SAFE.

[98valk]

A really interesting article.  I wonder how much things change for the worse when you're much older.

For me, personally, It was time to leave riding.  I just came up with too many excuses not to ride.  This dumb body can really object to things that it no longer can handle.  I had become extremely intolerant of heat while riding.  Anything beyond 8o degrees was out of the picture.

I'm leaving shortly for a 150 mile run in the Miata. The top will be down on the way up but coming back I will probably put the top up and turn on the AC.  I can now determine how much wind I want.

I have become a wimp

"A man has got to know his limitations"   

your a man overflowing with wisdom.

[slabghost]

As much as I love riding. Over 85 degrees I'll pass from now on.

[The emperor has no clothes]

As much as I love riding. Over 85 degrees I'll pass from now on.

You wouldn't get much riding in here