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July 2007
Can you believe it is already July? The summer riding season is just flying along. And, as usual, we have seen our share of those hot riding days. While we all live for summer, don’t forget that summer’s heat is conspiring against us.
One of the biggest threats is dehydration. It is easy to detect that we are losing water while actively sweating. What is really hard to tell is that while riding, the airflow is pulling moisture from our skins. We may be sweating, but with the wind keeping our shirts dry, we don’t really notice it. It is important that at every stop, you work to add fluids back to your system. When I say fluids, I am referring to water, Gatorade, and the like. Alcoholic beverages can make the dehydration worse.
Believe it or not, clothing can help fight off the heat. I used to think that less clothing means cooler, but it leaves us directly exposed to the sun. There are some great shirts that help wick away some of the moisture and also contribute to a cooling effect. Some of the new, high-tech jackets (yes, I said jackets) give you a very breathable outer layer and help protect you. Shorts aren’t a great idea for a couple of reasons. We all know what would happen if you went down, and probably everyone either has or knows someone who has burned a leg on a pipe, but what you may not know is that you can loose quite a bit of moisture threw the exposed skin (see dehydration above). And a case of sunburn on your pale while biker legs isn’t going to help keep you cool.
How many times near the end of a ride do you start looking forward to a cold drink and some air conditioning? While that is a pleasant thought when it has been over 90 degrees for the past 5 hours and 250 miles, that distraction can be a sure sign of fatigue. As the mind wanders, or if you are really getting tired -stops paying attention entirely (“I don’t recall anything from that last 10-mile stretch.”), it is possible to get sloppy. Not seeing vehicles slowing down ahead of you, misjudging a turn, or in the worst case, actually napping can all result. As a Chapter, we tend to see more incidents and accidents in the afternoon on our rides when people start getting hot and tired. Strangely, it is then that we need to be aware that we aren’t aware. Instead of getting sloppy, we really need to focus on the task at hand and make it to our destination safely.
Another helpful trick includes just stopping. Whether is it a planned break during the heat of the day or just a stop to cool off and have a cold drink, both are great ways to help beat the heat. Here is your excuse to hit that ice cream stand and really cool off.
We have three rides coming up in July the Panty Ride, the Las Vegas Ride and the River Road Ride. Try something new to keep summer’s heat from taking its toll on you.
Ride Safe! Rich
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