NEXT RACE, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 12th, COMP EDGE

                                   HOT WEATHER RIDING TIPS

  1. Start drinking lots of water no later than the Wednesday before the race and every day thereafter.
  2. Drink enough to make your urine clear. That is your body's way of telling you that you are properly hydrated.
  3. It is important to keep drinking water on race day but remember, you can't drink enough water on race day to prevent dehydration. You have to prepare ahead of time, so please don't wait.
  4. Make sure to eat even if you have a nervous stomach. Yogurt or a bagel or a banana or turkey sandwich etc... are all easy to digest.
  5. Sport drinks have some benefits but cannot completely hydrate you on a hot race day.
  6. Stimulant drinks are actually counterproductive before and during an event. The high levels of sugar and caffine can cause your body to crash after the initial boost, leaving you with less energy than before you consumed it.
  7. Same goes for soft drinks. The average soft drink has 12 tea spoons of sugar. Would you eat 12 tea spoons of sugar before you go out to race?
  8. Seek shade but not air conditioning on hot race days. You don't want big swings in temperatures when you are going to exert yourself, so stay cool but not cold.
  9. Take off as much of your gear in between races as reasonable. The body is an efficient radiator to regulate the temperature if it is allowed to work as designed. It needs water and circulation of air to do its job. Boots, helmet, gloves and chest protectors all cover up natural parts of the body's radiator and circulatory points.
  10. Try and rest the day before you race in the heat. Low stress activity the day before and a good night's sleep won't prevent de-hydration but will add to your body's energy reserves which helps combat heat exhaustion.
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