Yes, my cycling com-padres, tomorrow's SSORES ride will be a new standard in SSORES. No, not sores, but SSORES! (Summer Series of Remote External Starts) I'm sure you are excited as I am to ride the new loop. Here are a few of the particulars:
Start location: Gulf Breeze Wal Mart parking lot.
Start time: 7:30am...please be ready to roll at 7:30am as we are starting 30 minutes later than normal.
Miles: Right at 50 miles.
Pace: Moderate. Around 17 to 20mph on the flats. (See Pace Chart for more details)
Rest stops: We have 2 rest stops planned. However, if needed, there are stops about every 12 to 14 miles.
Weather: At start time it will be around 80 degrees with a light breeze out of the northwest. By the time we finish it will be in the low 90s with a breeze out of the west. Considering the temps, here's...
A word about hydration. The conditions on this ride will be similar to the 70 mile death march we rode a few weeks ago, with some significant differences. 1) The route tomorrow will be about 20 miles shorter. 2) The last 15 to 20 miles are flat or downhill, no bridges, and 3) There is no desert to cross disguised as a beach road. We'll have much more shade! However, because the temps will be hot, please consider a few friendly suggestions:
1. Consider drinking several more ounces of water the night before. Kind of pre-loading.
2. Check out some of the electrolyte gel shots. Some, like Clif Bars Margarita flavor, have some extra sodium which will help you retain fluids for the ride. (Use in moderation)
3. Drink from your water bottles early and often. Don't wait for a rest stop to tank up. (If you are uncomfortable riding and drinking at the same time, you could try a Camelbac hydration system.
Or, go to the back of the paceline and drink with nobody following your wheel...much safer!)
4. Have one bottle of water and another with an electrolyte drink in it. Alternate sips as you ride down the road.
5. Try the insulated water bottles. Studies have shown that cold fluids are more readily adsorbed than a drink that is luke warm or even hot. (Check out the ice machine at our stops)
6. Remember to eat as you are riding. You also need nutrients to power you down the road. Plus most energy bars have some electrolytes in them.
7. Try a Coolio! Most every stop on a hot day you will see the little curmudgeon sticking his helmet in the ice bag freezer. This is a great way to chill down the cranium just before heading back out on the road!
If worse comes to worse: STOP! Do not continue to ride if you are experiencing chills, dizziness, cold sweats, headache, racing heart-rate, blurry vision or hallucinations...like if you see Coolio at the front pulling...stop immediately because you are definitely hallucinating.
What to do: Find the nearest hose and hose yourself down starting with your head. Any house or gas station should have a hose. Get to a place with shade and call for a ride home, ride no further and try to stay out of the sun! (No hose? Get in the nearest pool, creek, bay, sound, gulf...you get the idea...cool yourself down ASAP!!!) Get some electrolytes in you as soon as you can. You don't need any special drinks, if none are on hand. Just eat some fruit. Apples are great. Bananas, oranges, grapes, nectarines, just about any fruit will do. Beaucoup liquides! (Uh, that's french for those of you less fortunate than my Tour de France bilingual self.) Translation: Very much fluids.
Always remember Clint Eastwood's admonishments in The Outlaw Josie Wales, "A man's got to know his limitations." And, "Dying ain't much of a living, boy." If the pace is too rich, back off a bit. If the heat is bothering you a bit more than normal, stop more often. Know what you can do and stay within it. Let others know if you aren't having a great day so they can keep an eye on you as well. An ounce of prevention is worth...uh, how does that go again?
Well, there you have it, you've been fully bloginated.
See you out on the road...in the morning,
Bob
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