How To Stay Cool During Your Hot Summer Rides
When the sun is shining, it’s always tempting to get on your bike and go for a ride. But what if it’s really hot during summer? The following simple things will help you stay cool on those hot summer rides.
Stay Hydrated
Drinking enough is always important, but when the temperatures rise, it becomes even more so. By drinking enough before, during and after your ride, you avoid getting dehydrated. This is important because dehydration can reduce your blood volume significantly, as well as your heart rate. Since the blood supplies the working muscles with oxygen, this is clearly unfavorable for the performance. So, it’s best to take enough bidons with you for the ride. Bidons filled with water are good, but by adding sodium, calcium, vitamin C, magnesium or vitamin B, you can keep up your performance even better, this can be done with 3Action’s delicious isotonic drinks. While cycling on a hot day, drink about two water bottles (or 1.2 liters) per hour. In addition, you should also stop along the way for a refreshing drink.
Apply sunscreen generously
Not only is dehydration a risk for your body when cycling in warm weather, but so is sunburn. You can prevent this by thoroughly applying sunscreen. The sunscreen blocks harmful UV rays. In this way it ensures that the skin does not burn, does not age as quickly and that you won’t get skin cancer. Always use at least factor 30 and re-apply every 2 hours. When applying, don’t forget your head (if you don’t have any hair), the back of your neck and your ears!
Avoid the hottest times of the day
Leaving very early in the morning or late in the evening is a good idea, that way you cycle at the coolest time of the day. This way, you are less affected by the heat.
Wear adapted cycling clothes
Just like you dress for the cold in winter with dedicated cycling clothes, you can focus on heat management with your cycling clothes in summer. If you’re looking for protection from the sun, go for a Coldblack jersey. Despite its dark color, this fabric reduces the absorption of heat from the sun. In addition, Coldblack offers UV protection. The material is also sweat wicking, which is important because liquids conduct heat very well, so a soaked shirt will make you feel even warmer.
Do you want to go one step further and wear cooling clothing just like the pros? Then go for our Tokyo Gr+ line. Fast-drying, ultra-lightweight and equipped with cooling graphene technology, our Speedwear Concept Jersey Stratos GR+ will keep you cool. Thanks to its highly conductive nature, the graphene pulls away the heat from the rider’s body and helps to dissipate it faster. Using the air flows to gradually cool the graphene, the rider’s speed plays a crucial role.
Listen to your body
These tips will help you avoid overheating during a hot summer bike ride. But above all, listen to your body and only do what you can handle. Take good care of yourself and avoid getting sick from the heat.
Be cool, stay cool!