THE SUMMER SEASON IS UPON US, which means: more time to ride bikes!
But cycling in the heat – especially when you’re riding through the crazy heat waves that seem to be hitting swathes of southern Africa this summer – brings a whole set of challenges, including dehydration that can lead to bonking, decreased performance, and sometimes, unfortunately, some serious heat-related dangers: illness, or even death.
That said, a little bit of sunshine or humidity shouldn’t keep you off your bike if you know what you’re doing when cycling in the heat. Here are six tips to help keep you cool when the mercury climbs.
01/ GET ACCLIMATED
“The biggest hot-weather mistake cyclists make is riding in the heat without preparation,” says Stacy Sims, PhD, an exercise physiologist and the author of Roar and Next Level. If you don’t acclimate to hot-weather riding, you won’t reap as many benefits from your workout, and you’ll increase both perceived effort and potential for injury. Instead, ride early or late in the day when temperatures are the coolest, and use your down time to get used to the heat.
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Denne historien er fra January / February 2024-utgaven av Bicycling South Africa.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
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TOP TIPS TO KEEP YOU COOLER AND RIDING STRONGER... NO MATTER WHAT THE TEMPERATURE.
