Cycling In Hot Weather: Hydration Is Critical

I love to ride my bicycle, and have been in love with this mode of transportation since I was 6 years old. Back then, I was having some trouble learning the fine art of balance. I was afraid of the falling down and getting hurt, but I was a big chicken growing up.

My Mom and Dad had bought me a brand new bicycle, and they used the same philosophy when selecting its size as they did for clothing. That strategy: buy too big, he will grow into it. When you're just learning to ride, this may not be the best strategy.

Shown Up By A Girl

I was really lucky as my friend, Patty Hamilton, lived a few doors away. She had a smaller bike and it didn't have training wheels. She showed me how to stay upright on the cycle. Her bike was shorter and it spurred confidence because I could keep my feet on the ground. That day, I learned how to balance, and really ride on my own. How embarrassing, shown up by a girl! The training wheels came off of my bike that very day.

Many years and many miles later, I woke up one Sunday and wanted to take a cycling road trip. I had no plans for the day and the weather looked perfect. At 8:00 a.m. the temperature was 72 degrees and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. I checked the air in the tires and was off.

I decided to ride to Lawrence, Kansas, a journey of about 40 miles from my house. Home of the University of Kansas, Lawrence holds a special spot in my heart because that is where I went to college and graduated with my BS in Business. I rode the back highways and it was absolutely a beautiful outing. I arrived in town, pedaled my way around campus and had lunch at school.

Ignorance Can Be Good

At mid-afternoon, I decided it was time to ride back home. As I passed the bank at the edge of town, I noticed their sign reported the current temperature at 106 degrees. I hadn't realized just how warm the day had become. I believe there is some expression about ignorance being bliss. It seemed that the hot weather hadn't felt as bad when I didn't know the temperature, somehow the knowledge of the actual measure of heat in Douglas County, Kansas that day suddenly made my ride home unbearable.

When I Was A Child I Thought Like A Child

I may have failed to mention that I was much younger at the time, so the statement 'when I was young, I thought as a child' is appropriate. In this case, I was traveling without the benefit of a water bottle. At the time, I didn't carry a bottle because there were convenience stores situated all over the city. Today, I was traveling in a rural location and those little oases of salvation were 10 to 20 miles apart. This was a completely different experience than I had planned.

I began my trek eastward toward home. After only five miles, I found myself having more and more difficulty riding my two-wheeler. I began to imagine all kinds of scary things, like snakes in the road (I am terrified of those creatures who slink through the grass and strike at my heels. As I continued to see things that weren't there and recognized I didn't have the presence of mind to safely ride my bicycle along the narrow two-lane highway. I dis-mounted the machine and began walking alongside.

Dehydration Becomes an Issue

The next convenience store would not cross my path for another seven miles. This was quickly becoming a potential life-threatening event. I began to get cold chills on this hot afternoon. I know the signs of heat stroke and I knew I was in serious trouble. Most young people, on hearing this tale ask me why I didn't just call someone on my cell. This was in the prehistoric era before cell phones were available to the common man.

After walking for what seemed to be an eternity, I had progressed about ¼ mile. My physical reactions to heat, and dehydration were increasing and accelerating. This was going to be bad.

Several vehicles passed this troubled cyclist without taking notice. However, a family in a van stopped just after they had passed me and someone got out and walked toward me. I thought I was still imagining things when the woman exiting the van called out my name.

As good fortune would have it. It really was someone I knew. It was my oldest sister Pat's best friend. I knew the family well. They didn't live anywhere near where we met, they just happened to be driving home along that highway.

There Is No Greater Joy Than Air Conditioning

I have never experienced such joy and bliss as I did that day when I found out their vehicle had air conditioning and they carried a cooler full of cold water. Gary and Carol Haworth saved my life that day and I will always remember what they did to help me.

I no longer cycle without a full, cold bottle of water and a fully charged cell phone. Yesterday's ride was hot, the temperature was similar to that fateful day in Lawrence but I was able to keep hydrated. I finished my ride unscathed.

Now that I am far more mature (old), I assume I no longer think like a child, but I have been wrong before.

The lesson learned: Be prepared.