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Re: [RC] Cool Tips for Riders - Heidi SmithNeed tips on how to stay cool in hot and humid weather. I know this has been discussed before but I feel it's a good time to bring it up again. One of the items to be considered in my case is that my lower body/legs DO NOT sweat at all due to scar tissue. Thus anything waist and higher does the major cooling for my body. Had a hot/humid conditioning ride today...my friend and the horses did OK but I didn't. Fortunately we found a small stream and the water was cool...got myself wet and eventually cooled down...meanwhile the horses got lots splashed on them too which they appreciated. This has been a real issue for me this year as well, as I've started back riding after some life-changing health issues that have also caused me to be less heat tolerant. My first ride this year was just an LD, but I was pretty fried after. Realized that I needed some better strategies. The following has worked well for me so far this year (two fairly hot 50's): 1) Drink like a fish the day before. No carbonated caffeinated beverages--just water, juice, and milk. Drink a MINIMUM of 20 oz of water pre-ride, in addition to the juice and milk that I have with breakfast. Carry two 20-oz water bottles FULL for each loop and drink them in their entirety on each loop--refill at vet checks. 2) Cookies Cool Caps--WONDERFUL inventions that freeze prior to the ride and insert into the top of your helmet. There are 3 to a package (reusable) so being cheap I only bought one package--so I don't use one on the first loop while it is still cool out, but I use one on each loop thereafter and change at the vet checks. 3) Cool Neck bandana. Even though it may not evaporate in humidity, it still stays somewhat cool and is just one more small thing. I don't realize that it is working until I take it off and realize that I really miss it being there. 4) A HUGE light, flimsy, cotton men's long-sleeved western shirt with snaps. It billows out and provides a circulating air layer, as well as keeping the direct sun off my skin. The Arabs know what they are doing when they wear great billowing body-covering outfits in the desert heat! The advantage of the snap closures is that you can yank it off real quick and dunk it in a water tank and put it back on without taking forever to button it back up. (Yes, a jog bra underneath is appropriate <g>--but then I need one of those when I ride anyway to absorb the sweat "underneath" or I get a nasty and unpleasant heat rash there...) 5) A custom straw helmet brim that goes all the way around and shades not only my face, but also my ears and the back of my neck. I had one custom-made out of a wide-brimmed cowboy hat with the crown cut out--the very traditional cowboy hatter that made it for me almost had apoplexy over adulterating a cowboy hat, but boy howdy, does it work! It is velcro'd to my helmet in 4 or 5 spots. It's pretty cool--in more ways than one! <g> I can e-mail you a picture if you like... :-) 6) Every time I sponge my horse, I sponge me, too. Heidi =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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