I might be adding some running in my short training sessions in the weekdays. I never had my leg and core muscles this sore for a very long time, not even after sprinting sessions on the bike so I thought it must be good strength training.
Yesterday, I went for a 33 mile ride with 1,900' of climbing. It's supposed to be the 71 miler route with about 6,000' of climb I usually take but had to turn back half of the way because of the extreme heat.
I went out at noon where live temperatures reached 115 F index with 85% humidity outdoors. But it felt hotter over the black asphalt roads, maybe around 125 F! Definitely went over my comfort threshold during the climb. I became very mildly dizzy at the point I decided to turn back and glad I did. It was mostly downhill when I turned back and I recovered from my dizziness. Anyway, it was so hot that I broke my speed record on the downhill parts even when I'm sitting fully upright. Air got so thin because of the heat. I got scared because at the speed I'm descending, the bike is getting bounced off the ground and getting airborne by the bumpy road surface and made braking hazardous and I do need to brake because of our chaotic traffic on the road.
Mistakes have been made like I didn't drink enough water the day before the ride (since I don't drink during the ride, hydration the day before would be critically important). Another mistake is going out at noon and I faced the highest temperatures of the day. I also forgot to remove my mask on some of the climbs, causing me to overheat. I had to wear mask to reduce some of the soot I inhale from vehicle exhaust. Not perfect but inhaling less soot is better than inhaling all of them! I am literally breathing fire! I can feel the air I exhale on my face and it's hot!
But glad I didn't bonk. I still had plenty of energy left in my legs by the time I reached home but my head is spinning! Just glad I made a frozen milkshake before leaving. Ate it as soon as I arrived and gave a huge relief.
There were very few riders I came across in this scorcher. They were either on the return trip or just doing short rides. A group of young riders came behind me and signaled me to make clear the path for them. They were preparing to pass me but they never did. I saw them fall behind further and further until they disappeared from view. We were going over the freshly asphalted road which is very black and very hot and I think the heat got them. The heat got to me later eventually but my legs and lungs are still going very strong. It was my head that gave up!
