General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Exercise Bike when it's too HOT outside Rss Feed  
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2006-08-02 12:27 PM

Expert
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Subject: Exercise Bike when it's too HOT outside
Hi

I have a bit of a planned workout dilemma. I have planned to do a 1:15 bike ride tomorrow, a day off friday before my long run on Satuday and Swim/Bike workout on Sunday.

So here's my question: Apparantly, the heat wave is not supposed to break until Friday and I still want to get my workout in tomorrow. Would it be a total waste to use the exercise bike at the rec center? I was thinking of spinning on that machine for about 90-120 minutes. Is this an OK substitute to actually mountain biking (I have an xterra race coming up) for 75 minutes like I have planned.

I don't want to do it on Friday, because I really want to keep that day open to rest before my long weekend workouts.

Thanks


2006-08-02 12:36 PM
in reply to: #500534

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Elite
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Subject: RE: Exercise Bike when it's too HOT outside
That's just what it is, a substitute - no where near the same. Can you ride when the sun isn't directly above? Take plenty of fluids or plan a stop. I ran last night (in NY) at 6:45 and it wasn't that bad.
2006-08-02 12:42 PM
in reply to: #500534

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Not a Coach
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Subject: RE: Exercise Bike when it's too HOT outside
For 75min, I'd just take a couple bottles filled with Gatorade or the like.  Remeber to take it a little easier than normal and if you can go early or late you'll be better off.
2006-08-02 12:48 PM
in reply to: #500534

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Coach
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Subject: RE: Exercise Bike when it's too HOT outside
just plan ahead and bring lots of fluids and/or refuel often. I am heading out fot a 3 hr ride today and it is VERY hot here in MA!
2006-08-02 12:51 PM
in reply to: #500534

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Champion
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Subject: RE: Exercise Bike when it's too HOT outside
I don't understand the question... when is it too hot to bike?
2006-08-02 12:56 PM
in reply to: #500534

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Veteran
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Subject: RE: Exercise Bike when it's too HOT outside
I hear ya Mike...this heat is seriously messing up our plan. And our first tri is Saturday!! We plan on trying to bike tonight around 7-7:30 in Patchogue. Im just going to stay hydrated and hope for the best!


2006-08-02 1:08 PM
in reply to: #500563

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Resident Curmudgeon
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Subject: RE: Exercise Bike when it's too HOT outside

scoobysdad - 2006-08-02 12:51 PM I don't understand the question... when is it too hot to bike?

My thoughts exactly, On the bike you have self-generated air flow, thus evaporation, thus cooling. Take a couple bottles with you and hit the road. Indoor cycling is for wussies.

If it's hot for your next race, are you going to ask the RD if you can ride indoors instead?



Edited by the bear 2006-08-02 1:09 PM
2006-08-02 1:19 PM
in reply to: #500590

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Elite
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Subject: RE: Exercise Bike when it's too HOT outside

I blame it on the media. It's the lead news story on every friggin channel. "100 today w/ the heat index it 's gonna feel like..." In 3 months they'll be complaining about the cold. then it'll be the wind chill factor. It's either gonna be really hot or really cold. plan accordingly. just stop watching the news and you'll be fine!

 

ps I've got 10 year olds playing hoops tonight at 6 pm. Guarantee none of them will complain about the heat. the parents on the other hand...



Edited by rollinbones 2006-08-02 1:23 PM
2006-08-02 1:25 PM
in reply to: #500590

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Elite
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Subject: RE: Exercise Bike when it's too HOT outside

 

I ran Monday in the heat and didn't prepare or handle it real well.  Biked Tuesday in even more heat and felt fine afterwards.  1:15...you can certainly take the heat for that period of time with some extra fluids.  Biking's wayyyyy easier in the heat than running, IMHO.

2006-08-02 1:34 PM
in reply to: #500590

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Subject: RE: Exercise Bike when it's too HOT outside
the bear - 2006-08-02 2:08 PM

Indoor cycling is for wussies. If it's hot for your next race, are you going to ask the RD if you can ride indoors instead?


Well, you can always count on Bear to be a bit of an @$$. What an utterly useless comment.

While I agree that biking may not feel as bad as running in the heat, as temps climb then real danger can exist with exercising outside, if proper care is not taken. Just ask anyone who has lost a loved one from heat stroke (and yes, it does happen to athletes, as a young football player unfortunately demonstrated TODAY)

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WEATHER/08/02/heat.wave.ap/index.html

Now, rather than making too melodramatic a point, there are other options that exist, including biking later at night (or early in the morning before work), changing the weekly schedule, or carrying more fluid, taking it a bit easier in the heat. Just be careful and you'll be fine.

As far as the stationary goes, sure, it's not the same as riding your bike. If that's all that your schedule will allow, though, so be it. Sometimes I think that we get too worked up on this site about the rigidity of our training. After all, this is beginner triathlete.com.

So let's all just loosen up a bit.
2006-08-02 1:38 PM
in reply to: #500615

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Coach
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Subject: RE: Exercise Bike when it's too HOT outside
RJSuperfreaky - 2006-08-02 1:34 PM
the bear - 2006-08-02 2:08 PM Indoor cycling is for wussies. If it's hot for your next race, are you going to ask the RD if you can ride indoors instead?
  After all, this is beginner triathlete.com. So let's all just loosen up a bit.
that includes you right?


2006-08-02 1:43 PM
in reply to: #500615

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Subject: RE: Exercise Bike when it's too HOT outside

RJSuperfreaky - 2006-08-02 1:34 PM
the bear - 2006-08-02 2:08 PM Indoor cycling is for wussies. If it's hot for your next race, are you going to ask the RD if you can ride indoors instead?
Well, you can always count on Bear to be a bit of an @$$. .

Hey Freaky, GFY. Obviously it takes one to know one.

Mine was a valid comment, haven't you heard that you should train as you race? Maybe if you actually rode your bike sometime you'd see what I mean.

2006-08-02 1:51 PM
in reply to: #500534

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Champion
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Subject: RE: Exercise Bike when it's too HOT outside

I too have a 120' ride scheduled today.  It's currently 99.4 w/ a 109 degree heat index.  I just plan on making it a 2 looper instead of a one to replenish my fluids.

If anything, I think you can substitute a trainer ride, but not an exercise bike.  Just my humble opinion.  But I can never get my HR up as well as I can riding outside.

 

2006-08-02 1:53 PM
in reply to: #500628

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Elite
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Subject: RE: Exercise Bike when it's too HOT outside
Superfly - learn to read between the lines huh? he asked for opinions and got them.  Sometimes people need to see other's perspectives to find the right motivation. If I'm not mistaken, the OP recently just thanked BT for his recent successes. He's an adult and he'll able do what he sees fit w/ the feedback he rec'd. 
2006-08-02 2:02 PM
in reply to: #500534

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Subject: RE: Exercise Bike when it's too HOT outside
allright i'll agree nobody really likes the heat but no races will be canceled over heat-my HIM was in the 95 degrees and it's not like the run got cancelled or something. I bike today 70 miles and it's 95 again. Like it , No but i figure it's good practice with my hydration and nutrition. I agree about the media. Fear mongerers(sp) is all they are. Yep it's hot but to advice people to not go outside at all is silly. C'mon we all have common sense and know about the sun and the heat. Is construction, highway work and the like going to be cancelled because of the heat? Sorry for the rant but this subject has been driving me nuts!
2006-08-02 2:09 PM
in reply to: #500649

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Coach
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Subject: RE: Exercise Bike when it's too HOT outside
nathaliemonique - 2006-08-02 2:02 PM allright i'll agree nobody really likes the heat but no races will be canceled over heat-my HIM was in the 95 degrees and it's not like the run got cancelled or something. I bike today 70 miles and it's 95 again. Like it , No but i figure it's good practice with my hydration and nutrition. I agree about the media. Fear mongerers(sp) is all they are. Yep it's hot but to advice people to not go outside at all is silly. C'mon we all have common sense and know about the sun and the heat. Is construction, highway work and the like going to be cancelled because of the heat? Sorry for the rant but this subject has been driving me nuts!
on no! you are going to be call out and asked to loosen up a bit!


2006-08-02 2:17 PM
in reply to: #500624

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Subject: RE: Exercise Bike when it's too HOT outside
amiine - 2006-08-02 2:38 PM

RJSuperfreaky - 2006-08-02 1:34 PM
the bear - 2006-08-02 2:08 PM Indoor cycling is for wussies. If it's hot for your next race, are you going to ask the RD if you can ride indoors instead?
  After all, this is beginner triathlete.com. So let's all just loosen up a bit.
that includes you right?


ESPECIALLY ME

@ Bear- Actually, I agreed with 99% of your post, but the "wussie" comment was unnecessary. The guy just wanted an opinion on some alternatives to cycling in the midday heat, not a statement on his toughness. And I fully accept that I, too, am an @$$ (who trains as he races).

But I digress. In response to the original poster, I would say that the consensus is to make changes to your schedule so you CAN ride your bike (not the stationary), and do so in a reasonable and safe fashion.
2006-08-02 2:50 PM
in reply to: #500534

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Member
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Subject: RE: Exercise Bike when it's too HOT outside

Hey Mike, 

Living in Las Vegas and beginning my Triathlon career in January, I was a little nervous about summer here.  You know it gets to around 110 - 120.  Yeah, I know..."no humidity"...ok, whatever.  Here's the point.  I have been training all summer.  Riding, running, bricks...whatever it takes.  Just keep plenty of fluids and go train.  It has actually been waaaay easier than I thought.  Do not overthink it or let heat scare you off of your training plan.  Especially with the bike.  I have ridden when it is close to 120 and as long as you have fluids, you'll be fine.  Pour some water on yourself and with the wind, you have a nice air conditioner effect.  

I agree that it is "never to hot to bike".  I have lived that quote.  In fact, I am not sure it can get to hot to run.  Just need to know how to do it.  (BTW, this does come from someone who last summer would see someone running or biking in the middle of the day and would say "look at that dumb *ss".    But last summer, I was 234 and out of shape.  This summer I am 188 and in shape.  That can change your thinking as well. 

2006-08-02 2:53 PM
in reply to: #500649

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Champion
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Subject: RE: Exercise Bike when it's too HOT outside

nathalie,

You are making a BIG assumtion about that common sense statement!  I'm still waiting on the result of the BT Poll to see if I should go #1 or #2 before my ride...

2006-08-02 3:14 PM
in reply to: #500649

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molto veloce mama
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Subject: RE: Exercise Bike when it's too HOT outside
actually, lifetime fitness oly was shortened this year (3 miles off the bike, run cut in half) because of the heat. last year they had so many sick people during the race they didn't want to risk it again this year. grandma's marathon was black flagged this year. the race still went on as planned, but people were strongly cautioned to be careful. 17 (?) people still ended up in the ER, and twice as many people than normal were seen in the medical tents. i was really surprised that chisago lakes HIM was not changed at all this past weekend. 102 degrees, 110 heat index and high humidity.

i'll sound like a minnesotan here, but for me its not the heat - its the humidity. it can be hot, but if sweat can do its job, you'll be okay if you just hydrate and take in electrolytes. if its humid, your sweat can bead up and not evaporate, and then your core temp can rise. liquids and electrolytes are lost on you then, unless you're dumping cold water over your head.

yesterday i was supposed to run outside and it was 90% humidity. i had a trainer session scheduled for today, so i just switched things around (funny, but this is the first year i've done consistent trainer sessions, and my bike speed has improved. love ya bear, but i strongly disagree that indoor cycling is worthless). ran today instead, in the heat and slightly less awful humidity.

it is VERY good to train as you race, but you also need to train SMART. you don't want to miss your race because you've landed yourself in the hospital with heat stroke.




Edited by autumn 2006-08-02 3:17 PM
2006-08-02 3:25 PM
in reply to: #500718

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Subject: RE: Exercise Bike when it's too HOT outside

autumn - 2006-08-02 3:14 PM i had a trainer session scheduled for today, so i just switched things around (funny, but this is the first year i've done consistent trainer sessions, and my bike speed has improved. love ya bear, but i strongly disagree that indoor cycling is worthless). ran today instead, in the heat and slightly less awful humidity. it is VERY good to train as you race, but you also need to train SMART. you don't want to miss your race because you've landed yourself in the hospital with heat stroke.

Didn't say it was worthless, said it was for wussies.

Your speed is up, but so is your training volume, significantly. You're already 24% above last year's mileage and it's only early August. And I can guarantee that if you spent the same amount of time on the road that you did on the trainer, you would have reaped greater benefits. Certainly that's a big if in Minnesota, but that really strays from the original topic.

Totally agree about the humidity, hence my comments about air flow and evaporation. Down here, when you run you get zero evaporation, zero cooling because of the humidity. When you cycle, the air flow you create gives you both. 



2006-08-02 3:36 PM
in reply to: #500732

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molto veloce mama
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Subject: RE: Exercise Bike when it's too HOT outside
come and push the girls in the double jogger and tell me i'm a wuss

and yea, i've been trying to follow the slogan 'ride lots' this year - whether its on the trainer, group rides, pulling the burley, picking up groceries, etc. helps that bill and i are 'racing' to see who gets to 1000, 2000, 3000 first this year.

as for trainer vs. road. there is no substitute to being on the road or trail and being at one with your bike on real terrain. spinning aimlessly on the trainer is boring and never seemed to do much good, but doing drills and working on specific skill sets has improved several areas of riding that i personally wouldn't have been able to improve as easily on the road. being a force rider, i tend to end up w/ a low cadence when i'm out on the road. this is the first year i've been watching my cadence but i bet last year i was in the 70 rpm range. now i'm 80-90 range. that's from time on the trainer. couldn't have done the same kind of drills on my bike outside, since more than half the time i'm pulling the burley and/or watching traffic. group rides have been great for watching my cadence, but i still wouldn't be able to do the same type of drills.



Edited by autumn 2006-08-02 3:37 PM
2006-08-02 4:33 PM
in reply to: #500534

Expert
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Subject: RE: Exercise Bike when it's too HOT outside
WOW!!! I really opened a huge can o' worms here. Sorry I asked for a little input. I was simply asking if there was any way I could do any kind of a workout on an exercise bike that could mimic, at least a little bit, a regular bike ride.

I have decided to do the spin class at the gym and some lifting. An early am workout (which is actually my favorite time to workout - as I regularly do 5am training sessions) is out of the question for tomorrow because of other plans and so is an evening one because tomorrow is my wife's night to go to cardio-kickboxing and someone has to stay with the baby..

that is unless, if BEAR wants to come sit, but wait, he might call her a wussie...
2006-08-02 6:49 PM
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Subject: RE: Exercise Bike when it's too HOT outside
mscotthall - 2006-08-02 5:33 PM

that is unless, if BEAR wants to come sit, but wait, he might call her a wussie...


Best. Statement. Ever.

As a father of 2, I can totally agree (no offense to bear)
2006-08-02 7:02 PM
in reply to: #500534

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Subject: RE: Exercise Bike when it's too HOT outside

"In this corner weighing ??? we have.... no not lions.. no not tigers.. yes... a true BEAR   AHHHHH.. ** Crowd cheers**

 

 

and in this corner we have the freak of all nature ... SUPER FREAKY!!... ** crowd cheers** 

 

sounds like we have a battle of words.. or well keys in this sense 

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