Sunstroke and other fun things touring...

MacDoc

MacDoc

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Stunning clear day when I left Rouyn-Noranda - 12 degrees but sky was flawless.

Now it stayed like that for all the hours I was out.....and I think the issue started the day before as most of the ride was also sunny up past North Bay and I had a lingering headache I could not shake.

How clear.....this clear - all day and at a relatively high latitude

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As it got later in the day - the headache got worse and I could barely keep my eyes open. I was not hot but likely was somewhat dehydrated even tho I was drinking some water on the way.
Got so bad I had to take a break along the highway and then fought micro-napping the rest of the way into Ottawa - not fun....and I was still driving into the sun as it was the opposite side of the loop.

Food, ibuprofin and an hour's nap had most of the issues gone by 8 and and I drove to Perth for the night just at sunset feeling top of the world. Lovely ride tho I was a tad concerned about deer and was glad to see the motel.

Only noticed in the motel how sunburned my face was and thought it must have been some form of sun related headache/tired feeling earlier in the day.

Was fine the next day - pouring rain of course.

Anyone have insight into sun as with the gear it's easy to get over heated and drinking enough is not so easy and you don't really realize it as the air flow is pulling moisture.

It was only my face...I was covered otherwise as when I started it was 12 degrees but the way the loop worked out I was tracking into the sun most of the 12 hour day.

or could it have been a combo of the sunburn and dehydration??? fighting the urge to sleep was really hard.

This caught me off guard as it was not hot....:confused:

Anyone else been "sunstruck"?
 
Hmm.. can't say I have. I'm brown though so my skin and the sun get along great! I have no idea what a sun burn feels like either and I spend hours and hours and hours in the sun!
 
MacDoc said:
Anyone have insight into sun as with the gear it's easy to get over heated and drinking enough is not so easy and you don't really realize it as the air flow is pulling moisture.

It was only my face...I was covered otherwise as when I started it was 12 degrees but the way the loop worked out I was tracking into the sun most of the 12 hour day.
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full face helmet perhaps? :dontknow:
 
Not a chance - it's gotta be below 10 before I'll switch to the closed face....generally detest them - closest I'm coming is this.
Picked it up today - the clear visor slides up under the sund shade. Like Bell.

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Hmm.. can't say I have. I'm brown though so my skin and the sun get along great! I have no idea what a sun burn feels like either and I spend hours and hours and hours in the sun!
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sigh my genetic inferiority bows to inbuilt sun resistance ;)
 
SPF-60 kids waterproof sunscreen, on the face only, so it doesn't screw up your helmet's lining. Get a Camelbak.

A few years back, when working in the pits at Shannonville, I was so busy that I didn't drink a whole lot. Got home with a headache and exhaustion that I just couldn't shake, then missed two days of work. Haven't really been able to take the heat the way that I used to, ever since. Three weeks ago, while shooting at the track during the races, I went through 9 Litres of water on just the Sunday. I was fine at the end of it. Last weekend I did the same, but didn't drink as much. Fine motor control and concentration were starting to go, so I headed home before it was too late.
 
I keep some in the glove compartment and refill each gas stop ( 250 km or so ) but suspect still not enough.

Good thought on the sunscreen - can't quite figure what it was making me so sleepy.
 
Rob MacLennan said:
Dehydration can do it.
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+ 1

On my long day trips (1000+ kms), if I have don't have enough water I feel really really bad. I bought a bladder for my jacket, slides int he back pouch and fill it half with ice cubes, and the rest with water. Its not a large bladder, so I will refill it as the trip goes on. Nice cold water is very refreshing and keeps you cool. Would be nice if I could feel the cold water bladder on my back, but it sits against my back armour, so I lose out on that added bonus.

I dont notice the sun as I wear a full face helmet with a tinted visor, my eyes are really sensitive to light so I keep it closed all the time. Cheaper then prescription sun glasses.
 
I guess what fooled me was the low temperatures until late in the day. I guess the combination of a very dry high pressure dome ( it was soooooo clear ) and wind pulled moisture away without my noticing.

It may have started on the way up as between Barrie and North Bay it was above 30 and then I did not sufficiently hydrate over night.
Size large cup of Van Houtte coffee did not help the cause being a diuretic.
I'm not good on hydrating at the best of times...... :(

Lesson learned as that was scary and no fun - missed most of the Gatineau trying to stay alert.
Of course weekend home from the cottage traffic into Ottawa and lowering sun did not help headache.....food and a nap on arrival did.
Felt fine later in the evening.
 
Make sure you're peeing clear before you leave, since you could be slightly dehydrated right at the start and not realize it. The diuretic effect of coffee is supposedly quite minimal. It's just that people drink a cuppa faster than water (same goes for softdrinks and beer), which your body then quickly eliminates. That's the idea behind Camelbaks: a slow, continuous intake of water to match the loss caused by metabolism in severe conditions.

Flying along at 100 km/hr, while trying to hold a riding pose in a dry airstream (for hours) would probably qualify as severe conditions.
 
Hey Mac Doc: I've noticed your last few trips have been on this side of the border. Are you getting all patriotic on us or did your passport expire?
 
No just went up the Inside Passage on a cruise ship and liked Alaska then realized could get to James Bay by paved road which is on the same parallel as S Alaska - caribou etc.

From that discovered N Quebec was a great place to ride as well.

S of the border will be warmer later.
It was only 9 in Rouyn-Noranda the other morning so gotta make use of the summer while it lasts.

Still want to do 17 north of Saulte and across.
 
Flying along at 100 km/hr, while trying to hold a riding pose in a dry airstream (for hours) would probably qualify as severe conditions.
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then I guess 120-140 plus for most of the day would be extreme conditions :D.

Burgman is pretty comfie - lucky the tank is on the small side so have to stop every 250 k or so and usually have at least 1/2 litre of water.
 
Your body won't retain fluid if your electrolytes are low. Sounds like you were already dehydrated the day before as well. It also sounds like your blood sugar may have been low (you felt better after you had something to eat). Whenever you go on a long ride, carry a few granola bars and a water bladder with 25-50% Gatorade or Powerade to replenish electrolytes. Sip frequently and in small amounts - your body can't deal with too much water at one time........it just flushes your system of electrolytes you try so hard to replenish or retain and then your body has more difficulty retaining fluid. Rebalancing your sodium and potassium levels can take a bit of time too. If one is high, your body will flush it out with the other - then it's back to square one. Slow and steady wins the race. Polarized sunglasses can help a lot too.
 
I do both and had a quart of electrolyte mix I was swigging at stops with another 1/2 litre in the glove box.
BUT I think I was dehydrated from the day before as I left in a rush and it's a long hike to Rouyn Noranda and I made it longer with a very sweet alternative to 101.

Also have polarized sunglasses and they do help.
 
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