black leathers & heat

[kineteks]

A buddy of mine recently had an overheating experience up at Loudon and was told, among other things, that black leathers are NOT the way to go on a 90 degree plus summer day. Kinda obvious but at the same time plenty of folks seem to wear them (we both have them, all we could get on short notice). So the question is... if one keeps properly hydrated (he was told water, not Gatorade), and at least gets one's upper body out of your leathers between sessions & ? (other cool-down things to do) should black leathers be manageable on a killer hot day or are we looking at finding some lighter colored leathers?

[Chippertheripper]

I've done fine with black leathers. And I'm an out of shape pale redhead. I've had meatstroke before, and all I can say is preparation is key. Hydration, including Gatorade, before, during, and after is key. Too much water, exertion, and sweat will flush electrolytes from your system. You gotta keep putting them back in.

[Honclfibr]

I've had meatstroke before

Best typo ever.

I've found perfed vs nonperfed to make more of a difference than the color of the leathers.

[Chippertheripper]

Not a typo!

[SVRACER01]

I've had meatstroke before,

i literally laughed out loud at work when i read this

[Kurlon]

I've had meatstroke before, and all I can say is preparation is key.

Yup, that'll get you dehydrated in a hurry!

I've got a set of black leathers, and as Chipper noted as long as you stay on top of the hydration problem and get into the shade when you can they shouldn't be a problem. Come to think of it I don't recall them being any warmer than my white/silver set?

[Trouble]

I wear a black perforated suit and a black helmet. I hydrate heavily in the first part of the day but have a tendency to slack in the afternoon. Never had a problem and a couple weeks ago it was 90+ in Calabogie. There was no electricity for fans so my helmet was a soggy mess but I didn't feel too bad at the end of the day.

[eforer]

I was the guy who had "a heat emergency" yesterday. I ended up in the medical center wrapped in ice towels and with oxygen. I'm not in bad shape and have a healthy heart.

After about 5-6 laps in my last two sessions the symptoms would manifest. It would start with feeling physically tired, then short of breath and then a sort of mental confusion. I would start forgetting to do things and be all over the place (at which point in each session I called it quits) unfortunately, on my last time out (4th session) the issues set in very suddenly and things got really scary on my in lap. I was getting tunnel vision and seeing spots on the track and having serious trouble breathing. Fortunately, I didn't crash but there was no way I would have made one more lap.

The EMT's said I was minutes away from a seizure or possibly cardiac arrest. My heart rate stayed at over 120 bpm for almost an hour after I got off the bike and my pupils weren't responding to light. I couldn't form sentences and I barely was able to stand up.

Here's what they told me:

Gatorade (which I had been mostly drinking) in really extreme situations can worsen dehydration due to the excessive salts and potassium. They said to drink water, and to drink until you had to take a leak nearly every half hour. I felt like I was drinking plenty (a gatorade in between each run and an additional water or two here and there) and I was still seriously dehydrated.

Some people are more sensitive to heat regardless of fitness level etc. Moving forward they told me on hot days to head inside the media center or another air conditioned space, get the top half of my suit off and bring some ice packs and towels to put on my neck and under my armpits.

They also recommended pre-hydrating as another poster mentioned. Part of my issue was that I had flown back from Dallas the day before and had not done a good job of taking care of myself on that trip and really sort of over extended myself with all the activity of the weekend + the track day.

It was a really unpleasant experience and not one I wish to repeat. The laps I pulled in on I was actually becoming dangerous to myself and others on the track. The deterioration was rapid enough that you could feel "okay" the lap before and be barely able to keep the bike upright, let alone on the line and going quickly a mere minute later.

I have a bunch of race schools and track days coming up, hopefully this won't happen again. If anyone has any conditioning advice for the heat I am all ears.

-Ed

[Chippertheripper]

Short of more regular cardio exercise, and cutting your Gatorade with water 50/50, I can't think of things to add. Personally, I dont use Gatorade a ton, but a small can of v8 every other session, and a cold apple or orange from my cooler in between sessions. That and I get out of my leathers completely between sessions. Stroll around in soccer sandals and shorts or whatever.

The shitty thing about heat injuries is once you've had one, they come back easier the next time and the next. Shade and cool air, or air movement at all are your friends.

[SVRACER01]

watered down gatorade is probably the way to go (1 part gatorade, 2 parts water) the water will hydrate you and the gatorade will help put electrolytes back in.

[Garandman]

Be advised that if you wear white leathers, you will not get heat stroke but even your wife will make marshmallow jokes.

[Rada]

Did you take your suit off between sessions?

I find that taking my suit off between sessions keeps me much fresher throughout the day. My routine is to pull in take off the helmet and check my tire pressures then take off my suit and boots and grab some H2O. This is a prime time to hit the class room sessions too as they are air conditioned.
About 10-15 minutes ahead of track time I suit up.

This works pretty good for me and I'm fat and out of shape.

[Sheppo]

A little bit of a warning too.. ONCE you have suffered a form of heat stroke or dehydration it will come back a lot easier the second time. It happened to me. I abstain from excessive alcohol a few days before, and hydrate, hydrate, hydrate... Also eat veggies, fruit, and proteins, I like string cheese sticks. The cool towels help a lot too.

[OreoGaborio]

I'm sure most track day staffers will tell you we don't have time to get in and out of our leathers between each session, so for me, that's not an option.

What I do, as others have said above, is hydrate before you get to the track. I'm terrible when it comes to this, but it absolutely helps.

I also drink gatoraid AND water. My body needs BOTH.

I also use a camelback. This helps me personally a TON as I hate feeling waterlogged when you drink a ton all at once. It allows me to drink fluids all day without having to carry a cup around with me everywhere I go. I only put water in it so that it doesn't get funky, but I'll drink cups of stronger gatoraid when I can.

When it gets really bad I'll rock the cold damp towell around the neck in the garages. Getting it right on the neck sucks the heat right out of the arteries going to & comin from your brain. This ruuuules and really helps keep me cool.

Food! Gotta get some nourishment, even if it's just little snacks throughout the day. Fruit, granola bars, whatever it takes as long as you get some food in your belleh.

Lastly, as far as things you can do ON the track - CONSERVE YOUR ENERGY and minimize your body movements. This one of the things I always tell people who struggle physically. You can do a lap around NHMS and only move your butt 10 times. TEN! Most people move their butt upwards of twenty or more. This is wasted energy and it adds up bigtime. Reduce the number of times you move around on the bike and I guarantee you'll notice a difference towards the end of the day.



I will say though, that when I wore my black carbon fiber helmet, that my head seemed to get a lot warmer than when I switched to other lighter colored lids. All black may not be all that BAD, but it certainly doesn't help.

[eforer]

I had suffered a similar experience in a race kart before this episode, so I probably need to be extra careful from here on out. Especially if each episode makes you more susceptible.

[keeena]

The EMT's said I was minutes away from a seizure or possibly cardiac arrest. My heart rate stayed at over 120 bpm for almost an hour after I got off the bike and my pupils weren't responding to light. I couldn't form sentences and I barely was able to stand up.

-Ed

Dude, that's pretty damn scary. Glad it didn't turn out worse for ya.

I don't drink enough normally (day to day) and notice it @ track days. I drink about 1 - 1.5 gal (which is a lot/enough?) during a TD and I still get a dehydration headache. I also get hangovers pretty easy too. So I think there is definitely a big negative effect due to not drinking enough water on a regular basis. I've been trying to drink a lot more water daily.

I use the gatorade powder and mix it into gallon jugs of water at about 30-40% strength.

If you're at a track which has power available, bring a fan. Wear under-armor stuff and keep it soaked w/ cool water. Snacks are also important;, bananas, granola bars, trail mix type of stuff which have a good mix of nutrients.

[jc.cyberdemon]

i had simmilar simptoms a couple weeks back at my first trackday, the scariest thing was feeling my mind not working properly, i started to get sloppy and blew past the checkered flag and went an extra lap. just couldnt focus... i ended up calling it a day when i came back in as to keep everyone else and myself out of danger.

[Rada]

If you're at a track which has power available, bring a fan.

Thanks. I just put that on my track day check list. So obvious now.

[freeskier]

umbrella girl?

[Wanderer]

I echo the camelbak comments - but also have leathers with the TFL cool stuff in them - black, but basically reflects UV considerably, making them significantly cooler than they should be.

[butcher bergs]

Best bet is to start hydrating at least a day in advance.

Whether instructing or racing I mix Revive Vitamin Water (my 1st choice) with regular water and begin hydrating during the morning prior to a trackday or race weekend. I choose the Revive flavor specifically for the vitamin B (energy) and potassium (muscle recovery).

[Doc]

I was the guy who had "a heat emergency" yesterday. I ended up in the medical center wrapped in ice towels and with oxygen. I'm not in bad shape and have a healthy heart.

After about 5-6 laps in my last two sessions the symptoms would manifest. It would start with feeling physically tired, then short of breath and then a sort of mental confusion. I would start forgetting to do things and be all over the place (at which point in each session I called it quits) unfortunately, on my last time out (4th session) the issues set in very suddenly and things got really scary on my in lap. I was getting tunnel vision and seeing spots on the track and having serious trouble breathing. Fortunately, I didn't crash but there was no way I would have made one more lap.

The EMT's said I was minutes away from a seizure or possibly cardiac arrest. My heart rate stayed at over 120 bpm for almost an hour after I got off the bike and my pupils weren't responding to light. I couldn't form sentences and I barely was able to stand up.

Here's what they told me:

Gatorade (which I had been mostly drinking) in really extreme situations can worsen dehydration due to the excessive salts and potassium. They said to drink water, and to drink until you had to take a leak nearly every half hour. I felt like I was drinking plenty (a gatorade in between each run and an additional water or two here and there) and I was still seriously dehydrated.

Some people are more sensitive to heat regardless of fitness level etc. Moving forward they told me on hot days to head inside the media center or another air conditioned space, get the top half of my suit off and bring some ice packs and towels to put on my neck and under my armpits.

They also recommended pre-hydrating as another poster mentioned. Part of my issue was that I had flown back from Dallas the day before and had not done a good job of taking care of myself on that trip and really sort of over extended myself with all the activity of the weekend + the track day.

It was a really unpleasant experience and not one I wish to repeat. The laps I pulled in on I was actually becoming dangerous to myself and others on the track. The deterioration was rapid enough that you could feel "okay" the lap before and be barely able to keep the bike upright, let alone on the line and going quickly a mere minute later.

I have a bunch of race schools and track days coming up, hopefully this won't happen again. If anyone has any conditioning advice for the heat I am all ears.

-Ed

Ed, I feel some of the information you got is a little misleading.

Disclaimer: Even though my nickname is "Doc" I am NOT a doctor. (I have been an EMT/Medic for 22 years and a Nurse for 15 so take this for what it is worth).

I would have to know more of your medical history because there are certain risk factors but I think what was happening was Heat Exhaustion, Possibly the beginning stages of Heat Stroke, (if you were still sweating it was more likely heat exhaustion) although I would think you would have had some of the signs and symptoms of heat cramps...
Heat stroke is a VERY serious condition and CAN lead to organ damage, and blood clotting issues. Yes you can die from that.

Gatorade will not worsen dehydration (not in the amounts you said you were drinking). It replaces the salts you lose with sweating and it has carbohydrates to help feed your muscles. Yes JUST drinking Gatorade is not the best thing to do (you can get Vitamin A toxicity among other things) especially if you ARE NOT exercising, but drinking too much water can have much more negative effects. (water intoxication) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_intoxication Hyponatremia usually happens with drinking too much water (although some say it can also happen with sports drinks).

Did they start any IV's on you?

As for in the future. We call you a "Heat Caualty" in the Army. You are MORE prone to having another one of these episodes in the future now that you have had this one.

My reccomendations. Hydrate days BEFORE your trackdays making sure to get the 8 glasses you should a day and stay away from alcohol. Have Pasta the night before, eat Bananas the morning of, stay away from caffeine, DRINK WATER and a Couple gatorades throughout the day.

Stay cool and in the shade when off track (or in the AC) and give yourself some time to relax and think about your last session.

FYI: I am 40 and overweight, I was doing back to back sessions instructing in 106 degree heat last year. By lunch I was SPENT. Thankfully we went out to give the corner workers a break, that is when the Heat Cramps hit me. I quickly at 2 bags of salty chips, A couple LARGE Gatorades, some water, massaged my large muscles (no, not the meatstroke!) and within an hour I was back on the track for the rest of the day.

I hope that helped.

[eforer]

I didn't have any issues at the tony's in June where it was in the low to mid 80s, I guess I hit my limit in the 90s. Someone told me it was 95 with 70% humidity yesterday. Dehydration was definitely a factor, but the EMT's said the biggest issue was core temperature being high and that while I was dehydrated it was more heat than that. The two together of course can be very dangerous as I experienced.

I have a psycleskin undersuit (ie underarmor onesie) so I'm going to soak that next time in cold water, that seems like good advice. I'm going to do the cold towel thing too and try a fan. I'm just going to bring bottled water and maybe 1 gatorade and mix it down with water. I just hope this doesn't become a persistent problem for hot summer track days.

[freeskier]

another way to struggle less in the extreme heat, and i dont mean to offend any other members here, is to improve your physical condition even a marginal amount in the off season. no need to get built, but a little cardio will pay divides when it comes to your athletic performance.

dont drink gatorade at its current strength and stay out of the sun as much as possible. make sure your eating well the days before and staying off the sauce. im not a moto racer but there are general sports norms

[BluGixxer]

Does the unbrella girls take the place of the fan?