BIKE RIDE ARTICLE FOR JUNE 2007

- Tue 22nd May 2007

ISSUE OF THE HAYLING ISLANDER

A BIKE RIDE CAUTIONARY TALE

Readers may recall what happened
to a young runner on the recent London Marathon, with fatal results, since it
appears that he only took on water, rather than fluids with mineral content and
is a message for all taking part in demanding physical events, where we are all
exhorted to take on plenty of fluids. The following is a report of what
happened to one of our experienced riders a few years ago:

I’M DYING FOR A DRINK OF WATER

The 29th June 2001
sticks in my mind like it was yesterday. 
The day began like any other practice ride day and as I prepared for the
ride I was pleased that the weather was set to be hot. I knew the ride was to
be a hard hilly one but it was the last one before we were off to France for
the five day event, a challenging ride from Hayling Island to Paris and
back.  The vigorous training was very
necessary in preparation for the 5 days of tough cycling, averaging 90 miles a
day which would sometimes be more and sometimes less.  I felt fitter than ever and was looking forward to joining the
usual group for the challenging day ahead. 
As I filled my bottle with water I was annoyed with myself for running
out of energy drink, but it was not the first time I had cycled without it.

We started as usual at the Ship Inn
and followed our route notes taking us through various twists and turns, then
came the long climb up Butser Hill: time to stop for a drink!  It was not long before Lynne and I had misread
the route notes and lost the rest of our group.  As the day was hot and the ride demanding we made sure to drink
plenty of water, thinking this was essential. 
We did eventually meet up with other riders and get back on route.  We made the pub lunch stop and I downed a
pint of water immediately and replenished my water bottles for the next leg.
Unfortunately the pub food was limited so we grabbed a plate of chips and a
coke before getting back on the bikes. 
The heat was beginning to get to me and when someone said “we have
Harting Hill this afternoon” I remember saying “I am not cycling up Harting” to
which the reply was “what way are you going”, I replied “ I am going that way,
but, I will be walking up Harting”.  As
it happened I think the whole group walked up Harting Hill!  It had been a particularly gruelling ride
and the heat did not help.  We arrived
at Rowlands Castle having cycled 68 of 72 miles, by which time I felt unusually
tired, I remember sitting under a tree and telling Lynne I did not think I
could make the next 4 miles.  This was
unusual, but I thought it was also due to the heat of the day.  Again I downed more water and knew I drank
copious amounts of water throughout the day, although I cannot remember exactly
how much.  Lynne phoned a friend to
collect us and I have no recollection of even leaving the green at Rowlands
Castle, or anything from Sunday to Wednesday when I came too in hospital having
been in a coma since being admitted to Hospital on Sunday.  My family and close friends could do nothing
but wait to see if I would recover.  I
was put on life support for two days and it is thanks to the quick action of
the Emergency Services and treatment on arrival at Queen Alexandra Hospital
that I did recover. Lynne was also affected although not to such a serious
degree and was kept in Hospital over night while she had her salt levels
brought back to normal.

I had always been told to drink
plenty of water when exercising, but, what I did not know was that too much
water can be fatal.  The result is a
condition called hypernatraemia “low salt”, leading to “overhydration” when we
sweat we lose vital salts which the body needs to maintain its
equilibrium.  Excessive sweating
combined with continuously drinking water dilutes the salts in the body to
dangerous levels.  The symptoms are
nausea, lethargy, dizziness and mental confusion, which can be the same
symptoms as dehydration, sufferers can lapse into a coma and die.
 

I had no idea that this could
happen to me and having spoken to many other riders who knew nothing of this
condition, I do not believe enough people realise the dangers.  We tend to take our bodies for granted and I
for one will not do so in the future. The condition affects more women than men:
it’s not clear as to why, but one theory is that women are naturally lighter.
This condition can be easily avoided with some very simple steps.  You need to increase salt and sugar intake a
few days leading up to physically demanding events and although drinking plenty
of water is important you also need to include salts in your drinks throughout
the day while exercising, (isotonic sports drinks have salt and sugar included
in them).  This is very important
especially in hot weather, eating whilst exercising is also important and you
should take regular breaks making sure you eat well (pasta, crisps, chips,
peanuts) not forgetting bananas!  
Hopefully these simple tips may help prevent someone else suffering as I
did.

I spent several days in hospital
and when I was discharged I felt weak, confused and vulnerable.  I have made a full recovery, but was off
work after this incident for three weeks and had a huge psychological barrier
to overcome regarding cycling. I was absolutely devastated that I was unable to
take part in the ride last year, but, I am back on my bike and in training, the
Channel to Channel ride helped me overcome the psychological barrier and I am
looking forward to the challenge of this years 5 day ride, I feel more
knowledgeable and better prepared than in the past, and have a selection of
energy drinks and re-hydration salts coming with me.

PRACTICE RIDES

The Practice Ride team,
consisting of Kevin Knight, Rick Hutchings, Pete Alloway and Jon Tawse have
completed the schedule for this year and these are now available on our website,
with some final details to be added. For those who are thinking of entering the
Paris to Hayling, as well as those who have already entered, why not come along
and join us? Initially, the cycling is pretty easy, as we start off with a few
short and flat rides. In any case these are ideal opportunities to meet other
cyclists and to savour the social aspect, which as been so crucial to the Ride’s
success!

CHANNEL TO CHANNEL

As always we have one special
“Super Practice Ride”, the Channel to Channel, which took place over the
weekend of 14th/15th May. Now in it 8th year,
this was again be from Weymouth to Hayling via Salisbury. The Saturday, rather
hilly ride, had the benefit of a following wind and fair weather, with our MP,
David Willetts and his son Matthew, joining us before lunch. The Sunday was
rather wet and not everyone, including yours truly, fancied it, but most
struggled valiantly on, ending in good weather.

 
ENTRY FOR RIDE 2007

The ride is now full, but it may
still be worth applying for the longer 6-Day ride, as cancellations will
inevitably occur. Places can be secured with a deposit of £150, with the full
entry fee being £375 for the 6-Day. We are planning to take 180 riders, with 20
in support.

Phone enquiries to 023 9246 1412 or by post to Paris to
Hayling, PO Box 30, Hayling Island, Hants, PO11 9UD. Mobile – 07770-888501.

Website - http://www.hayling-cycle-ride.org.uk

e-mail address – paul.fisher69@ntlworld.com

PAUL FISHER 
21/05/2007

By forum user, PaulFisher