My story

Not long after starting biking I bought a set of textile kit, meant for cold/wet UK conditions. This came with a thermal layer, sealing tight at wrists and ankles.

There was a sudden heatwave. Riding home, one of my hands started tingling. As the ride went on the tingling moved up my arm, then my other hand and arm, into my legs and, scarily, my head began to do the same.

I flipped open my visor, undid the popper buttons on the jacket’s storm vent and got the inner zip undone a little. As soon as I could I stopped, stepped off the bike... and collapsed.

The A&E doctor explained: “As the heat increased, your body attempted to deal with it. As you sweated you began to dehydrate. This wasn’t enough to maintain your core temperature so your blood vessels dilated as much as they could, but even this was not enough and you began to COOK inside your clothing.”

So within an hour of setting out, I was in real trouble. Thankfully I was able to stay focussed long enough to pull over and get off the bike safely.

But I am all too aware that the situation could have been much worse.