DNF and Dehydrated

The family andent down to the Tweed Coast (on the border between Queensland and New South Wales) for the weekend, staying with my father in law (he has ducted aircon). We ended up spending almost the entire time indoors due to the stifling heat and humidity. It was extreme.

I made the mistake of thinking I could get a long ride in on Saturday morning. Decided to head out through Murwillumbah, leaving an hour later than planned, then out into the countryside for an "easy" 140k or so. The pic below shows the path I took into the volcanic crater of the Mt Warning "Super Volcano" of prehistoric times.
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I couldn't have been more wrong. The heat and humidity were extreme and I went through 5 litres of fluids, including 4 waterbottles of sports drink, 1 large chocolate milk, and 1 can of coke, and still ended up massively dehydrated. Coming out of Murwillumbah (30k from the unit) on the way back, despite my legs feeling fine I was starting to shiver and get a bit dizzy. My heart rate was way too high (according to the Garmin anyway). 

The heat was intense coming off the highway so decided to call it a day and ring for "road side assist" to come get me while I sat under a tree beside the Tweed River and waited. God it was hot! Took me all day yesterday (Sunday) to recover and get rehydrated again. Was shattered from the effort. Loved every minute looking back on it...

Garmin says too long in the red zone.

Mt Warning in the distance leaving Murwillumbah

Waiting beside the Tweed River - beautiful and cool in the shade.

Either way it was a learning experience. I've always had trouble working out my drinking/nutrition on the bike while Im racing. Lessons learned and ever onwards!