Depending on where you live, summer cycling can feel like you’re in sizzling Death Valley – unless of course you live in Missoula, Montana, where it was hotter than Death Valley last week. Of course, while Death Valley is sometimes regarded as the hottest place in the United States, the winter temperatures are quite moderate and perfect for cycling, as cool and comfortable as a spring day. That’s why Pure Adventures arranges departures to this legendary destination between November and March.

That said, summer cycling has its own challenges, most related to avoiding heat related injuries. Keep your cool with these 5 tips from cyclists and bike touring veterans.

Hydrate before you even get on your bike. 
“Hydrating before pedaling helps you avoid drying out on the road,” advises Bicycling magazine’s Marianne McGinnis. Ideally, drink 12 to 16 ounces of water four hours before you plan to ride, drinking another 12 ounces in the two hours before you hop on.

Save the black clothing and accessories for cool weather riding.
Gordon Fisher is a bike commuter in the California desert, where the temperatures can soar above 120F. Fisher opts for a white helmet with plenty of vents and light colored, loose-fitting clothing. As a commuter he wears t-shirts and khakis, but the same benefits could be gained from baggy MTB shorts and a light weight jersey.

Start your rides early in the day.
“Riding through the midday heat is the surest way to fry your brain and body during a bike tour,”  warn Friedel & Andrew, the bloggers behind the bike touring blog Travelling Two. If you can, start your training or your tour day earlier in the day to avoid the harsh midday sun.

Ditch the backpack, install a rear rack.
“A heat wave is also a good incentive to take that load off your back,” says Portland-based cycling activist Elly Blue. If you’re in the habit of wearing a backpack for either commuting or carrying your gear during your cycling vacations, break the habit by installing a rear race and panniers on your bicycle.

Watch for danger signs that you’re getting too hot.
Even the most experienced cyclists with the best planning and hydration strategies can make mistakes by either timing their rides wrong or riding longer than they should. That’s why when you’re riding in the heat, you need to constantly monitor your body to ensure that you’re keeping cool. “Heat stroke can happen quickly and it can be fatal,” warns Laurel-Lea Shannon, an avid cyclist and editor of Women’s Cycling. Dizziness, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, muscle cramps and headaches are all signs of heat stroke.  “If you experience any of these symptoms, stop cycling, find some shade to lay down in, and replenish your fluids,” advises Shannon.

While cycling in the summer has it’s challenges, so do cycling in the winter!  Skip the snow and check out Pure Adventures’ Death Valley Bicycling Discovery Tour, a new supported self-directed tour that lets you ride in one of the most amazing places on earth. Want to learn more about Death Valley? Here are 8 weird things you probably didn’t know.

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Visiting Death Valley is a bucket list item for many mountain bikers and travelers. No where else on earth will you find the unique geological features and breathtaking features found in our country’s largest National Park. But to really experience Death Valley, you need to get off the highway and typical tourist tracks and explore the park by bike, and it’s a physical challenge that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Smart travelers need to prepare both their gear and their bodies before taking a multi-day mountain biking trip to Death Valley National Park.

Pure Adventures spoke with guides from AOA for their expert (and essential) tips for a safe Death Valley adventure.

Watch the Weather

Based in Scottsdale, Arizona, AOA’s Annemarie Medrzycki is a hiker and cyclist who knows how quickly weather conditions in the American Southwest can change. “One of the most important considerations when visiting the desert Southwest is to prepare for all sorts of weather conditions. The air temperature here and in Death Valley, can drop quickly at night. Exposure is often one of the greatest threats to individuals caught outdoors unprepared,” advises Medrzycki.

Prepare to Pre-hydrate

For at least 3 days before your departure, drink a 3 liters of water per day at least, particularly for hikers and cyclists visiting Death Valley. “Hydration is extremely important,” says Medrzycki. “It is very easy to get dehydrated without realizing it because your sweat will evaporate without your noticing – you may not realize the level at which you are exerting yourself.” Because of how much you will be sweating during your trip, remember that water alone will not do – take in a lot of sugar and salts to replace electrolytes. A commercial electrolyte product (think Gatorade, Ultima or Nuun) is a good idea, or make your own using sea salt, honey and water.

It’s not always newbies who make hydration mistakes. “Even athletes who are more conscious of these things than most individuals are likely to take in too little while exercising in the desert,” adds Medrzycki, and suggests dusk and dawn as the best times to log miles. We recommend at least 3 1-quart bottles or a hydration bladder that will hold that much liquid.

Fuel with Food

A mountain biking trip in Death Valley is not the time to cut calories. Your body needs fuel to power through the climbs that Death Valley promises. “We always remind people that when it comes to snacks you need sweet and salty, this is one reason that trail mix is a go-to.” says Medrzycki. Dried fruit is a great trail snack and a nice change from commercially prepared bars. Real foods are important, not simply power bars and energy gels. Pack food that will withstand high temperatures and being jostled around in your pack. While chocolate bars might be tempting, that sweet treat at the end of the day will be a gooey mess. Sturdy homemade energy bars that won’t end up as a bag of crumbs will give you the energy you need.

Top Pack Picks

Pure Adventures’ Death Valley mountain biking is hotel-based, which means you don’t need to carry all of your gear all the time. In fact, it’s recommended that you bring only what you need – our guides appreciate your lean packing. Your daytime mountain biking pack should be in the 1500 – 2500 cu. in. range, which gives you plenty of space for the following essential items:

• water bottles
• personal food items
• sunblock and lip balm
• camera
• small personal first aid items (moleskin for emergency foot care)
• lightweight fleece jacket
• long pants
• sun hat
• wool or fleece hat
• spare socks

Contact Pure Adventures to book your Death Valley cycling tour today!

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Death Valley is synonymous with extremes: extremely hot, extremely arid, extremely mystical. But despite the legendary crossing of the first emigrants to cross death valley in 1849, Death Valley still draws millions of tourists every year, all attracted to this geographic rogue. Pure Adventures is beyond excited to bring cyclists and hikers to Death Valley and Badwater Basin on one of our newest guided US tours. From exploring the eclectic Scotty’s Castle to climbing around Artist’s Palette, this tour takes in the best and most powerful sights throughout Death Valley. Almost like being on another planet, a trip to Death Valley should be on your bucket list because it’s truly like no other place on Earth.

• At 3.4 million acres, Death Valley is the largest national park in the United States.
• Humans made their mark in Death Valley at least 9,000 years ago, with rock art and other artifacts left behind as evidence.
• The highest recorded temperature in Death Valley is 134F, measured in July, 1913. (Don’t worry, our tour is offered between November and April, when temperatures range between a more moderate 40F and 70F).
• Despite it’s foreboding name, Death Valley is home to bighorn sheep, reptiles, lizards, snakes, amphibians plus more than 300 species of birds, not to mention the explosion of fauna that erupt after a rainfall.
• Dozens of scenes from Star Wars have been filmed in Death Valley, including Artist’s Palette (the Sandcrawler scene from Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope), Golden Canyon (Jawa scenes from Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope) and Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes (Droid scenes from Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope). Blogger Steve Hall does an amazing job of lining up film scenes and locations!
• Artist’s Palette, aptly named for the stunning and inspiring range of colors in this rock unit, gets its colors from oxidation of different metals (red, pink and yellow is from iron salts, green is from decomposing tuff-derived mica, and manganese produces the purple).
• Scientists can’t agree how old Ubehebe Crater is. Initial research believed it’s between 2,000 to 7,000 years old, but new findings peg it at 800 years old. But everyone agree it’s huge – half a mile wide and 500 to 777 feet deep.
•  Only 15 miles separate the highest elevation in Death Valley National Park (Telescope Peak at 11,049 feet) and Badwater Basin (282 feet below sea level).

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