13/08/2026
UK Heat Hits Different – How 25-28°C in Yorkshire Nearly Finished Me Off (Yet I Survived 38°C in Lanzarote & Greece!)
I don't understand it.
I've just spent weeks training in Lanzarote and Greece, happily riding and running around in 30–38°C sunshine.
No drama.
No complaints.
Feeling like a seasoned heat-training expert.
Fast forward to 28°C in Yorkshire...
..and suddenly I'm questioning every life decision I've ever made.
Apparently my body can survive volcanic lava fields in Lanzarote but completely falls apart outside a Greggs in Pontefract.
UK heat hits different.
And before anyone tells me, "It's not even that hot!"
Neither is a toaster compared to a blast furnace—but I still wouldn't climb inside one.
The Great British Heatwave
The funny thing is, the temperature isn't even the biggest problem.
It's everything else.
No breeze.
Sticky humidity.
Roads that feel like someone's installed underfloor heating.
And somehow every climb feels 10% steeper because the sun has decided it's got a personal vendetta against cyclists.
In Lanzarote, you expect to suffer.
In Yorkshire, you leave the house thinking, "I'll just do an easy Zone 2 ride."
Three miles later...
Heart rate through the roof.
Sweat pouring into your eyes.
Average speed resembling someone riding with a flat tyre.
And you're already planning where you'll stop for an ice cream.
I Thought I Was Heat Adapted...
weeks of training abroad had me feeling quietly confident.
"I've got this."
"My body is adapted."
"I'll breeze through the UK summer."
Turns out my body interpreted that as...
"Excellent. Let's completely forget everything we've learned."
I genuinely think I sweated more on one Yorkshire ride than I did climbing through Timanfaya National Park.
I'm convinced I lost about three kilograms.
Unfortunately none of it was body fat.
Fuel Matters More Than Ever
One thing the heat definitely teaches you is this...
You cannot out-tough poor nutrition.
When temperatures climb:
You lose more fluids.
You lose more electrolytes.
Your carbohydrate stores disappear faster.
Your heart works overtime trying to cool you down.
In other words...
Your body is basically sending you an invoice every mile.
That's why SNG ENDURE has become non-negotiable during my longer rides.
Keeping the carbohydrates coming in and replacing electrolytes has made a huge difference to maintaining energy when the weather tries to cook you.
Before the ride, THE EDGE gets me switched on.
Afterwards, REVIVAL helps me recover so I can actually walk downstairs the following morning without looking like I've aged 40 years overnight.
The Ironman Bottles Have Seen Some Things...
I've also dug out my old Ironman bottles again.
They've survived Lanzarote.
They've survived Greece.
They're now watching me have an existential crisis on a Yorkshire B-road because the Garmin says it's 29°C.
I'm pretty sure even the bottle is judging me.
Scientific Fact... (Well... Almost)
Scientists will tell you that training in the heat improves plasma volume, cardiovascular efficiency and thermoregulation.
I can confirm another adaptation.
You become strangely obsessed with finding garden sprinklers.
Every hosepipe becomes an oasis.
Every village shop suddenly looks like a five-star hotel because it has a fridge full of cold drinks.
I've never appreciated a bottle of cold water more in my life.
Final Thoughts
The UK may not be the hottest place I've trained...
But somehow it's the place that's made me suffer the most.
So if you've been struggling this week, don't worry.
It's not just you.
Fuel properly.
Hydrate early.
Replace your electrolytes.
And don't be too proud to stop in a village shop for an ice lolly.
Sometimes that's the most important interval session of the day.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to stand in front of the freezer with the door open until September.
Fuel Every Mile with SNG.
Science. Performance. Endurance.
🌐 www.sportsnutritiongroup.com