If you’re waiting for fall to start training for ICEMAN…you’re already behind.
If you think you can cruise through July and August, then magically come into form with a few crisp fall rides, I’ve got bad news. The athletes who show up strong at Timber Ridge? They’re sweating it out right now…grinding early, hydrating smarter and getting comfortable being uncomfortable.
Iceman might be a November race, but let’s be honest…the foundation is built during the summer.
If you’re banking on crisp fall temps to save undertrained legs, it’s going to be a long day in the woods. The truth is, summer training gives you the edge, especially when you learn how to train smart in the heat.
Here’s how I approach summer prep for Iceman. These are the same tips I use personally and share with the Coyotes (our West Michigan youth MTB team). This isn’t theory…it’s what works.
Training in hot weather is more than a mental grind, it actually improves performance if you do it right. Heat training can increase plasma volume, improve your body’s ability to cool itself and reduce perceived exertion over time.
Translation? You get tougher, leaner, and faster once the temperatures drop.
Want the science? Check out this blog article by Trainerroad on how heat acclimation benefits endurance athletes.
But this isn’t a free pass to go full sufferfest at noon. Heat stress is real and overcooking yourself on a 90-degree ride is just bad training.
You’re not building toughness if your core temp is spiking and you’re seeing stars. Some warning signs to watch for: dizziness or lightheadedness, chills during a hot ride, slurred speech, or…you stop sweating altogether. That’s your cue to shut it down, hydrate and ride another day.
There’s a reason serious riders are wheels down before sunrise in July. Early morning rides let you avoid peak heat (11am to 4pm), perform better, recover faster and stay consistent. Bonus: no one’s texting you to come home and mow the lawn at 6am. LOL
Hydration matters more than most realize. You can’t just chug water mid-ride and call it good. In the heat, hydration starts the day before. Add electrolytes to your water the night before and morning of your ride and consider a drink mix with sodium and carbs for anything over 90 minutes. Products like Precision Hydration, Tailwind Nutrition or LMNT are solid choices. Start hydrated…don’t try to fix it once you’re an hour in and fading.
Then there’s nutrition. Appetite often disappears when it’s hot, but your body still needs fuel…arguably more than usual. Heat accelerates glycogen depletion and skipping calories only digs a deeper hole. Aim for 60–90 grams of carbs per hour on longer rides. Eat something every 30 minutes. Add salty foods when you can.
Summer is also your chance to test things. Pacing on short, punchy climbs. Nutrition and hydration strategies. Mental strength when it’s hot, long, and solo. Race day confidence doesn’t just show up…it’s earned through trial and error and a little bit of suffering.
Finally, don’t forget to keep it fun. Ride new trails. Hit a gravel grinder. Jump into a local race. Coach some kids. Go on an absurdly long ride with friends and eat something ridiculous at the halfway point. Did someone say gas station snacks!? (MY FAVORITE). The more you enjoy the ride now, the more likely you are to stick with it…and show up fit, motivated and ready when the leaves start to fall.
Iceman doesn’t reward the athlete who just shows up…it rewards the one who put in the work when nobody was watching.
Every mile you ride now, every sweaty climb, every early morning…that’s fuel in the tank for November. And when the temps drop and the dirt crunches under your tires, you’ll be glad you got after it in the heat.
Train smart. Sweat early. See you at Timber Ridge.
If you’re waiting for fall to start training for ICEMAN…you’re already behind
If you think you can cruise through July and August, then magically come into form with a few crisp fall rides, I’ve got bad news. The athletes who show up strong at Timber Ridge? They’re sweating it out right now…grinding early, hydrating smarter and getting comfortable being uncomfortable.
Iceman might be a November race, but let’s be honest…the foundation is built during the summer.
If you’re banking on crisp fall temps to save undertrained legs, it’s going to be a long day in the woods. The truth is, summer training gives you the edge, especially when you learn how to train smart in the heat.
Here’s how I approach summer prep for Iceman. These are the same tips I use personally and share with the Coyotes (our West Michigan youth MTB team). This isn’t theory…it’s what works.
Training in hot weather is more than a mental grind, it actually improves performance if you do it right. Heat training can increase plasma volume, improve your body’s ability to cool itself and reduce perceived exertion over time.
Translation? You get tougher, leaner, and faster once the temperatures drop.
Want the science? Check out this blog article by Trainerroad on how heat acclimation benefits endurance athletes.
But this isn’t a free pass to go full sufferfest at noon. Heat stress is real and overcooking yourself on a 90-degree ride is just bad training.
You’re not building toughness if your core temp is spiking and you’re seeing stars. Some warning signs to watch for: dizziness or lightheadedness, chills during a hot ride, slurred speech, or…you stop sweating altogether. That’s your cue to shut it down, hydrate and ride another day.
There’s a reason serious riders are wheels down before sunrise in July. Early morning rides let you avoid peak heat (11am to 4pm), perform better, recover faster and stay consistent. Bonus: no one’s texting you to come home and mow the lawn at 6am. LOL
Hydration matters more than most realize. You can’t just chug water mid-ride and call it good. In the heat, hydration starts the day before. Add electrolytes to your water the night before and morning of your ride and consider a drink mix with sodium and carbs for anything over 90 minutes. Products like Precision Hydration, Tailwind Nutrition or LMNT are solid choices. Start hydrated…don’t try to fix it once you’re an hour in and fading.
Then there’s nutrition. Appetite often disappears when it’s hot, but your body still needs fuel…arguably more than usual. Heat accelerates glycogen depletion and skipping calories only digs a deeper hole. Aim for 60–90 grams of carbs per hour on longer rides. Eat something every 30 minutes. Add salty foods when you can.
Summer is also your chance to test things. Pacing on short, punchy climbs. Nutrition and hydration strategies. Mental strength when it’s hot, long, and solo. Race day confidence doesn’t just show up…it’s earned through trial and error and a little bit of suffering.
Finally, don’t forget to keep it fun. Ride new trails. Hit a gravel grinder. Jump into a local race. Coach some kids. Go on an absurdly long ride with friends and eat something ridiculous at the halfway point. Did someone say gas station snacks!? (MY FAVORITE). The more you enjoy the ride now, the more likely you are to stick with it…and show up fit, motivated and ready when the leaves start to fall.
Iceman doesn’t reward the athlete who just shows up…it rewards the one who put in the work when nobody was watching.
Every mile you ride now, every sweaty climb, every early morning…that’s fuel in the tank for November. And when the temps drop and the dirt crunches under your tires, you’ll be glad you got after it in the heat.
Train smart. Sweat early. See you at Timber Ridge.
Tobi is a passionate mountain biker and ultra endurance gravel cyclist who thrives on pushing his limits in the great outdoors. He has a deep appreciation for nature, savoring the scenic views and challenges of unpaved singletrack trails and long gravel routes. Tobi’s passion for adventure drives him to constantly seek out new ultra endurance gravel races and mountain bike events that take him on new dirt roads. He has participated in the Iceman Cometh Challenge for over a decade. When not hitting the trails or grinding away the miles on gravel, Tobi enjoys camping trips with his family. He is also actively involved with the West Michigan Coyotes youth mountain bike team, where he coaches and rides alongside his daughter, fostering her love for the sport. The solitude of the trails and the invigoration of conquering an ultra-endurance race is what fuels his obsession with mountain biking and gravel cycling.