Hydration has already begun for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s Ride to Cure Diabetes on Saturday in Death Valley National Park, but it looks like we’ll be catching a break in the weather.

Although the forecast calls for a high of 93 degrees on Friday, the temperature for the ride  Saturday is supposed to be in the mid-80s.  A couple of weeks ago, the  long-range forecast predicted a high of 99, but the forecast temperature has been going down since then. Let’s hope it stays down.

10 Speed is not a fan of the heat. At 6-4 and north of 250 pounds, this body  wilts in the heat. The  speed and cadence slow down and the  heart rate speeds up. I don’t have a power meter on my bike, but I’m sure my power output  (such as it is) goes  way down, too. I slogged through the summer, but as soon as we had some cool days, I was flying —  for me anyway.

Team St. Louis, which I coach, is ready for D.V. Rodger Brand of KMOX is a veteran of  JDRF’s century rides in D.V. Emily Rapp has trained religiously throughout the summer, and her teenagers, Helen and Turner, are fit and good to go. Turner also has had success racing  bikes. And Tom Kissinger is an avid cyclist.

Several other members of the St. Louis team already have completed their rides for JDRF. Mark Peterson, James Ambrose, and Chuck Avery and his son Eric pedaled in White Fish, Montana, last month.

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