There is an overwhelming amount of scientific and anecdotal evidence that heat training works. So why doesn't every cyclist do heat training? In fact, one could estimate that only 10-20% of competitive cyclists heat train regularly. Perhaps you've tried a block or two of heat training before, but it can be difficult to stick to long-term. Science suggests that's where the greatest performance benefits lie, so why do we stop heat training?
Some athletes are scared of it – in a way, you can't fault them. The goal of a heat training session is to increase your core body temperature to at least 38.5° C for 30-60 minutes. Some sessions may be even longer or hotter, but the fact of the matter is, you are increasing your core temperature to flu-like levels.
