Hydration Issue:

OK, today's metric at the Natchez Trace CycleFest was grueling! I was strong on the first 40, but the last 22 miles were tough on me. Sunny hot temps in the 80's and a fierce wind, plus the climbs were reasonable (generally 3-7% grades) but they went of forever!

Sags were 20 miles apart (too far for these conditions). I found myself consuming all my water just to survive (I hit a wall hard at mile 43)...and that presented a question:

When confronted with difficult conditions and limited fluids/nutrition, do you:

• Ration what you have to spread your hydration over more miles, or
• Take it as you need it even if it means possibly running out

I rationed, but felt a serious bonk coming on. So, I lowered my exertion, accelerated consumption and actually ran out of Shot Blok with 11 miles left and water with 5 miles left. A gamble...but I finished even though I considered throwing in the towel more than once...

What would you do?

I always wear a Camelbak on all long rides now. It has a 70 oz capacity. I experienced something similar to you on an organized ride once and swore I would never run out again.

Of course- just last weekend I attempted an overnight bike tour with a friend and even tho I was well-prepared, I wasn't prepared for the 8 mile detour and having to walk our bikes for 3 miles. I rationed... but it was tough. I would have done just what you did!

Sorry you had such a rough go at it. I'm sure your night in the musty room didn't help much...

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Originally Posted by Tri Girl

Sorry you had such a rough go at it. I'm sure your night in the musty room didn't help much...

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Yeah! 3 hrs of sleep!:eek:

I don't even put much in my jersey pockets...makes me hot and heavy - I just don't see myself using a camelback...but that might be preferable to death and dehydration:rolleyes:

I used to carry a CamelBak, but have for the past couple years been training myself to run on two bottles. I tend to stop and refill at every opportunity... Trouble is, on the Trace there are very few opportunities any more, as it's optimized more for cars than bikes...

Gawd, that sux. Sorry you had such a rough time. Agreed, the lack of sleep and your body not being on it's best game def effected your needs. Plus, it's early in the season too, ya know.

Well, I carry two big bottles even on my small frame. I have side loading cages to accomodate them. Plus, Clif Shot blocks for lytes are all I use in that respect. Can't stand to drink anything other than water.

I think what I have done before in those circumstances is just pounded down all the water I had when I wanted it. And tried to survive the remaining waterless miles mindlessly picking up the empty water bottle licking the tip with nothing coming out lol:o. Oh yea, duh, no more water, wishful thinking in delirium:rolleyes:.

If it makes you feel any better, that day I was also alone and lost. I ended up finding this meat market store on a higway in the middle of bfe. I bought water. And musta looked as bad as I felt because some total stranger offered to put me, and my bike, in her truck and sag me back to my local town that was a fair distance from my point of lostness. That's sad lol.

CamelBak also makes a roadie style vest. I could not wear it either. It bothers my back disk to even have too much in my jersey pockets. Profile Design makes a rear mount bottle cage for extra. I think it makes the bike handle diff and a lil weird. Thus, never used it.

Well, if you had your Garmin, or a smart phone with net, you coulda googled "closest gas station convenience store" for supplies. I've considered getting off my bike and begging a farm house for water before. Typically though the loose dogs detered me from actually making it up to the front door.

Hope next ride goes better!

p.s. edit add: cemetary... if any close by, they usually have a water spout for peeps flowers... done that before too... and so appropriate when you think you might die lol.

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Originally Posted by Muirenn

Wear a jersey with 3 deep rear pockets, and put an extra, somewhat smaller, bottle in the middle one.

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That's really smart. Amphipod makes 8 and 10 oz. bottles that are sorta flat and would probably work for that. Enough to buy some time.

I also pound the S-Caps or Endurolytes. I sweat a lot and finish hot weather rides with an insane amount of salt crust. Those electrolytes capsules are golden in hot weather. Gatorade Endurance formula is good, too. I believe it has about twice the electrolyte concentration of their standard formula. Dehydration is bad, but overhydration without replacing electrolytes is worse.

I'll wear a Camelbak when I know I won't be able to refill often enough ... still, I can't imagine drinking more than a bottle every 10 miles. I don't like to wear one normally on the bike, but there's one ride in particular that I do, if the weather's going to be hot. Loosen the shoulder straps and let the weight of it rest on the waist strap on your hipbones - that takes a lot of the pressure off your back.

What are you doing for electrolytes?


ETA: I've been close a couple of times on the bike, but the only time I knew it was bad was on a 95° day last summer when I set off on a long run and missed a turn, and wound up 13 miles from home with 4 miles' worth of water and no more than 5 more miles in my legs. :rolleyes: That's when I reached for the phone...

when in doubt or danger of dehydration, I have been known to stop and knock at someones door and ask to use their hose. On a cross country 110 ride from Marathon to Del Rio Texas, the sag vehicle got caught because the 20 of us were riding so far apart that they didn't dare stop but were sweeping up and down the entire route which meant that no one got enough water, it was dry, hot windy and hilly. I stopped at every border crossing point and begged water- would drink a whole bottle while standing there and then fill both bottles on the frame and the extra in my pocket. Even at that, I still bonked, but by the time the Sag vehicle came up I only had 20 miles to go and wanted to make it before sunset, so I drank down a bottle, filled up the three and wavered off again. I have had a fond spot for border crossing people ever since then.

I love my Camelbak filled with ice water and, for really long rides in high heat I will fill it with Heed. I know, I know, but it works for me and I spend a lot of time cleaning it. The newer bladders do allow my to get my hand all the way inside to clean it well.

Last summer I used a smaller 'bak plus two bottles on my bike, but still ran out on a couple of my longer rides. There aren't any stores, etc., where I go for my really long rides.

Today I used my new 100 ounce Camelbak to break it in, filled it about 75%. I found that I drank more now I am less concerned with running out. In the heat it is nice to have it full of ice water, and it take a long time to melt...

I have had some close calls like this and for that reason I have considered mounting one of those water bottle holders that mounts under the seat of my bike. It's a triathlon style water bottle holder but it looks pretty useful for adding extra water capacity. Not sure how to negotiate the seat bag though. Seems like maybe the bottle holder would have a place to put it???

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Originally Posted by Miranda

Can't stand to drink anything other than water.

And tried to survive the remaining waterless miles mindlessly picking up the empty water bottle licking the tip with nothing coming out lol:o. Oh yea, duh, no more water, wishful thinking in delirium:rolleyes:.

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Yep, that was me!:eek:;)

I found out that there was a SAG vehicle with water at mile 51, but it had left just before I arrived. Since only the hammerheads made the metric, and I'm not a hammerhead, they thought everyone was done:(