I was riding the Swedish Days ride yesterday, somewhere in the corn fields of IL yesterday (I'm from Chicago, everywhere else is somewhere in the suburbs to me). It was hot as hell, there was a headwind (for about 100 miles of the 124 mile ride), and my main concern was cramping and depleting my electrolytes. Starting the night before, I drank some Nuun before bed. Woke up and had a glass of water with Nuun in it before the ride, and chomped on Clif Shot Bloks (the margarita flavor with salt) and drank Nuun during the ride. A guy I linked up with asked me if I could see any white streaks on his kit. I couldn't. He replied "good". He told me I had salt all over my jersey, and thought I was consuming too much salt.

I sweat like it's my job and I thought salt was essential to avoid cramping. It was 92 degrees, and I was riding 124 miles. It seems essential, right?

So, does salt on your kit mean too much salt intake? If I didn't have the salt rings and crusted to my hair, is that better? This guy seemed to think so. Said "you'll get there", as if it's just part of my training, like hill repeats.

Thoughts?