Fall Riding

[janetsplanet]

I just got done doing 20 miles in 45-50 degree weather. Okay the toes are frozen(wool socks in future), the fingers numb-(fingerless-put away for next spring), legs cold-(okay to to shop for nickers), but my real question is water and fluid intake.
The riding today was on a trail in the middle of nowhere so I alway take my 2 liter camel and a small bottle of vitamin water along with a clif bar if needed. Nomally I go the full 40 miles on this trail with a large bottle of gatoraide too but today it was cold.
I really was not thirsty most of the ride as I was cold and didnt think I was sweating much. I did force myself to drink the vitamin water because I got tired but did not touch much of the camelback. Now that I am home, I really feel crappy.
Did I dehidrate myself and not drink enough? Does cold weather(as cold as I am getting) take this much out of you? Help!

[bluerider]

I noticed the same today and only finished a bottle on a two hour ride. Because it's a lot cooler vs hot and humid summers, your body needs to sweat less to cool you down. I know I perspired for sure but significantly less than I usually do. It was about 8 degrees C this morning with a nice slap-me-in-the-face kind of wind. Good idea to keep drinking but you'll notice as your body sweats less, you'll need less water.

[BIKEAWAY]

Good question...I have no clue either about dehydration and cold weather either.....

[RedCanny]

Does cold weather(as cold as I am getting) take this much out of you? Help!

Yes, cold weather takes this much out of you, even if you're just standing at a bus stop with 10 below windy weather out there (I'm not kidding). The body burns more fuel, just to keep you sufficiently warm. You may need to take in more calories.

As for hydration, in my experience (more with x-c and dh skiing than with biking) you don't really need much more water than for spring/summer rides.

[CorsairMac]

the problem with cooler temps is you don't Think you need as much water but you're still losing it by sweating and breathing with your mouth open. Because the temps are cooler and you're wearing fabrics that wick you may not realize just how Much you're sweating. The nicest thing I ever read was: your body will get rid of the excess water if you take in too much! So drink drink drink. I try to drink at least a bottle an hour every season of the year except summer: when I try to drink more.

[RedCanny]

Also: this may not apply to you; does anyone wear natural (cotton) clothes on bikes anymore? I do sometimes in the summer to keep cool. If you do too, you will need to be a bit more particular about your clothing for cold-weather riding. Any sweat moisture that isn't wicked away will stay wet and make you cold, and your body will have to work harder to keep you sufficiently warm.

Synthetics (and maybe wool) really are the way to go, especially for base and mid-layers.

[janetsplanet]

I wore fleece on my bike Sunday...I really didnt realize that I sweated so much until I stopped and got into the car and then I was wringing wet.
If I wore a under armour shirt underneath the tighter fleece that would work right? That too is what I wear for x country skiing. I guess I thought that the weather wasnt cold enough yet...

[RedCanny]

Yes, that's the idea, for first layers. I don't have anything by Under Armour, but my various Patagonia ("capilene") base layers work well. If it feels like too much warmth, try wearing it just under a vest, and skip the fleece.

A few years ago I got into mountaineering (of course I had to travel out of MN for it), and I was stunned to hear the guides out west deride fleece as much as they did. 10 or so years ago it was the best thing since sliced bread, for warm layers that dry out fast. These days, though it's just too bulky to pack, now that there is that thinner, water-resistant, and very durable "soft shell" Schoeller material out there. I picked up a light soft shell at REI last year for $99 that I've been wearing on my commutes this fall. Here's this year's model:
http://www.rei.com/online/store/Prod...ory_rn=4501868

[nuthatch]

I second (or third) the drink advice. I don't want to drink when it's cold either and I can sure tell it at the end of the ride and the rest of the day.

I'm just trying out a wool base layer for the first time (SmartWool Women's Microweight Tee) and it's just wonderful! No, it doesn't give up your sweat like a synthetic will but it really absorbs sweat and doesn't feel cold or clammy like a synthetic will. It's slower to dry at work after the commute in but it's fine by the end of the work day. And IT DOESN'T STINK!!!

Our morning temps have been in the 40s but it's still not cold enough for fleece. The advice I read on icebike.com (I think) was to feel slightly chilly starting out. That advice is spot on - about two miles into my commute I'm feeling like peeling layers off and this is just a waste of time on a commute, when minutes count.

[pkq]

RedCanny, thanks for the link to the Mistral from REI. Sure looks less bulky than my old fleece stuff.

DeFeet makes Woolie Boolie Socks and are the best I've found for cold weather cycling.

I drink a lot less water in cold weather. I start cold weather rides cold so no layer peeling is needed later. It doesn't take much to get too hot. If you feel comfy when you begin, you've got too much on.

Good luck riding in cold weather.