Question about locking up/hydration.

[PotomacCyclist]

I’m wondering if I drink more when I’m not riding. I know that might be backwards, but it definitely helps to be hydrated before starting a ride too.

[kcb203]

I’ve brought my bike into 7-11s many times–nobody has ever complained. I find it easier to pee by the side of the road so I don’t worry about letting it out of my sight then.

[NicDiesel]

@PotomacCyclist 59273 wrote:

I’m wondering if I drink more when I’m not riding. I know that might be backwards, but it definitely helps to be hydrated before starting a ride too.

You’re not the only one, that’s a bad habit I have that I’m trying to break now that I can ride some appreciable distances. At work I drink about 4L every day and I try to drink 2L before I go to bed but on the bike, unless it’s a super long and hot ride (>25 miles and over 90 degrees), I forget to hydrate until it’s too late. What I try to do is drink a third of bottle of water and EFS every 15 minutes just to get in the habit of taking in fluids.

[Dickie]

Many different studies have indicated that a vast majority of people suffer from low-grade chronic dehydration. Basically, we are always somewhat de-hydrated since we are not actively consuming enough water through-out our day. If we don’t properly replenish the water our bodies naturally expel we become dehydrated. This might not be too serious during regular daily activities, but if you enter into any type of exercise from an already de-hydrated state you are asking for trouble.

There is no real rule for the amount of water consumption that is correct. For years we believed in the 8×8 rule (eight, 8-ounce glasses a day) but that has not been proven. A lot of people believe in the 3-4 liters of water per day which includes water in ALL that we consume, such a fruits, veggies, and coffee but most people’s eating habits are poor and include too much meat, cereal, and breads which do not provide water.

All that to say, as a whole, we do not drink enough water per day to protect against de-hydration. Each person is different, but it is a pretty safe bet to assume you are not drinking enough during the day.

Once you are exercsing it is equally important to hydrate and replenish your electrolyte levels. Although rare, athletes can suffer from water intoxication where a person’s electrolyte levels become dangerously low, consuming too much water actually dilutes your sodium levels and you suffer from Hyponatremia. To protect against this during work-outs fill your bottles with a hydration supplement to give your body what it needs.

[ShawnoftheDread]

@Dickie 59293 wrote:

Although rare, athletes can suffer from water intoxication where a person’s electrolyte levels become dangerously low, consuming too much water actually dilutes your sodium levels and you suffer from Hyponatremia. To protect against this during work-outs fill your bottles with a hydration supplement to give your body what it needs.[/SIZE][/FONT]

I eat far too many potato chips for this to ever happen.

[off2ride]

When I stop at a 7-11 or a coffee shop, I loosen the nut on the skewers on my bike just enough that it’s hanging by just a few threads. This has become a habit so I never forget to secure them before I start riding again. Ok maybe once before. Reason for this is because if a thief wants to take the bike, he or she will try to make a quick getaway…..so I’m sure you know what will happen if the skewers are lose. Most thieves are dumb but there are the clever ones as well. Just keep it in plain sight before you leave your bike so that you can also easily respond if there’s somebody out there close to it that’s looking kinda shady. Just a note: DO NOT LOOSEN THE NUT ON YOUR SKEWERS JUST BECAUSE I POSTED THIS RESPONSE. YOU MIGHT GET HURT IF YOU DO.

[dasgeh]

@NicDiesel 59289 wrote:

You’re not the only one, that’s a bad habit I have that I’m trying to break now that I can ride some appreciable distances. At work I drink about 4L every day and I try to drink 2L before I go to bed but on the bike, unless it’s a super long and hot ride (>25 miles and over 90 degrees), I forget to hydrate until it’s too late. What I try to do is drink a third of bottle of water and EFS every 15 minutes just to get in the habit of taking in fluids.

What has helped me in triathlons is to look at the course ahead of time and plan what I should drink / eat by when. E.g. “by the time I see that farm, I should have finished one bottle”, “by the stinky paper plant, I need to have finished the second and eaten a gel”. Sometimes, I see the farm, and have to chug the last 1/4 of the bottle and I never eat the gels before I see my cue, but it works for me.

[KLizotte]

@off2ride 59296 wrote:

When I stop at a 7-11 or a coffee shop, I loosen the nut on the skewers on my bike just enough that it’s hanging by just a few threads. This has become a habit so I never forget to secure them before I start riding again. Ok maybe once before. Reason for this is because if a thief wants to take the bike, he or she will try to make a quick getaway…..so I’m sure you know what will happen if the skewers are lose. Most thieves are dumb but there are the clever ones as well. Just keep it in plain sight before you leave your bike so that you can also easily respond if there’s somebody out there close to it that’s looking kinda shady. Just a note: DO NOT LOOSEN THE NUT ON YOUR SKEWERS JUST BECAUSE I POSTED THIS RESPONSE. YOU MIGHT GET HURT IF YOU DO.

But if a thief does take off on the bike won’t there be a fair amount of damage when the inevitable happens? (I’m referring to the bike, I don’t give a rat’s butt about the thief)

[Amalitza]

I don’t usually bother to lock up for a quick stop at bathroom or convenience store. I figure the chances that a thief will happen to wander by in those couple minutes is pretty low. I will sometimes just take the bike with me inside, especially a single-stall where it won’t be in anyone’s way, just because it’s about zero extra effort so why not.

I got pretty good about always carrying a lock with me for awhile, after I had a flat, changed the tube and immediately blew out the new tube (guessing I didn’t get it seated properly there) and had to call for a ride home. My friend had a compact car with no bike rack, so I had to leave my bike unattended and unlocked for about half an hour while she drove me home, I got my car and came back for the bike. I’ve been getting a bit slack again lately, but I will always take one if I’m going to be out for more than about 2 hours, just in case I want to stop for lunch or ice cream or something.

I drink about 2 ounces per mile in moderate (up to 85 or 90F) temps. Hotter than that and more like 3 ounces per mile. I’ve paid attention so I can plan appropriately and it seems pretty consistent. I’m a small person, but I sweat a lot (not a bad thing, i think it really helps with heat tolerance, but I definitely have to replenish). Back when I used to jog, I didn’t like carrying water with me (it’s much less annoying on the bike), and I would do ok going on an hour run without, and rehydrating when I was done, but that was pretty much my limit.

[KelOnWheels]

@Dickie 59293 wrote:

There is no real rule for the amount of water consumption that is correct.

Pee clear!

[off2ride]

K,

Depending on the situation, Yes the bike might get damaged. Better that than stolen. Thieves hate to be delayed. If it’s an easy steal, they’ll do it but the element of surprise is the best part in nabbing these little boogers.

@KLizotte 59299 wrote:

But if a thief does take off on the bike won’t there be a fair amount of damage when the inevitable happens? (I’m referring to the bike, I don’t give a rat’s butt about the thief)

[PotomacCyclist]

Diet also plays a role in hydration. I avoid salty, heavily-processed, dry foods for the most part. I’ll have tortilla chips if I’m at a Tex-Mex restaurant, maybe once every 1 or 2 months, but I don’t go through a bag of potato chips every day at home.

*moderately gross info follows, but it’s not really that bad*

You can also monitor your state of hydration from the color of your urine. I believe it’s supposed to be a slight color, like lemonade. Not clear but not dark either. Mine is usually in the normal range.

According to this chart, I think I’m drinking enough water throughout each day: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dehydration/DS00561/DSECTION=symptoms

So maybe I am a camel. Or I was one in a former life.

[americancyclo]

@KelOnWheels 59308 wrote:

Pee clear!

The Magazine! Might be NSFW, it involves burning man.

[Bilsko]

@americancyclo 59315 wrote:

The Magazine!

C’mon man! you need to hang an NSFW tag off of that link!

[Or maybe you don’t – I’m just definitely not going to have that link show up in my browser history at work.]

[ShawnoftheDread]

@PotomacCyclist 59311 wrote:

I believe it’s supposed to be a slight color, like lemonade. Not clear but not dark either. Mine is usually in the normal range.

Is pink lemonade okay? Or is that bad?

[Author]

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