Drinking water...

[cannondale]

I've been drinking a gallon of water each day for the past month or two. I'd say it's been a good experience. Noticed my veins and skin look healthier. Can't say it's all the water doing this since I'm biking regularly too. What are your thoughts? How much water do you drink?

Cannondale

[roadbuzz]

Sometime last summer I started pounding down lotsa water... probably closer to half a gallon a day while I'm at work. I can't say that I've noticed any benefit. I just do it because they say it's good for me. The downside is that what goes in, must come out. I spend a lot more time wearing out the carpet between my cube and the "facilities."

[Joe Gardner]

I drink 80oz of water a day at work alone, 20 oz every two hours. I have my breaks every two hours so it works well, take a leak, and fill up the bottle (not at the same time!).

I too have noticed quite a difference, i feel better, and i look healthier over all. Has my biking improved? I’m sure it has, but i can’t say i have really noticed a difference. When i started work, i wasn’t riding much due to surgery.

[MediaCreations]

I have to make a real effort to drink lots of water. When I do make the effort I do feel a lot better and I start to lose weight (which I really need to do). Maybe the weight loss comes from all the extra exercise I get going backwards and forwards to the loo.

[JaredMcDonley]

For all of us teen out there. . .

I have found that when i drink about 2-3 liters a day, my skin complextion gets much better and also i have read that when drinking a lot of water, you are less likely to get some kinds of illness( because you are non-stop flushing the bad out of your body)

Jared

[wabbit]

I remember that from when I was a teen. I never had acne or skin problems, but I remember all the magazines would say to drink lots of water because it does help your skin by flushing out impurities! I don't know about preventing sickness, but when you do have a cold or flu, the more you drink the faster you get better. Aside from preventing dehydration when you have a fever, drinking lots of water helps pass the virus through your system faster (other fluids help as well, like juice) by making you 'go'. And it's true. Whenever I get a cold, which isn't that often, I start drinking gallons of water and sure enough, it works. I'm usually only sick for about 3 days.

[RonH]

IMHO drinking lots of water is crucial in hot weather or when doing long rides (like a century).
Last year on the day before a century I got really busy at work and failed to drink enough water. And during the ride just had the fruit and Powerade and refilled my water bottles at the rest stops.
As a result I developed bad leg cramps at about the 75 mile point and had to drop out. :(
That was a tough lesson to learn.

Now I always drink LOTS of water regardless of how far or how long I'm riding. :)