Starting to hit the miles where my problem is water....
#26
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I carry a 40oz HydroFlask in an Arundel "Looney Bin" adjustable bottle cage. I call it my drop tank. It's not so much for the extra capacity, though that is nice, but for the "keeping it cold" factor. Like you, I drink a lot of water during the day; usually an ounce per pound of body weight, which for us works out to quite a bit. With the drop tank full and a 21-24oz bottle in front, I have enough fluid for 3 hours, or about 45 miles, at 60-85F temperatures.
Did 84 miles on July 4th, though, and went through over three gallons in those six+ hours. 60oz in the first three hours (below 70F), and the rest in the following 90-105F. But urban riding makes for easy refills. $1.50 for a gallon of ice-cold water at AM/PM or 7-11? Yes please. Stop, refill, and drink as much as possible before handing off the rest.
Camelbaks and their ilk are appealing, but I dislike covering my back. I prefer to expel water than to let it ride piggyback, so I'm sticking with my bottles for now.
I've heard of people in the country driving out along their route the prior day and stashing 2-liter or gallon jugs along the route. I like this approach as well.
Did 84 miles on July 4th, though, and went through over three gallons in those six+ hours. 60oz in the first three hours (below 70F), and the rest in the following 90-105F. But urban riding makes for easy refills. $1.50 for a gallon of ice-cold water at AM/PM or 7-11? Yes please. Stop, refill, and drink as much as possible before handing off the rest.
Camelbaks and their ilk are appealing, but I dislike covering my back. I prefer to expel water than to let it ride piggyback, so I'm sticking with my bottles for now.
I've heard of people in the country driving out along their route the prior day and stashing 2-liter or gallon jugs along the route. I like this approach as well.
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#28
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when I started riding at 380 and a 50 plus waist I bought a cheap $25 camelback from Walmart, I just raised the lower strap above my belly as long as the chest strap snaps it worked for me. I still use the same camelback and its been 2.5 years.
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I will be riding in the Tour de Cure ( I am a RED RIDER, type 2 diabetic) , this will be my second year. Planning on riding the 75 or 100 mile. Good to have you out there
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Friday I did 20 miles and just got back from a 10 mile ride. I love the longer rides. However my problem now is I am running out of water. Bike only has room for 2 bottles - one on the frame and one on the handle bars.
Those bottles last me about 10 miles. On Friday I stopped at the house and did a refill - rested for 5 min then headed back out. I really would like to push myself to my goal of 34 with out stopping. For that I need water.
Why 34? Sept 26 I have signed up for a 34 mile rally and I am worried as heck about being able to do it.
Anyways... what water solutions are there? I was looking at hydration packs but they are super expensive and I don't know if I can fit any of them on me. 306 lbs - 50 in waist right now.
Is there something I am over looking that can get me more miles with out having to worry about the water situation?
Those bottles last me about 10 miles. On Friday I stopped at the house and did a refill - rested for 5 min then headed back out. I really would like to push myself to my goal of 34 with out stopping. For that I need water.
Why 34? Sept 26 I have signed up for a 34 mile rally and I am worried as heck about being able to do it.
Anyways... what water solutions are there? I was looking at hydration packs but they are super expensive and I don't know if I can fit any of them on me. 306 lbs - 50 in waist right now.
Is there something I am over looking that can get me more miles with out having to worry about the water situation?
WHERE DO YOU LIVE? IF close enough maybe we can meet up and ride together, it is definitely easier to pace and go farther when riding with people. I have been riding by myself for 2 years
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You are going to get hooked to these rallys. They are so much fun.
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Same here. 2nd year and Red Rider. You are riding a ton more than I am. 20 miles is a major accomplishment for me. I live down near 8 and 59 - Sugarland/Stafford. I have a 2 mile route in my neighborhood I just ride over and over. Haven't gotten bored yet.
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I hope to see you and DogFather there!
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Even if you all ride different routes, at different paces, I encourage you to at least hook up for a brief introduction before the ride. It's really cool to put a face to the name, instead of just a screen name.
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Im not to far, hwy 6 in Santa Fe. gotta ride to get this weight off. Started at 380 down to 340, I laid off riding for a year due to school, just getting back into the distance. just go slow listen to your body you will get there. I could barely ride 3 miles when I first started, now I ride 24 on Tues /Thurs and last Saturday I actually hit my farthest distance to date at 57 miles
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A lot of the behind the seat bottle cages will dump your bottles going over a bump or railroad track so make sure what you get holds them tightly if you get that kind. Profile with 28oz Camelbak bottles works for me, but your results may vary.
#38
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some quality responses here, nice. Here are some thoughts I have:
1) plan your route to include refill opportunities: parks, gas stations, etc. Heck I stopped into a city rec center a couple weeks back. When it's hot, gotta have water
2) summer + south texas == major pain. DEFINITELY look into electrolyte supplements in your water. When I did the HHH a few years ago, pickle juice was a rest-stop favorite for a lot of folks (not for me). I use Hammer Endurolytes, but the NUUN or other products work too. Find something that works for you, it makes a huge difference
3) have you talked to your doctor? I'm not diabetic, but I would guess that s/he should be involved in advising your situation. Just to be safe, y'know
4) what time of day are you riding? Again, summertime in TX is a PITA. If your schedule permits getting out before 9am, it's worth it....
Keep it up!
1) plan your route to include refill opportunities: parks, gas stations, etc. Heck I stopped into a city rec center a couple weeks back. When it's hot, gotta have water
2) summer + south texas == major pain. DEFINITELY look into electrolyte supplements in your water. When I did the HHH a few years ago, pickle juice was a rest-stop favorite for a lot of folks (not for me). I use Hammer Endurolytes, but the NUUN or other products work too. Find something that works for you, it makes a huge difference
3) have you talked to your doctor? I'm not diabetic, but I would guess that s/he should be involved in advising your situation. Just to be safe, y'know
4) what time of day are you riding? Again, summertime in TX is a PITA. If your schedule permits getting out before 9am, it's worth it....
Keep it up!
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Another consideration is electrolytes. If you sweat and drink a lot of water, you are diluting the electrolytes in your system, especially sodium and potassium. Seriously consider making one or some of your waterbottles one of a sports drink. There have been fatalities from too much water, not enough electrolyte.
I have found that sports drinks vary a lot in both quality and how any given individual reacts to them. I have had the best luck with a drink I have used for 40 years, Vitalyte. (It has changed names several times but not the formulation. Started as Gookinaid/ERG.) It is cheap, about $18 for a can that will mix up ~40 waterbottles. It does contain glucose so you may have to take that into consideration with regard to your diabetes. REI carries it.
Ben
I have found that sports drinks vary a lot in both quality and how any given individual reacts to them. I have had the best luck with a drink I have used for 40 years, Vitalyte. (It has changed names several times but not the formulation. Started as Gookinaid/ERG.) It is cheap, about $18 for a can that will mix up ~40 waterbottles. It does contain glucose so you may have to take that into consideration with regard to your diabetes. REI carries it.
Ben
#40
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I attach an extra bottle to my belt... but I'm also not wearing riding shorts, for one, and I also always carry one on my belt everywhere I go (on or off the bike) because I'm a water beast.
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Another consideration is electrolytes. If you sweat and drink a lot of water, you are diluting the electrolytes in your system, especially sodium and potassium. Seriously consider making one or some of your waterbottles one of a sports drink. There have been fatalities from too much water, not enough electrolyte.
A really good point. To this end, my liquid of choice on rides is Ultima Replenisher. Plenty of good options out there, but this one is for me. I like food, and I figure if I'm going to eat on my rides I'd better keep the calories out of my water. Great stuff.
Last edited by Masque; 07-27-15 at 03:08 PM.
#42
~>~
I'm a veteran of TX heat and plan my hydration/distance very carefully.
There is a Lot of There Out There in TX , being out of H2O w/ nothing but a very long empty road ahead in 105F heat index like today is not good.
Take what you need however it appears to the Pro-look Police.
I mount a double H2O set-up behind my saddle along w/ the two bottle mounts on the frame and whatever in my jersey pockets when doing long miles in summer heat.
I'm told it looks stupid by Captain Fast (who never ventures far from Starbucks) although I'm not the one out of water halfway back from Vanderpool....
If you add the electrolyte potion that works for you get different color bottles for straight H2O and electrolyte.
Dumping a bottle of sticky-goo over your head instead of water is not as funny as it sounds, trust me.
Start early, ride your own pace, learn to sip/eat with regularity on the move/change bottles on the go and limit stop times to get fluids/go with minimal chit-chat.
Have fun and wear sunscreen.
-Bandera
There is a Lot of There Out There in TX , being out of H2O w/ nothing but a very long empty road ahead in 105F heat index like today is not good.
Take what you need however it appears to the Pro-look Police.
I mount a double H2O set-up behind my saddle along w/ the two bottle mounts on the frame and whatever in my jersey pockets when doing long miles in summer heat.
I'm told it looks stupid by Captain Fast (who never ventures far from Starbucks) although I'm not the one out of water halfway back from Vanderpool....
If you add the electrolyte potion that works for you get different color bottles for straight H2O and electrolyte.
Dumping a bottle of sticky-goo over your head instead of water is not as funny as it sounds, trust me.
Start early, ride your own pace, learn to sip/eat with regularity on the move/change bottles on the go and limit stop times to get fluids/go with minimal chit-chat.
Have fun and wear sunscreen.
-Bandera
Last edited by Bandera; 07-27-15 at 04:17 PM.
#43
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I saw where you mentioned you're riding a mountain bike. I hope you've put street tires on it. No sense making things harder than they are by running nobbies. That alone would make a huge difference.
Every organized ride I've participated in has rest stops every ten miles or so. Just stop and refill your bottles accordingly. Organized rides have a sort of inertia effect. Being around so many other riders seems to carry you further than you'd expect. If you can do 20 now, doing 34 with organized rest stops will be cake. For me, the biggest deal was riding with hundreds or even thousands of other riders and seeing plenty of them on clunky bikes or in similar bad physical shape as I am. You have peers out there to keep you motivated.
You'll have no problem.
Every organized ride I've participated in has rest stops every ten miles or so. Just stop and refill your bottles accordingly. Organized rides have a sort of inertia effect. Being around so many other riders seems to carry you further than you'd expect. If you can do 20 now, doing 34 with organized rest stops will be cake. For me, the biggest deal was riding with hundreds or even thousands of other riders and seeing plenty of them on clunky bikes or in similar bad physical shape as I am. You have peers out there to keep you motivated.
You'll have no problem.
#44
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I sweated 2-3X as much (determined via water intake needed for no net weight change) when I weighed 65 pounds more, and went from 25oz/hour in a temperate climate to 8-12 as I shrunk.
If bike mounted water-bottles won't do it, add a rack and trunk or pannier(s). You can carry a lot on racks (gallons) and be more comfortable than if carried it on your back.
Last edited by Drew Eckhardt; 07-27-15 at 05:03 PM.
#45
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PowerAde Zero is diabetic friendly and has the electrolytes, plus it tastes really good. I carry those Nuun tablets when I'll be refilling water bottles but the PowerAde Zero is cheap and you can find it at lots of stores.
If your diabetes is well-controlled and you stay hydrated, then riding 34 miles shouldn't be a problem. If you're also on blood pressure meds, then using an electrolyte solution might be especially important for you. I had problems with that last summer...was taking a low dose of lisinopril and I felt okay when I was riding, but then I'd get off the bike at the trailhead and black out and it turned out that my blood pressure was too low. If you use insulin or you have a problem with your sugar going low when you exercise, then you might want to pack a few snacks in case you need them, and bring your meter.
If your diabetes is well-controlled and you stay hydrated, then riding 34 miles shouldn't be a problem. If you're also on blood pressure meds, then using an electrolyte solution might be especially important for you. I had problems with that last summer...was taking a low dose of lisinopril and I felt okay when I was riding, but then I'd get off the bike at the trailhead and black out and it turned out that my blood pressure was too low. If you use insulin or you have a problem with your sugar going low when you exercise, then you might want to pack a few snacks in case you need them, and bring your meter.
#46
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So, some great options .When mt biking, I fill my camelback with ice, great for 100 oz of ice cold water for hours. Check out Two Fish, ways to put bottles anywhere on your bike, They also make a headset option bottle holder. For touring, I use a topeak modula bottle holder, fits a 1.5 liter bottle. A race should have plenty of water stops. If needed, resort to google maps for possible water stops.
#47
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I kinda have the opposite problem. I don't drink much on the bike.
Granted, I typically try to start my rides around 6:30am and be done by 10am before the Texas summer heat really gets cranking.
If I do a 20 or less mile ride, I won't even take a sip of water. My usual routine is to get on the bike by 6:30am. Sometimes I'll eat a gel prior to the ride, sometimes not. Then ride the bike for 15-20 miles. Come back, take a shower, cook breakfast, log into work, then finally I'll have a drink of water with breakfast. Up until then I don't feel thirsty.
If I stay out longer than that, I'll start sipping. If I do 30 miles, I'll get into the bottle some. After 40 miles, I'll have finished one bottle and moved on to the next one. I do eat a gel every 45 minutes to an hour of riding past 30 miles typically.
Now when I do the long (60-100 mile) T-shirt rides, I do drink a little at each rest stop. Usually, I'm not that thirsty, but I just do it because you're supposed to. I'll have a little of whatever they are serving. Water, Gatorade, pickle juice. I mainly try to keep my calories up and that does come by way of some fruit which I assume provides some hydration as well.
But overall, I've not had a serious water issue out there. I've never really tried putting anything in the bottle other than a squirt of Gatorade mixed in with the water on the long T-shirt rides.
Is that abnormal?
Granted, I typically try to start my rides around 6:30am and be done by 10am before the Texas summer heat really gets cranking.
If I do a 20 or less mile ride, I won't even take a sip of water. My usual routine is to get on the bike by 6:30am. Sometimes I'll eat a gel prior to the ride, sometimes not. Then ride the bike for 15-20 miles. Come back, take a shower, cook breakfast, log into work, then finally I'll have a drink of water with breakfast. Up until then I don't feel thirsty.
If I stay out longer than that, I'll start sipping. If I do 30 miles, I'll get into the bottle some. After 40 miles, I'll have finished one bottle and moved on to the next one. I do eat a gel every 45 minutes to an hour of riding past 30 miles typically.
Now when I do the long (60-100 mile) T-shirt rides, I do drink a little at each rest stop. Usually, I'm not that thirsty, but I just do it because you're supposed to. I'll have a little of whatever they are serving. Water, Gatorade, pickle juice. I mainly try to keep my calories up and that does come by way of some fruit which I assume provides some hydration as well.
But overall, I've not had a serious water issue out there. I've never really tried putting anything in the bottle other than a squirt of Gatorade mixed in with the water on the long T-shirt rides.
Is that abnormal?
#48
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I have two bottle cages on my bike, with two 24oz bottles. On anything less than 30 miles, I usually only carry one bottle and I rarely ever finish it on the ride (in heat as high as 95deg). Anything over a planned 50 miler, I like having my 3L Camelbak. I don't have a problem with a sweaty back, I find the water stays cold longer in the pack then in the bottles, and the coolness from the water generally feels great on my back on a warm day.
I should also point out that most of my rides are in the country, where yes I go through towns with convenience stores every 10 or so miles but I would prefer not stop for water if I can help it as I don't like paying for plain water. On my typical 50+ mile route I can take a slight detour to hit up a McDonald's and refill my bottles with filtered water out of their soda fountain, but at c-stores I haven't been successful at getting my bottles refilled for free. Usually the clerk tells me they sell bottled water, even though I clearly don't need a bottle and they have a sink behind the counter. Maybe I look desperate enough to buy bottled water when I ask for water, or perhaps they think since I'm buying a snack that I'd buy a bottle of water if I had to. Having two bottles and a 3L bladder on my back just assures I won't run out of water no matter how hot it gets.
I should also point out that most of my rides are in the country, where yes I go through towns with convenience stores every 10 or so miles but I would prefer not stop for water if I can help it as I don't like paying for plain water. On my typical 50+ mile route I can take a slight detour to hit up a McDonald's and refill my bottles with filtered water out of their soda fountain, but at c-stores I haven't been successful at getting my bottles refilled for free. Usually the clerk tells me they sell bottled water, even though I clearly don't need a bottle and they have a sink behind the counter. Maybe I look desperate enough to buy bottled water when I ask for water, or perhaps they think since I'm buying a snack that I'd buy a bottle of water if I had to. Having two bottles and a 3L bladder on my back just assures I won't run out of water no matter how hot it gets.
#49
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I should also point out that most of my rides are in the country, where yes I go through towns with convenience stores every 10 or so miles but I would prefer not stop for water if I can help it as I don't like paying for plain water. On my typical 50+ mile route I can take a slight detour to hit up a McDonald's and refill my bottles with filtered water out of their soda fountain, but at c-stores I haven't been successful at getting my bottles refilled for free. Usually the clerk tells me they sell bottled water, even though I clearly don't need a bottle and they have a sink behind the counter. Maybe I look desperate enough to buy bottled water when I ask for water, or perhaps they think since I'm buying a snack that I'd buy a bottle of water if I had to. Having two bottles and a 3L bladder on my back just assures I won't run out of water no matter how hot it gets.
GH
#50
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The convenience stores without fountains and refuse to give out tap water are the ones that are privately owned, located miles from another store so they pretty much have the you trapped if its really hot.