Originally Posted by late
This is so simple. You sweat a bunch, you take a little break, drink something, maybe have a pretzel. Big whoop.
Written by someone who hasn't had hyponatremia. It's all to easy to fall behind on electrolyte balance in a long, hot race. I've had it happen once, at last year's Climb to Kaiser. Never again. I spent an hour lying on the ground before I was able to get back on the bike. Hyponatremia makes you feel really sick.
A ride buddy of mine ended up in the ER with IV fluids after a very hot training ride (Hamilton Challenge route, backwards). She was both dehydrated and hyponatremic.
I now carry endurolytes on rides that last longer than about 5 hours.