or is it fundamentally different somehow? I know salt makes you retain water, and I've noticed that if I have a lot of sodium one day (say a couple large pickles in the afternoon, and sushi (with soy sauce) for dinner) I'll weigh in the next morning a couple pounds heavier from retaining some water weight.

Question is, is being these few pound heavier from retained water the same as being well hydrated?

Sometimes I worry about being well hydrated for an early morning ride - normally I wake up in the morning peeing dark, and worry that I'm starting my ride dehydrated, even after swigging a bottle of water. On the other hand, if I make it a point to go to bed really well hydrated, I'm up in the middle of the night peeing at least two or three times.

Mac