Originally Posted by
Diegomayra
I seem to consume way too much water on my rides. I used to go 25mi. on one 24oz bottle of water. Now since I got (2) cages and bottles I go through both bottles of water. I understand the tempature is now 30+ degrees hotter than when I first started riding, I don't know If I truly need water or if I need fuel.
I guess when I'm hurting and I am struggling to keep pace its just easier to reach for the bottle and take a sip, Its almost sub-conscious.
Im going to try mixing fuel with my water. Maybe this will help me from finishing my water source before I finish my rides.
You could also wind up increasing your intake. Most of the drink mixes taste awful when you don't need them. However, once you are warmed up and working the stuff tastes wonderful so you'll tend to drink more unless you moderate yourself. Overhydrating is a different problem but is just as bad as dehydration.
You should check the label on whatever mix powder you're using. Most have high concentrations of vitamin C and citric acid in them. If you drink too much, you can have problems just as if you ate too much real fruit at once. Also, high vitamin C and citric acid levels means that if you eat fruit (or a powerbar) you could wind up with stomach problems.
I think Japhy's post sums it up - make sure that there is food in your fuel.