Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Fifty Plus (50+)
Reload this Page >

Hydration - Recommendations

Search
Notices
Fifty Plus (50+) Share the victories, challenges, successes and special concerns of bicyclists 50 and older. Especially useful for those entering or reentering bicycling.

Hydration - Recommendations

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 07-19-23 | 11:45 AM
  #26  
zandoval's Avatar
Senior Member
Titanium Club Membership
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 5,604
Likes: 2,470
From: Bastrop Texas

Bikes: Univega, Peu P6, Peu PR-10, Ted Williams, Peu UO-8, Peu UO-18 Mixte, Peu Dolomites

There is a difference between Hydration and Re-hydration and Electrolyte Replacement.

Most members here know this well but I do need to remind...
Sit back and think...

Did I hydrate?
Do I need to Re-hydrate?
Then consider electrolytes after your first liter of plain water...

Remember this hydration stuff is SNEAKY!
__________________
No matter where you're at... There you are... Δf:=f(1/2)-f(-1/2)

Last edited by zandoval; 07-19-23 at 01:03 PM.
zandoval is offline  
Reply
Old 07-19-23 | 01:01 PM
  #27  
zandoval's Avatar
Senior Member
Titanium Club Membership
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 5,604
Likes: 2,470
From: Bastrop Texas

Bikes: Univega, Peu P6, Peu PR-10, Ted Williams, Peu UO-8, Peu UO-18 Mixte, Peu Dolomites

Originally Posted by Iride01
From a NCBI article I think or the NEJM... I think it was a study involving military personnel as the study group.
I can see the difficulty in trying to publish a reputable article in a semi-reputable journal on military electrolyte data. Here is a example of a mix I used as a medic when Air Born grunts were returning from the field in mid 70's SETAF.

Note: "In the field" is what we termed troops returning from extended "down range" duty. Officially no one was shooting at us... Ha. Further note, in the Army there are Air Born and there are Legs (Grunts). So what happens to the Air Born after they hit the dirt? They become Legs. After a few weeks in the dirt they are all Grunts.

So the mix goes and was provided to me via an up through the ranks E-9 Mess Sargent.

US Army 5 gallon Beverage Power Packet Lemon or Lime mixed with 5 gallons of water, 2 pounds of Sugar, and 1/2 hand full of Salt.

One of the biggest problems after returning from extended Field Trips was constipation. Couple of weeks of C-Rats or MREs with limited water meant not so friendly butt plugs. For that the Mess Sargent had a different mix. It was a Strawberry Powder Packet with 5 gallons of water and a heaping hand full of powdered pink laundry detergent mixed slowly so as not to foam up. You could have one canteen cup of the stuff after ya drank a gallon of the lime mix. I once asked the Sargent why use the Strawberry Packet. His reply was it would hide any blood... Ha. I just don't know of any medical journal we could publish this little method or would want to. Its quite possible this method only works on Grunts...


__________________
No matter where you're at... There you are... Δf:=f(1/2)-f(-1/2)

Last edited by zandoval; 07-19-23 at 04:27 PM.
zandoval is offline  
Reply
Old 07-19-23 | 01:08 PM
  #28  
Classtime's Avatar
Senior Member
Titanium Club Membership
10 Anniversary
Community Builder
 
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 5,794
Likes: 3,364
From: Los Angeles

Bikes: 82 Medici, 85 Ironman, 2011 Richard Sachs

Here is my homemade (because I'm cheap and attempt all organic ingredients) mix:
2T Organic Tapioca Matlodextrin from Nature's Flavors
1T organic Cane Sugar
1/4 t organic pin salt
1 packet of (non-organic) True Lemon or squeeze of 1/2 lemon or lime. True Lemon packets are handy for taking along baggie of extra mix on long ride.


It tastes fine, has about 100 calories per bottle, and is not too sweet which leaves a clean feeling and not a sticky sugary mouth feel.
__________________
I don't do: disks, tubeless, e-shifting, or bead head nymphs. But I do hate all e-bikes.
Classtime is offline  
Reply
Old 07-19-23 | 01:33 PM
  #29  
dot dash
10 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 12,958
Likes: 6,514
From: Land of Pleasant Living

Bikes: Shmikes

Originally Posted by zandoval

US Army 5 gallon Beverage Power Packet Lemon or Lime mixed with 5 gallons of water, 2 pounds of Sugar, and 1/2 hand full of Salt.
Looks about right. It's got flavoring for palatability, salt for sodium replacement (and, oddly, palatability) and sugar to promote water and sodium transfer across the gut.

Hooah!
MoAlpha is offline  
Reply
Old 07-19-23 | 07:48 PM
  #30  
Carbonfiberboy's Avatar
just another gosling
Titanium Club Membership
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 20,555
Likes: 2,667
From: Everett, WA

Bikes: CoMo Speedster 2003, Trek 5200, CAAD 9, Fred 2004

It's been pretty well shown that cramps result neither from loss of electrolytes nor from dehydration. Cramps come from exerting oneself harder than one has trained for, or running low on carbs late in a long ride. As above, treatment is either pickle juice or mustard or Hot Shots. It's the taste, nothing else.

I separate my food, water, and electrolyte sources. Plain water, a high carb source, and Endurolyte capsules. I drink to thirst and encourage thirst by taking Endurolytes if necessary to encourage thirst, otherwise not. I can tell if I'm hydrated: I need to pee about every 3 hours. If I'm dehydrated, my HR goes up more than usual for the circumstances. If I'm low on carbs, my HR is lower than usual.

I'll use a high carb sports drink like HEED or SIS in my water bottles on short rides of 3 hours or less. Otherwise, it's plain water. If it's a long ride in the heat, I'll use a 2 liter Camelbak and possibly bottles. I never use Gatorade.

Again, you know you're adequately hydrated if you need to pee about every 3 hours. If the ride is less than 3 hours, don't worry about it. You're actually faster about 2% dehydrated because you're a little lighter. 3% however is not OK.

Another good tell is to watch your forearms. If they're damp, you're OK. If they go dry, you might have a medical emergency unless you get some water fairly soon. Sweat is the only thing that cools you. I've had my resting HR go as high as 120 from dehydration on a long 105° climb. Luckily, I knew where a tap was and sat in the shade and drank a couple liters of water, took some Endurolytes, was fine and went on.

Everyone is different about how much electrolytes to consume vs. volume of water. You have to experiment on yourself, but that's the big reason I don't have electrolytes in my water. No matter how much is in there, it's probably the wrong amount. I take 1-2 Endurolytes an hour if it's warm to hot. I have a riding buddy who needs 6. He's your usual slim, tough cyclist, but riding behind him in the heat, you'd think it was raining.
__________________
Results matter

Carbonfiberboy is offline  
Reply
Old 07-20-23 | 05:35 AM
  #31  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 4,081
Likes: 2,104
Weigh yourself before and after a long ride. If you hydrated and fueled well, you might have lost 1% but not more than 2% body weight. Eventually you'll learn your needs. (you will inevitably have some glycogen depletion and the water associated with it, so, some weight loss is normal. Weight gain is a big issue though)
GhostRider62 is offline  
Reply
Old 07-20-23 | 06:57 PM
  #32  
Carbonfiberboy's Avatar
just another gosling
Titanium Club Membership
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 20,555
Likes: 2,667
From: Everett, WA

Bikes: CoMo Speedster 2003, Trek 5200, CAAD 9, Fred 2004

Originally Posted by GhostRider62
Weigh yourself before and after a long ride. If you hydrated and fueled well, you might have lost 1% but not more than 2% body weight. Eventually you'll learn your needs. (you will inevitably have some glycogen depletion and the water associated with it, so, some weight loss is normal. Weight gain is a big issue though)
I've never stripped down and weight myself after a ride, nekkid and w/o rehydration and refueling. Drinking a quart of restorative is the first thing I do. However the next morning I'll be light if that was a tough ride. It'll take me a couple days to put the glycogen and water back.
__________________
Results matter

Carbonfiberboy is offline  
Reply
Old 07-20-23 | 07:57 PM
  #33  
big john's Avatar
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Active Streak: 30 Days
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 29,413
Likes: 13,443
From: In the foothills of Los Angeles County
Originally Posted by Carbonfiberboy
I've never stripped down and weight myself after a ride, nekkid and w/o rehydration and refueling. Drinking a quart of restorative is the first thing I do. However the next morning I'll be light if that was a tough ride. It'll take me a couple days to put the glycogen and water back.
I'm usually 5 or 6 pounds lighter after a hot club ride with hills and chasing faster riders for 60+ miles. I did a mountain ride and tried to conserve water early (so I could stay with the group) and by the time I got to the next water stop it was too late. Got nausea bad and had trouble drinking or eating and was 11 pounds light at the end. Worst bonk ever.
Did the same ride 2 weeks later and guzzled water early and a friend sagged the ride with cold drinks and snacks and I had a glorious time.
big john is offline  
Reply
Old 07-20-23 | 08:06 PM
  #34  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 4,081
Likes: 2,104
Originally Posted by Carbonfiberboy
I've never stripped down and weight myself after a ride, nekkid and w/o rehydration and refueling. Drinking a quart of restorative is the first thing I do. However the next morning I'll be light if that was a tough ride. It'll take me a couple days to put the glycogen and water back.
I wouldn't think you would given your long history of endurance stuff. There are many others who are still trying to figure it out. If someone thinks they may have a hydration issue, weighing before and after is easy to do. 11 pounds lost can be 5-8% of body weight and since a pint weighs a pound the world around, that is like 5-6 bottles short. A couple pounds is no big deal. Some of that is depleted glyogen and liver
GhostRider62 is offline  
Reply
Old 07-21-23 | 03:06 AM
  #35  
Full Member
10 Anniversary
 
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 292
Likes: 103
From: Thailand

Bikes: Bianchi Infinito CV disk, and rim brake

What has worked for me is starting out any ride hydrated. I seldom eat before or during rides less than 40 miles. I eat healthy. Cramping has never been an issue. I am constantly drinking water during my ride. I also use electrolytes, and an ice cold fresh green coconut water is refreshing too.
Jumpski is offline  
Reply
Old 07-21-23 | 09:13 AM
  #36  
Banned
 
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 8,701
Likes: 2,506
From: Mississauga/Toronto, Ontario canada

Bikes: I have 3 singlespeed/fixed gear bikes

Nothing beats chocolate milk. It has everything your body needs.
wolfchild is offline  
Reply
Old 07-21-23 | 12:36 PM
  #37  
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 9,685
Likes: 2,603
From: northern Deep South

Bikes: Fuji Touring, Novara Randonee

Originally Posted by wolfchild
Nothing beats chocolate milk. It has everything your body needs.
Your mileage obviously varies. Chocolate milk, for me, means a mandatory 30 minutes in air conditioning to let it settle; otherwise, I'll get digestive tract problems when I resume riding.
pdlamb is offline  
Reply
Old 07-21-23 | 02:14 PM
  #38  
big john's Avatar
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Active Streak: 30 Days
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 29,413
Likes: 13,443
From: In the foothills of Los Angeles County
Originally Posted by pdlamb
Your mileage obviously varies. Chocolate milk, for me, means a mandatory 30 minutes in air conditioning to let it settle; otherwise, I'll get digestive tract problems when I resume riding.
Chocolate milk is fine for after the ride. That said, I can eat nearly anything on a ride, within reason and depending on how much climbing is ahead. When I was younger I had more trouble if I ate too much.
big john is offline  
Reply

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.