Hydration For Commuting

DiggingDeeper

I have just had another conversation with mates about why I do not drink on my commute.

I am trying to improve my journey times but in a 42 min commute (42 mins cycling + 8 mins say stoppage at lights) I do not drink, eat etc.

They give me the theory, which I already know, electrolytes etc etc but I just don't.

We are talking 50 min commuting here not 3 hour jaunts into the wilderness where I would take drink, but not enough for their liking. I did a search with the commuting filter turned on and it seemed to come up with one product against another rather than doing or not doing it.

It's not a subject that I recall coming up unless I missed it in the 600 odd (or should that be 400 odd pages now of the SCR thread)

In the height of the summer I have put a bottle on the bike but it rarely got touched.

I would like to know what the general feeling is out re the nutrition/hydration of commuting. My gut feeling is that you all think its cobblers (you could phrase that better I'm sure) for a commute. This aint the race forum or the 100 mile a day forum cos my theory would not stand up I know.

I am willing to be convinced..................any thoughts?

Petromyzon

My commute is about the same length and I doubt my performance would be improved by taking on liquid during it, assuming I start hydrated which is a pretty big if some mornings when I rush out of the house. That said I hate having a dry mouth so as the mornings start to warm up I will put 500ml of water on which I will sip at lights etc. and then finish as I lock up my bike.

I suppose if you perspire heavily or use the commute as brutal interval training (who doesn't sometimes :roll: :roll: ) some electrolyte replacement might be sensible but again I can't see it making a difference to performance within the bout of exercise. If your commute was 90 min or so then not drinking in the first 45 would come back to haunt you I think.

EDIT: sometimes when I've had to change a double flat in a busy urban area needing to pee becomes a real issue. Something else to consider?

Rich158

I always take on water when I commute, but then it is 70-80 mins. I always go by the guidelines that you should drink 500-750ml of fluid for every hour you're on the bike. If i don't drink I do notice a significant drop off in my performance towards the end of the ride. Just because you're not perspiring heavily it dooesn't mean you're not losing fluid, and this needs to be replaced.

I guess you could probably get through about 30-40 mins on your current levels of hydration, and then drink at the end of it to replace the llost fluids. There is a school of thought however that goes against taking on lots of fluids at the end of a ride as it can lead to inflamation and increased muscle soreness. It's much better to make sure you're properly hydrated during the ride, and then taking on carbs and protein to replace the energy you've expended.

DiggingDeeper

Thanks for the replies,

I probably need to look at my fluid intake on the ride. Habit & laziness will probably persist but what you both have said makes sense and I should take on board 500ml at least during the ride.

My mates will be smug, but thems the breaks I guess.

Cheers

jonginge

Wait a minute before you cave. Rehydration during a 50 minute ride isn't likely to be crucial. The stuff you ingest in the last 20-30odd minutes isn't really gonna help you until after the ride is over...
My commute is also ~42minutes and I do it sans bidon summer and winter. I drink and eat soon after the ride, though. Fiddling about with a bottle while in traffic is not something I want to be doing.

My 2 cents. JG

DiggingDeeper

Jon,

You are not on the Malborough thing then! Thanks for your input. The point on the ride where I most feel like water is when I am breathing hard and there is no way I am going to imbibe anything. I have been doing the same thing for 3 years now - maybe I need to give it a go seriously to see if it does help.

The reality for me though is curbing alcohol intake on week days - I need to lose weight through this as well as the exercise which will put less strain on the body.

It would appear that I need to take equal amouts of fluid, just change the water alcohol ratio around

cougie

Certainly no need for a bottle at the moment on a ride that short. Water in the summer may be nice for comfort, but you wont ride any better for it, and it is extra weight on the bike !

lost_in_thought

I have never really had water with me on my commute, which is just over 7 miles and has been for nearly 4 years!

Only time I did was a couple of summers ago when it was really bloomin' hot, and even then I kept forgetting to drink it.

EDIT: I should add that I have a 750ml water bottle on my desk which I make myself drink at least 3 of a day, so dehydration isn't a worry.

fossyant

My commute varies between 7 and 13 miles each way and I take a drink. Think of it as hydrating for the day - morning's are important, you'll be naturally de-hydrated as you get on the bike. I'll often drink 500ml in the morning.

Drink little and often.

itboffin

DiggingDeeper wrote:

Jon,

You are not on the Marlborough thing then! Thanks for your input. The point on the ride where I most feel like water is when I am breathing hard and there is no way I am going to imbibe anything. I have been doing the same thing for 3 years now - maybe I need to give it a go seriously to see if it does help.

The reality for me though is curbing alcohol intake on week days - I need to lose weight through this as well as the exercise which will put less strain on the body.

It would appear that I need to take equal amouts of fluid, just change the water alcohol ratio around

Steady there, that's just crazy talk, I suggest you have a nip of brandy before you set out followed by one poss two bidons of Stella during your ride, oh and MTFU

DiggingDeeper

ITB : I'll just have to MTFU, as I don't like brandy...............................
How was the ride today?



It would appear I am not alone on the no water front. I will report back if I get any findings which might suggest extra hydration makes any difference. My instinct tells me not, but on the premise of don't knock it till you try it....................

itboffin

DiggingDeeper wrote:

ITB : I'll just have to MTFU, as I don't like brandy...............................
How was the ride today?



It would appear I am not alone on the no water front. I will report back if I get any findings which might suggest extra hydration makes any difference. My instinct tells me not, but on the premise of don't knock it till you try it....................

Neither do I - It was fine, slight drizzle a couple of times I think :shock:

The Chingford Skinhead

I regularly fill a bottle up in the morning - and then remember that I've left it on the side half way through my journey. Even when I carry one I haven't managed the art of reaching down and drinking it on the move or at lights so end up swigging it at the end while locking up.

I shouldn't worry about the added weight of the bottle on the bike. An additional bottle is hardly going to add minutes to the ride is it. I know that in my case before I spend any money on replacing bike parts with carbon to reduce the weight I'd be much better off eating less chips and chocolate and reducing the weight that way. (NOT that I'm implying that is an issue for you!)

As for your friends - dont tell them! If they ride with you find a way to disguise the bottle - tell them its chain oil because you're burning it off so fast of something

girv73

My commute is 9 miles, maybe 40 minutes depending on traffic and the route I pick, and I always take a 500ml bottle of water with me. Sometimes I will take a drink at lights, but often enough I arrive at work or home without really touching the water at all.

After the ride though I will usually down the whole 500ml, so perhaps I should be drinking more en-route.

itboffin

Drink before slowly 1hr to 30 mins before hand, then anything under 1-1.30 should be fine sip when you need and drink afterwards, unless it hot (like we ever get heat) if i'm going for it then I'll take a sip every 3 mins approx 1 mile but normally a gulp every 15 mins will do.

I also read recently that weighing yourself before and after a ride can tell you how much fluid you lose and therefore how much you need to replace at that effort and distance, i think it was something like 500ml per half lb weight loss, maybe I don't know, don't quote me

the_hundredth_idiot

This thread isn't at all what I was expecting from the title. I was expecting this!

Feltup

I only tend to carry a bottle when it is warm. My commute is 13 miles and takes 40-45mins typically.

DiggingDeeper

The Hundredth Idiot wrote:

This thread isn't at all what I was expecting from the title. I was expecting this!

I was expecting BeerBike.com so a pleasant surprise......................................

I thought this was a follow up the ITB's aside.

Day one of the experiment has begun, but fret not I'll save you all from a blow by blow account.

TCS : Chips maybe, choccy no........................................We need to sort out some hydration over in Highams Park!!

itboffin

DiggingDeeper wrote:

The Hundredth Idiot wrote:

This thread isn't at all what I was expecting from the title. I was expecting this!

I was expecting BeerBike.com so a pleasant surprise......................................

I thought this was a follow up the ITB's aside.

Day one of the experiment has begun, but fret not I'll save you all from a blow by blow account.

TCS : Chips maybe, choccy no........................................We need to sort out some hydration over in Highams Park!!

blow by blow please and when you say location by the shed full of bikes do you mean something like this?

The Chingford Skinhead

DiggingDeeper wrote:

TCS : Chips maybe, choccy no........................................We need to sort out some hydration over in Highams Park!!

We'll test the isotonic properties of ale, lager and stout - purely in the name of science mind you - toward teh end of the month 8) I'll send you a PM in a few days

DiggingDeeper

ITB : Yeah but your garage is at least twice as big as my shed!!!



It is safe to scroll to the right unless you don't like carbon

cjcp

I rarely commute without water or squash, whatever the season. I sweat like a wild man, so carry it to avoid too much fluid loss rather than for performance reasons.

itboffin

I did 33 miles today and only drank half a bottle of water but then I was travelling so slowly time went backwards and of course it was raining AGAIN!!!!! :twisted:

AndyManc

Hydration is essential and I'm not just talking about while cycling.

Not drinking enough is detrimental to health in many ways and it's a fact that most of us don't take in sufficient liquids.

I made a conscious effort last year to drink more liquids and it really does have a positive effect.