Water on big rides

awh18awh

Hi all,

Been road cycling for a few months now and really enjoying it. Just started pushing the distances but starting to have a bit of a problem.

On longer rides of 50+ miles I find myself running out of water. I carry two 750ml bottles, one with plain water and one with water and a energy tab in. After 40 odd miles im clean out and end up just carrying on without. The other day i did 55 miles and ran out at about 40 miles when i got home I was massively dehydrated and felt awful!

Ive thought about carrying my camelbak but dont really want to carry it on my back, how does everyone else make their water last??

Thanks!!

Cubic

I plan my long rides so that they coincide with a cafes or newsagents at strategic point so that I can refill my bottles. I need to drink a lot on my long rides, so it's I have to do it this way!

AndyOgy

I find the camelback to be something of a necessary evil on such rides. If you really can't bring yourself to do it though, how about one of those saddle mounted bottle cage mounts. They're good for another 2 bottles.

Another bottle or two can be mounted on the handlebars.

Either way, no matter how unappealing these suggestions may be. you MUST take on plenty of fluid during a ride.

bobtbuilder

Cubic wrote:

I plan my long rides so that they coincide with a cafes or newsagents at strategic point so that I can refill my bottles. I need to drink a lot on my long rides, so it's I have to do it this way!

This^^^^^

Unless you live somewhere really remote, there always tends to be a village shop, garage, etc to purchase additional drinks.

Bobbinogs

I find two 500ml bottles is enough for just over 3 hours and, like others have said, plan in stops above that. I would recommend taking a small combination lock or something in case you end up losing visibility of your bike whilst purchasing. I know it won't stop a proper thief but it will delay an opportunist or put them off:

http://www.ukbikestore.co.uk/product/28 ... -lock.html

phreak

You can always find a cafe or pub that will let you fill up (or a shop that you can buy water from)

Zoomer37

Could help?

http://www.schallstailgate.com/BeerHatGuy2.jpg

Feltup

Make sure you are really hydrated before you set out. Two 750ml bottles in 40miles is a lot and would hint that you are not properly hydrated to start with. Otherwise get a friend to carry a spare bottle for you, tell them it is practice for when they turn pro.

Pross

As others have said, there should be a shop or garage en route somewhere to fill up. Don't wait until both bottles are empty, fill up when you get the first chance after the first bottle runs out. I'm terrible for not drinking enough so have never run out when carrying a 750ml and 500ml bottle and normally find myself emptying most, if not all, of the second bottle out after a ride of up to 60 miles.

lifecyclist2010

ideal...and your two bottles and works as a base layer too!!

http://www.camelbak.com/Sports-Recreati ... -Mens.aspx

Peddle Up!

phreak wrote:

You can always find a cafe or pub that will let you fill up (or a shop that you can buy water from)

It can be a problem on a Sunday, but I've found that a polite request at a house where someone is busy in the garden goes a long way.

awh18awh

Guys thats great stuff!! Thanks very much!!

briantrumpet

Peddle Up! wrote:

phreak wrote:

You can always find a cafe or pub that will let you fill up (or a shop that you can buy water from)

It can be a problem on a Sunday, but I've found that a polite request at a house where someone is busy in the garden goes a long way.

It was warm today, so my two 750ml bottles were almost empty after 2 hours ... I saw a couple in their garden ... "I know it's cheeky, but would you mind...". Anyway, I ended up with two filled up bottles of blackcurrant, and had I not been in a rush to finish my 64-miler so I could work this evening, an invitation to the barbeque they were preparing, with an offer to run me home in their car. Sometimes you meet the nicest people...

I must plan another ride out that way sometime when it's sunny....

Phixion

I got through 2 720ml bottles in under 2 hours today, was just so hot I found myself drinking every few mins.

What do you guys think of them energy tabs? I tried 2 yesterday for the first time and felt great, I could have continued riding, but today I was back to plain ol' water and I really struggled.

I can't remember the brand I had, but they were electrolyte tabs.

rake

i make sure im well tanked up on water before setting off so i dont attack the bottles too early.

1_reaper

lifecyclist2010 wrote:

ideal...and your two bottles and works as a base layer too!!

http://www.camelbak.com/Sports-Recreati ... -Mens.aspx

I considered one of these after a 70 mile ride today. Two 750 bottles just about lasted for the four hours And that was an early start before it got warm today also after energy bars need to wash them down with a drink

si2k2000

Another way to do it is to plan your rides so that at the half way point you actually pass where you live and can nip in and refill. I'm lucky that I have plenty of varied routes and can pass back my place pretty easily without having to cover too much of the same ground again.

I must admit I don't do this very often but it is another way of being able to refill bottles etc and worth considering if there is nowhere else on your routes to refill.

Berk Bonebonce

What convenience strore in the UK does not nowadays sell bottles of water?

simon_e

awh18awh wrote:

The other day i did 55 miles and ran out at about 40 miles when i got home I was massively dehydrated and felt awful!

Hmmm. Were you adequately hydrated before you started? 1.5 litres should do for a good distance, even if it's a fast or hilly ride on a warm day.

I'm another that would suggest stopping at a shop or somewhere mid-ride.

rake

is a big ride the same as a long ride?

willbevan

i carry 3 bottles for my long rides, one behind the saddle. Each bottle being sllightly larger at 900ml (they are a squeeze in the frame)

I used to ride with a camelbak with a 3l resevoir, but in the head, it makes your back to sweaty! Hence behind the seat, depending on which seat rail mount you get, you typically can mount upto two bottles behind

Dmak

I wouldn't want to wear a camel back either.

A couple of useful links for you if you don't like to stop;

Sis 1 Litre;
http://runaroundsports.co.uk/products/accessories_store/water_carriers/SIS_1litre_Drinks_Bottle.html

ToPeak bottle cage mount;
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/topeak-bottle-cage-mount/?&source=MaxiFeed&id=5360051905

If you really needed you could carry up to 7 litres of fluid on the bike! 4 on the frame, 2 on the bars. 1 on the seatpost. All without a nasty backpack. That might be slight overkill though. As other people say, make sure you're well hydrated before leaving.

kja

Hmm, doesn't sound to me like you're dehydrated before you start! I always have a pint of water on the go if I'm at my desk, or a bottle if I'm out and about. My wee is always clear. Yet when I'm out on the bike (admittedly mtb) I get through about 500ml or more an hour. I do find myself stopping for a pee every 45mins or so though! I tend to carry a camelbak plus a bottle on the bike.

coombsfh

Just read this thread through and I am worried...

My default setting is to drink about 6L of water a day (no I am not diabetic and my kidneys are fine). I just run very warm and sweat tons.

Considering this and considering I have not cycled any real distance before (on the road) I think I will need a LOT of hydration when I start smashing the larger distances.

Is 750ml the biggest bottles you can have?

Fred

Xommul

PUB! fill one bottle with beer!!!

Seriously, pubs and cafes will re fill a bottle for ya, or stop off and buy some water.

Keep up the good work

nickwill

On a warm day,or if you are working hard, two 750 bottles should last about 3 hours, going on the recommended intake of 500 ml per hour. I always ride better when I'm disciplined enough to drink at this rate. There are no advantages and plenty of disadvantage to letting yourself get dehydrated. Shops, cafes or petrol stations are the answer to replenishing your supplies, and by the time one bottle is empty, I'm usually on the lookout for somewhere suitable.

kettrinboy

Whatever you do, never be tempted to fill your bottles out of a stream or river, last time i did that i was fine until about 8 hrs later and then spent half the night puking my guts up.lesson learnt the hard way.

Monty Dog

As a contrast, I've occassionally ridden with John Woodburn, whose still riding competitively in his 70s and has won more national champs than anyone else. Anyway, back in the day, drinking water was seen as a sign of weakness and so riders would train themselves to drink as little as a single bottle every 4 to 5 hours. Riding with John you rarely see him take a swig. Likewise, on Saturday's 5 hour ride (90 miles) I only drank about 750ml (not including the cafestop) and yet needed to stop for a wee about 4 times - showing I was well hydrated. Experience will help you understand how much you need to drink on rides as much as theoretical estimates.

I-S

Anybody else find they seem to need less to drink than in the past? I 'm managing 70 miles + with 2 bottles of weak energy drink + 2 or 3 bars without a stop. In the past I needed at least another bottle for the same time / distance meaning a stop.

nferrar

Anyone else find drinking on a club run is like yawning? As soon as someone reaches for a bottle everyone else does the same

nickwill

nferrar wrote:

Anyone else find drinking on a club run is like yawning? As soon as someone reaches for a bottle everyone else does the same

You're absolutely right!