Take Along Enough Fresh Water On Your Next Bicycle Tour Or Long Ride.

If you are taking a long ride on your bicycle this weekend with friends go for a relaxing tour of back roads and enjoy the scenery. You have to take an ample supply of fresh water in order to keep up your strength and stay focused. Water will be the most important item to carry with you. Don’t forget that the human body needs to be replenished with water to stay saturated at about 85%.

Research shows that a 50 to 60 mile bike run burns an average of 4000 calories depending on how fit you are and how hot the day is. There is more energy spent on hot days than mild or cools days. If you are traveling on hills or mountain trails, you will burn more energy than biking over level,even ground. Either way, you will require to pack enough water to take care of your needs.

Studies have found that most bikers will need a minimum of 2 quart bicycle water bottles to satisfy their thirst on a sixty mile trip. Two quarts is just a recommendation and it is a good idea to add several more bottles if you are going on a longer trip. Often, long distance bicycle trekkers, when traveling over several days, will wear water systems in back packs. Some solo endurance bike riders, when traveling over very long distances, carry their own back pack water systems and will sport water bottles as extra water sources.

There are different sizes of water storage systems available for your safe travels. The can range from 60 to 100 liter back packs. The larger 100 liter packs need extra stabilizing support because of the water’s weight. Most of these systems come with adjustable waist straps to help keep them in place. One never will regret bring another bottle of water on your bike trek. However, how do you know you have enough water?

Often, if you are thirsty, or experiencing cotton mouth, you are probably in a mild state of dehydration. You can determine your water saturation point simply by noting the color of your urine. Is it clear? If it is, you are probably drinking enough water. If your urine is dark or cloudy, you should step up your water intake.

After as soon as ten minutes of dehydration, the body can develop muscle cramping. General fatigue and irrational fear can follow the onset of this cramping. This condition can develop into diminished strength and loss of complex motor skills if left untended.

So before you take to the highway with your cycling buddies for that long road trip, check your maps, your repair kits and don’t forget to pack plenty of good old H2O in your bicycle water bottle.

Larry Wildems has been cycling for mostof his 26 years. He has taken and led many long ride bicycle treks across the USA and Europe. He has traveled through some of the countries of Central America and is planning a cycling tour across parts of China. You can find out more about sports water bottles and water delivery systems, bicycles and cycling accessories at his website: http://www.bicyclewaterbottle.net

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

October 29 2009 | bicycle | No Comments »