Dehydration

[dpex]

At last! A biker subject upon which I can pontificate with some authority.

Just to clarify that, I have about 2,000 hours as a glider-pilot.

A glider is a mini-hot-house with wings. Dehydration is one of the biggest killers of pilots.

The affects of dehydration are extremely subtle. You 'think' you're doing okay, whereas, when dehydrated, your mind becomes tunnel-visioned. Ergo, you see what you 'think' you should be seeing but, in fact, you're seeing what you 'want' to see.

Dehydration is a lot like being pissed, except you don't get the buzz. All you get is the loss of focus.

And around the next corner comes something you weren't expecting, your brain has more or less shut down, even though you 'think' it's still doing normal stuff, and poom! You're another statistic.

But there's a rule of thumb you can use to avoid dehydration, but first allow me to assert, you simply cannot objectively establish dehydration. It just happens, and it happens at different rates for each person.

You get to objectively consider it while laying in a hospital bed, or on the road, as you lay there with sundry folk poking you in an eye to see if you're alive. Or some gung-ho type like me who finds a piece of broken mirror to start performing the tracheotomy.

The rule of thumb is this. Water in/water out. Question. How much in and where does it go?

Answer. Lots in. And I'm talking litres per hour if you're in leathers or black gear.

You should be swallowing enough water to allow you to sweat out a lot but still need a piss every two hours.

If you don't feel the need for a serious piss within any two hours, believe me, you're dehydrated.

In seriously hot conditions (Christmas/summer) you sweat like nine bastards. This sweat is body-fluid leaving you to join the great circle of life. Yet, as you ride at a reasonable speed, the passing wind evaporates the sweat.

You 'think' you're doing okay cos you feel cool...in all senses of the word on a bike....Cool you may be, but unless you need a piss every two hours, then you might feel cool but your head is in a very dangerous space.

At race and track-days (during summer) , given I know a lot about the affects of dehydration...If I don't want a piss after coming off the track from the last round, then I'm a danger to myself and all around me.

There's a very technical explanation regarding dehydration, and loss of body-salts, etc, but just take the simple advice.

If you don't feel like you need a piss every hour or so, on a really hot day, dressed in leathers, then drink more water till you do feel the need.

Coffee and alcohol are diuretics; ergo they strip water from your system and, with it, the salts which are vital to your continued proper brain function.

And so, when you stop for a double-shot Latte, enjoy it, but drink a litre of water before you saddle-up. You'll be amazed at how you still don't feel like taking a piss, two hours later.

And remember, the cagers haven't the foggiest idea about dehydration, other than when they watch their tomatoes drying in a dehydrator.

They sit in their cages, trying to ignore the screaming children, the nagging wife, the vile heat. Their brains are miles away from the task in hand.

Two dehydrated motorists, (one on a bike, one in a cage) heading toward each other, even 50 Ks apart when the dehydration kicks in, are a fatality waiting to happen.

You stay hydrated. You lessen the chances of becoming a statistic.

[Jantar]

At last! A biker subject upon which I can pontificate with some authority.

Just to clarify that, I have about 2,000 hours as a glider-pilot.

A glider is a mini-hot-house with wings. Dehydration is one of the biggest killers of pilots.

.....
Another glider pilot! :clap: That makes at least 4 of us on here.

You are absolutely right about dehydration. On long rides I drink plenty of unsweetened fruit juice. Its not just the water loss, but also loss of trace elements through sweat that causes that the lack of co-ordination and degradation of reactions.

[kevfromcoro]

Good post
have just done a 1st aid course..
part of my job.... a lot of it covered dehydration.
its a bit of a worry all right ...coffee, piss even tea aint to good for ya in the hot weather,,
keep the orange juice up .... well any thing .... water ..
think fruit juice ok the best
KEV

[wbks]

Would gagging and generally feeling like you are going to barf all over your shiny new KBC be because of dehydration?

[NighthawkNZ]

Sometimes I where a Hydropack on my longer rides and tours

[zeocen]

I have a health condition which keeps me fairly lethargic but worst of all, keeps me hot which in turn makes me sweat it all out! I am investing in one of these http://www.cycletreads.co.nz/content/catalogueViewEntry.aspx?profilePK=all&entryPK=2108

They by no means 'stop' dehydration but they hold back the sweats and every person I have talked to who has them has sworn by them, especially for motocross when you're wearing yourself out in hot gear.

I still have my older dririder jacket with support for a hydration pack and ties to hook it up into the helmet, invaluable on hot, hot, hot trips!

[PrincessBandit]

Cool. Great thread, and certainly makes you think about fluid loss and the effect on your body. Particularly pertinent on a bike where air flow does tend to mask the effects of evaporation. Thanks!

[balans]

I'm currently working up in Sumatra and sweating buckets. It can be hard to keep up with the necessary water intake to compensate for this. I have had occasional trouble with headaches in the afternoon that I put down to dehydration. I have found a great product here called 'Pocari sweat', you have maybe seen in mocked along with other asian product like 'Cock soup'. Pocari is actually alot like powerade and designed to replace your sweat. The main advantage is that is doesn't have the enormous sugar content of similar western products. I have a can with lunch and continue to drink as much water as I can and it seems to work. You can probably get it in one of the many asian stores, supermarkets, dairies, delis etc.

[dpex]

Would gagging and generally feeling like you are going to barf all over your shiny new KBC be because of dehydration?

Nar mate! It's cos you're not driving a Yami.

[dpex]

I'm currently working up in Sumatra and sweating buckets. It can be hard to keep up with the necessary water intake to compensate for this. I have had occasional trouble with headaches in the afternoon that I put down to dehydration. I have found a great product here called 'Pocari sweat', you have maybe seen in mocked along with other asian product like 'Cock soup'. Pocari is actually alot like powerade and designed to replace your sweat. The main advantage is that is doesn't have the enormous sugar content of similar western products. I have a can with lunch and continue to drink as much water as I can and it seems to work. You can probably get it in one of the many asian stores, supermarkets, dairies, delis etc.

Nope. Just go with water-in/water out. You don't need the fancy, expensive drinks. You just need accesss to a tap to fill your water bottle.

[wbks]

It was a honda bucket at the time wearing full 2 piece leathers with no fluids so it could explain it...could explain why i lowsided the next lap putting some "badges" on my leathers and a tar seal coloured scuffmark on my shiny new KBC with only about 30 mins in it

[PrincessBandit]

...I have found a great product here called 'Pocari sweat'...

Aaaagghh, discovered that stuff in Japan eeeeewwwww. (Sorry to be one of the mockers :laugh:). Despite knowing the purpose of it, I just couldn't get into drinking it. The other drink that is so popular there goes by the wonderful name of Kalpis water, which is pronounced like cowpiss water, so you can imagine that we didn't really take a fancy to that either!!

[Fatt Max]

Great thread and timely for the time if year.

My missus is a long distance runner so she knows all about this but the fact we are biking and get the cool air can mask the real problem. Great advice mate and will heed accordingly.

Fanx for the other advice re the corromandel as well.

[toycollector10]

Great post. I did a Christchurch to Akaroa and return trip in October. All of the gear on and 27 degrees. Didn't have much to drink. Didn't take a piss for about four or five hours. I knew I was dehydrating but not to the extent that I was. I spent the next day feeling like shit and I knew why. Lesson learned.

[Road Guardian]

Would you like me to tell you about the renin angiotensin system?
I love using complicated words.............sorry, ill shut up now.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renin-angiotensin_system

[nico]

great post bud and a great reminder for all of us. this does remind me of what a insuctor told me on my basic tranning in army a while back the genrel rule of thumb there was if there's colour in ya piss you aint drinking enough was always a pain having to piss every 10 min but when ya training that hard in heat very easy to dehidrate quick,, and coffie does not re-hidrate the body team ive been told 1 coffie =4 cups water you have to drink food for thaught,

[Usarka]

I'm dehydrated as heck right now....good call dpex it does affect one....

Gliders are for pilots who are too stupid or lazyy to learn all the bollox around flight planning, navigation etc etc and/or have big enough balls to try to land an aircraft without a backup plan.


Ive done both BTW FTW.

[Bloody Mad Woman (BMW)]

I camp around the East Cape alot - and learnt very early in the piece - stay hydrated. I love water anyway, and drink a minimum of 3 litres a day - but when riding I do drink more - and for something really cold I'll buy lemondade iceblocks - bliss on a stinking hot day up there. Don't like fizz drinks, and those bloody flavoured energy powered waters are foul. I even bought 2 litre plastic box type thing that folds flat so fill that and have beside me in the tent.

I am all packed up ready to leave for Hawkes Bay and then East Cape. Hope the rain eases a bit - cos I would like to leave today but I am in no rush so could be a woose and wait for it to clear.

[balans]

Nope. Just go with water-in/water out. You don't need the fancy, expensive drinks. You just need accesss to a tap to fill your water bottle.

Expensive? maybe the NZ economy is worse than I remember but <60 cents a can seems pretty reasonable.

And of course copious amounts of water are necessary to replace the bulk of what you sweat out. I don't sweat pure water though, there are various other chemicals there too.

Another thing to remember, is the amount of sugar in soft drinks, fruit juice and Gator/Powerade.

[dpex]

Another glider pilot! :clap: That makes at least 4 of us one here.

You are absolutely right about dehydration. On long rides I drink plenty of unsweetened fruit juice. Its not just the water loss, but also loss of trace elements through sweat that causes that the lack of co-ordination and degradation of reactions.

Cool! Do you own your own aircraft? Which club are you with?

[sinfull]

A glider pilot aye bwahahahahahaha , now that explains alot when we take off at the start line !

Hehehehehe hohohoho merry xmas

[Owl]

Well that's seriously given me something to think about dpex, more than you know!

I had a bin back in April that I cannot explain and have no excuse for. I pass the site on a fairly regular basis, give myself a kick and think “How did you fuck that up?” I can't say dehydration was the cause, but what you describe does give “Food for thought”! All I know are the facts!

I remember the actual crash, but have no memory of the 1.5km leading up to it (actually measured from last memory). I did thump my head and suffered mild concussion, but that doesn’t explain why my brain shut down beforehand, causing the crash. I even considered the possibility that I’d fallen asleep, but I think it unlikely I would’ve negotiated the previous two bends during that 1.5km?

1. It was a nice warm sunny day.
2. I hadn’t had anything to drink all afternoon (though I wasn’t thirsty).
3. I was wearing black leathers.
4. My last drink late morning was coffee.
5. Time of crash approximately 3.50pm.

I’d love to turn back the clock, but this is something I have to own, get over and move on! The worst thing is not being able to learn from mistakes when you only have questions and no answers. At least now I may have an answer!

Cheers dpex!:niceone:

[Brownbikerbabe]

Thank you for posting that!:clap:

[KiwiKat]

At last! A biker subject upon which I can pontificate with some authority...The affects of dehydration are extremely subtle. You 'think' you're doing okay, whereas, when dehydrated, your mind becomes tunnel-visioned...
You should be swallowing enough water to allow you to sweat out a lot but still need a piss every two hours.
...
You stay hydrated. You lessen the chances of becoming a statistic.

Awesome stuff - Thanks for confirming what most of us ignore


I have a health condition which keeps me fairly lethargic but worst of all, keeps me hot which in turn makes me sweat it all out! I am investing in one of these http://www.cycletreads.co.nz/content/catalogueViewEntry.aspx?profilePK=all&entryPK=2108


I love new gadgets. I wonder how heavy and bulky these are under riding gear? Core Cooler for US Troops and Fire Fighters (http://www.core-cooler.com/news.html)


great post bud and a great reminder for all of us. this does remind me of what a insuctor told me

I must meet one of these insuctors one day.

[sAsLEX]

I don't sweat pure water though, there are various other chemicals there too.


When I am hunting I make my own electrolyte drink I found a recipe for in a Hunting mag. A few pinches of the salt mixture into the camel back and it seems to help, with only a slightly discernible taste.

[Blackbird]

There's another potential physiological manifestation of dehydration - gout!!!

I always thought gout was something that affected Henry VIII and port drinkers, but no! Some mates and I did a round Taranaki ride in very hot conditions about 3 years ago. Basically didn't pee all day despite drinking what I thought was adequate replenishment. Stayed that evening in New Plymouth, had a few beers and dinner at the game fishing club and continued home on the Sunday. Woke up on Monday morning with a throbbing big toe and thought I'd maybe hurt it pulling the bike onto the centre stand. It was agony by lunchtime and went to the doctor who pronounced gout! He said that dehydration can trigger gout and put me on anti-inflammatories for a few days.

That was a painful lesson and I've tried to stay well hydrated since then - no recurrence.

[Owl]

There's another potential physiological manifestation of dehydration - gout!!!

I've learnt something else today. Glad I don't get that, as I have enough problems with my foot, though I have had a few people ask me how my gout is when they've seen me walking.:rolleyes:

[Pixie]

I remember the actual crash, but have no memory of the 1.5km leading up to it (actually measured from last memory). I did thump my head and suffered mild concussion, but that doesn’t explain why my brain shut down beforehand, causing the crash. I even considered the possibility that I’d fallen asleep, but I think it unlikely I would’ve negotiated the previous two bends during that 1.5km?



You didn't necessarily black out prior to the crash.
It's not unusual to be unable to recall the last few seconds prior to a traumatic event.

[FROSTY]

A VERY old racer addage is . "drink till ya pee clear"
Chocky fish for who can name the very famous racer that used that phrase.

For me racing If i don't need a pee before every race I know I ant drinking enough. I prefer the flavoured water but its a taste thing

[jonbuoy]

Nope. Just go with water-in/water out. You don't need the fancy, expensive drinks. You just need accesss to a tap to fill your water bottle.

Not quite true- if your heavily sweating for only a matter of hours you only need plain water, if your sweating heavily for days on end you need suppliments or at least salt tablets. Work up a sweat, let it dry and lick your skin - you loose a LOT of salt through your sweat. You'll find you get low blood pressure symptoms - dizziness and tiredness from salt deprivation.

[yungatart]

Timely thread!

Last weekend the HB crew did a ride around Lake Taupo. I think every one of us had a water bottle on board...we are used to the heat down here!

[Owl]

You didn't necessarily black out prior to the crash.
It's not unusual to be unable to recall the last few seconds prior to a traumatic event.

I get what you're saying Pixie and a GP said the same, but it's like I woke up at the corner, thought "Oh fuck" and then whammo. I know that corner, knew it was there, it's an easy corner, conditions were perfect and yet I still failed to go around it!:angry2:
Sorry for the rant, but I'm still pissed off with myself!

[gijoe1313]

Ayup, this is a valuable thread - on my sojourns and meanderings of a random nature, I will happily forgo food, but never my liquid intake. Fluids are vital to keep body running at optimum performance.

After all, we make sure our bikes are topped up with the fluids they require - and woe betide us if we lapse on those levels right?

Same with our mortal encasements of flesh.

In fact, when its raining, I always enjoy it, I flip the visor up and lap up the water! :drool: And you can even keep your protein levels up by eating the bugs that land in your teeth! I find the honey bees much better for dessert, midges for snacks and dragonflies have a piquant taste.

Try it one day, I guarantee you will be surprised!

(No, I am not turning into the Bear Grylls of biking :p)

Water sorted. Snacks on the road sorted.

[dpex]

I've learnt something else today. Glad I don't get that, as I have enough problems with my foot, though I have had a few people ask me how my gout is when they've seen me walking.:rolleyes:

Yeah, me too. In fact with both feet. They keep getting stuck in my mouth.

[dpex]

A VERY old racer addage is . "drink till ya pee clear"
Chocky fish for who can name the very famous racer that used that phrase.

For me racing If i don't need a pee before every race I know I ant drinking enough. I prefer the flavoured water but its a taste thing

Whaddaya mean, "It's a taste thing?" You haven't got any taste! I'll bet the world doesn't know you're panting to become a Honda Rider. I think I'll tell the world about this.

Taste, indeed! Hurumph.

[dpex]

Not quite true- if your heavily sweating for only a matter of hours you only need plain water, if your sweating heavily for days on end you need suppliments or at least salt tablets. Work up a sweat, let it dry and lick your skin - you loose a LOT of salt through your sweat. You'll find you get low blood pressure symptoms - dizziness and tiredness from salt deprivation.

You make a good point. In fact I make a habit; at track and race-days, at least, of adding a pinch of ordinary iodized salt to each litre of water. That gives me both salt and iodine.

Saline!

It's also great to pour into your eye which has been poked by someone trying to establish if you're dead or not.

[wbks]

You drink salt water? FREAK!

[klingon]

The best (and simplest) oral rehydration recipe is:
8 teaspoons of sugar
1 teaspoon of salt
1 litre of water

Dissolve the sugar and salt in the water and sip often.

If you're going to drink fruit juice, you're best to dilute the juice 50/50 with water. You can also mix 50/50 juice and the oral reydration fluid above (improves the flavour of both, IMO!)

This is a very useful subject to remind ourselves of at this time of year.

[trumpy]

Well that's seriously given me something to think about dpex, more than you know!

I had a bin back in April that I cannot explain and have no excuse for. I pass the site on a fairly regular basis, give myself a kick and think “How did you fuck that up?” I can't say dehydration was the cause, but what you describe does give “Food for thought”! All I know are the facts!

I remember the actual crash, but have no memory of the 1.5km leading up to it (actually measured from last memory). I did thump my head and suffered mild concussion, but that doesn’t explain why my brain shut down beforehand, causing the crash. I even considered the possibility that I’d fallen asleep, but I think it unlikely I would’ve negotiated the previous two bends during that 1.5km?

1. It was a nice warm sunny day.
2. I hadn’t had anything to drink all afternoon (though I wasn’t thirsty).
3. I was wearing black leathers.
4. My last drink late morning was coffee.
5. Time of crash approximately 3.50pm.

I’d love to turn back the clock, but this is something I have to own, get over and move on! The worst thing is not being able to learn from mistakes when you only have questions and no answers. At least now I may have an answer!

Cheers dpex!:niceone:

Exact same experience 12 months ago. Apparently a cup of coffee and a glass of orange juice doesn't cut it riding for an hour or five in 27 degrees especially when you haven't fully recovered from being dehydrated the previous day. My stupid, never to be repeated (hopefully....but then I do sometimes forget things..):o

[wbks]

The best (and simplest) oral rehydration recipe is:
8 teaspoons of sugar
1 teaspoon of salt
1 litre of water

Dissolve the sugar and salt in the water and sip often.

If you're going to drink fruit juice, you're best to dilute the juice 50/50 with water. You can also mix 50/50 juice and the oral reydration fluid above (improves the flavour of both, IMO!)

This is a very useful subject to remind ourselves of at this time of year.
By saying ORAL, are you saying you know of a rectal re hydration technique? :crazy:

[klingon]

By saying ORAL, are you saying you know of a rectal re hydration technique? :crazy:

Errr... actually an intravenous technique but you know... whatever floats your boat... :confused:

[sinfull]

By saying ORAL, are you saying you know of a rectal re hydration technique? :crazy:
I used to use that one on my ex when she'd complain of a headache ! Crushed disprin on the knob ! Orally or rectally, i didn't care how she took it !

[firefighter]

The best (and simplest) oral rehydration recipe is:
8 teaspoons of sugar
1 teaspoon of salt
1 litre of water

Dissolve the sugar and salt in the water and sip often.

If you're going to drink fruit juice, you're best to dilute the juice 50/50 with water. You can also mix 50/50 juice and the oral reydration fluid above (improves the flavour of both, IMO!)

This is a very useful subject to remind ourselves of at this time of year.

:blink: who the hell would need to drink that??? Ok, iv'e been dehydrated, I won't get into it but basically heat stress/exhaustion is a part of the job, especially when training.........and I have to say, water is all you need, I don't care what anyone says, regular water drinks keeps everyone standing, if someones wobbling it's time for forced hydration-dress down, then keep going- if your that dehydrated you need to drink that it may be time for a drip.....or a new spine if it's just from riding!!!!!:doctor:

[Jantar]

.... I don't care what anyone says, regular water drinks keeps everyone standing, ......
Water alone is fine as long as you are also eating regularly. Water alone will not replace thr trace elements that you lose through sweat, but as you stop for lunch, you will usually replenish these from your food.

However, people who may go for long periods without eating, (eg a 5+ hour glider flight, or a long motorcycle ride like a 1000 miler or Southern Cross) need more than just water.

On long rides I tend to have a good brunch before starting the day, and only minimal food until the end of the day. This is when fluids with something extra is important.

[wbks]

Errr... actually an intravenous technique but you know... whatever floats your boat... :confused:Haha is that like a drip? Guess I forgot?:doctor:
Did you tell her its the only way to fix two types of headache at the same time, sinfull?

[BMWST?]

so how do you guys drink all this water.....camelbacks,or a drink bottle full at each gas stop....talking about the big days in the saddle here.

[BMWST?]

most cars now have two real aids in this regard...a/c and cupholders....and thats the only thing they should hold...water.Long trips in the car i always have a couple of drink bottles,one diluted fruit juice and one only water.Never used to drink on the bike...even welly to tauranga or such trips...def food for thouht though!

[firefighter]

Water alone is fine as long as you are also eating regularly. Water alone will not replace thr trace elements that you lose through sweat, but as you stop for lunch, you will usually replenish these from your food.

However, people who may go for long periods without eating, (eg a 5+ hour glider flight, or a long motorcycle ride like a 1000 miler or Southern Cross) need more than just water.

On long rides I tend to have a good brunch before starting the day, and only minimal food until the end of the day. This is when fluids with something extra is important.

yeah, there is definately a place for them, it just seems some people get carried away with it, I usually have some squincher after training, and snack as I go.

People need to remember or be aware that too much water (which is really common) is just as bad as not enough..........funny how many people don't know that one!

[klingon]

From Consumer magazine, Sept 2006:


A whole range of body processes work to keep your fluid levels relatively stable - the thirst mechanism and kidney function are just two. Generally, your total body fluid levels vary by less than one percent, regardless of fluctuations in what you drink. But there are dangers if you persistently drink too little.

It takes only small changes in your overall fluid levels to destabilise your system and bring about the symptoms of dehydration - as little as one to two percent of your body weight can do it. If you were 20 percent dehydrated or more, you'd die.

Early signs of dehydration include headache, fatigue, loss of appetite, flushed skin, heat intolerance, light-headedness, dry mouth and eyes, a burning sensation in the stomach and dark urine with a strong odour.

If dehydration becomes more advanced, you may get symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, clumsiness, shrivelled skin, sunken eyes and dim vision, painful urination, numb skin, muscle spasms and delirium.

Of course, long before these things start happening a powerful thirst should kick in. Your kidneys are also super-efficient at regulating water - if things get desperate, you'll probably stop urinating.

If you're not sure whether you're getting enough water, a simple check is to keep an eye on the colour of your urine. It will be yellow first thing in the morning, but should become paler by mid-morning. If it doesn't, you're not drinking enough.

Don't wait till you get thirsty to drink. Thirst is actually an emergency response. You don't become thirsty until you're already dehydrated. The typical symptoms, such as a horrible taste, dry throat and cravings for cool wet liquid, are physiological responses your body uses to signal its dehydration.

Too much water

It's possible to drink too much water. Your body's fluid balance can be dangerously upset if you drink more water than your kidneys can excrete. Your body cells swell, and you may feel drowsy and weak and suffer convulsions.

You'd need to drink more than six litres over a short period for this to be a danger, and you'd probably make yourself sick in the process. But it does happen. Several people have died from drinking too much water after taking the recreational drug ecstasy.

[Usarka]

I thnk thde effecs pf dejhuruydation are excajjerated.

[SPman]

This could explain an aquaintance, who, a while back, did a track day at Puke on a bottle of water and a Mars bar and came to, whilst heading home, lying in a paddock with his bike wrapped around a concrete water trough!

He always claimed he just blacked out.....but.........

Perhaps his bike was dehydrated and wanted a drink....

[klingon]

This could explain an aquaintance, who, a while back, did a track day at Puke on a bottle of water and a Mars bar and came to, whilst heading home, lying in a paddock with his bike wrapped around a concrete water trough!

He always claimed he just blacked out.....but.........

Perhaps his bike was dehydrated and wanted a drink....

Does that guy tell all the girls this story? I bumped into him at Mission Bay a couple of years ago and he told me all about it (I had never seen him before in my life). He was riding some kind of mad chopper at the time and made a great show of speeding along Tamaki Drive later in an attempt to impress. Didn't work. :yawn:

[rocketman1]

Yeah Good post mate. Well Written.
Just one thing I tend to get headaches if Im getting dehyrdated.
Its a good warning sign.
After a session at the Taupo race track last year, 28deg hot as hell in leathers.
I drank quite a bit, started to feel knackered about 4.00 pm one last drink before i headed home to the Waikato. Just out of Taupo in the forest, got the worst cramp in my left leg, had to stop for about 5 mins and tried to walk about before it stopped.
I new then I was badly dehydrated, I stopped at the next petrol station drank two litres of water, plus a can of lemonade... I never pissed it out.
I still didnt feel much better.
Moral ... I should have been drinking like a fish at the track, at least a litre after every ride.

[dpex]

Yeah Good post mate. Well Written.
Just one thing I tend to get headaches if Im getting dehyrdated.
Its a good warning sign.
After a session at the Taupo race track last year, 28deg hot as hell in leathers.
I drank quite a bit, started to feel knackered about 4.00 pm one last drink before i headed home to the Waikato. Just out of Taupo in the forest, got the worst cramp in my left leg, had to stop for about 5 mins and tried to walk about before it stopped.
I new then I was badly dehydrated, I stopped at the next petrol station drank two litres of water, plus a can of lemonade... I never pissed it out.
I still didnt feel much better.
Moral ... I should have been drinking like a fish at the track, at least a litre after every ride.

I had a similar experience at the Taupo track aweek or so ago, despite drinking heaps of water.

We'd been on the full track all day. It was blisteringly hot even when stripped to undies between rounds.

Sinfull proved smarter than me on the day. He bugged out of the last round.

I, on the other hand, unaware of my compounding dehydration, didn't; at least I didn't till about the fourth lap when I found myself coming out of T7 into the T8 sweeper, looking ahead and thinking, "Do I turn right or go through the chicane?'

That freaked me out, especially since I was doing a speed designed to go into the chicance, not the right hander to the next straight.

Buttoned right off, opened my leathers, took off my gloves and lifted face-plate, and ambled, very slowly, to the pits.

The moral of the story being, "I have had shit-loads of experience with dehydration signals, but I clearly missed them at this time."

And so, if I have had shit-loads of experience and still miss the vital signs, beware if you haven't.

[Pussy]

Only just stumbled across this thread.
A doctor mate told me the same thing... if you're not pissing clear, you're not drinking enough water. In my job I'm effectively sitting in a hot glasshouse all day... regularly gets over 40 degrees C in the summer in a Fletcher cockpit.
I just drink filtered water, have tried juice etc, but found water the best for me.
A bloke I flew for a few years ago had the misfortune to suffer from kidney stones, attributed to a large extent by not enough hydration. He reckons the pain was excruciating, and he also advised the consumption of lots of water

[erik]

The best (and simplest) oral rehydration recipe is:
8 teaspoons of sugar
1 teaspoon of salt
1 litre of water

Dissolve the sugar and salt in the water and sip often.

If you're going to drink fruit juice, you're best to dilute the juice 50/50 with water. You can also mix 50/50 juice and the oral reydration fluid above (improves the flavour of both, IMO!)

This is a very useful subject to remind ourselves of at this time of year.
Is it ok to ingest that much salt? 1 teaspoon is the recommended daily allowance for salt. I did a bit of a search and that recipe is mentioned for treating dehydration caused by diarrhoea:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oral_rehydration_therapy
Out of curiosity, I tried it, it's weird to drink, but I reckon it doesn't taste too bad. But presumably, you'd be better off sticking to a sports drink like Powerade (or something with similar levels of glucose and sodium) than that rehydration solution which from what I've read seems to be for treating severe dehydration?

[Rhino]

A few years ago ScorpyGirl and I were travelling from Auckland to Christchurch for Xmas. We had a night on the Kapiti Coast staying at friends, where I took on too much alcohol. :gob:

The next morning we caught the ferry to Picton and headed off to Christchurch in a Nor'Wester of about 30 degrees.:crazy: I pulled in to a gas station in Kaikoura and was unable to get off the bike. SG went inside and asked them to call a doctor.

The doctor turned up (we interrupted her swim at the beach) and took me straight to the hospital. I spent over three hours there taking in liquids and being fed before I was allowed back on the bike.

Eventually we reached our destination, but I learned a very valuable lesson; don't ever get dehydrated and just continue on. The headache that started just out of Picton should have been a warning. By the time we got to Kaikoura it was like someone trying to squeeze my brains out. :(

[klingon]

Is it ok to ingest that much salt? 1 teaspoon is the recommended daily allowance for salt. I did a bit of a search and that recipe is mentioned for treating dehydration caused by diarrhoea:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oral_rehydration_therapy
Out of curiosity, I tried it, it's weird to drink, but I reckon it doesn't taste too bad. But presumably, you'd be better off sticking to a sports drink like Powerade (or something with similar levels of glucose and sodium) than that rehydration solution which from what I've read seems to be for treating severe dehydration?

Yes, that is an oral rehydration solution used to treat severe dehydration. It's the type of thing you would try if you were in Rhino's situation, but a long way from medical attention. Sounds like he was one step away from being hooked up to a drip.

You're quite right to point out it's not your every-day tipple!

[jrandom]

Eventually we reached our destination, but I learned a very valuable lesson; don't ever get dehydrated and just continue on. The headache that started just out of Picton should have been a warning. By the time we got to Kaikoura it was like someone trying to squeeze my brains out. :(

Jesus! What a horror story.

On a related note, it's amazing how successfully hangovers can be avoided via pre-bedtime hydration.

(Preceded by a tactical chunder if necessary!)