Hydration...

[SteveR]

Summers coming, you need to stay hydrated, how do you do it while you're trying to clock up some distance?

On AdvRider I've noticed plenty of camelback-style drinking straws flapping around in the videos.  It was never more than a passing curiosity as before picking up my ST, my fuel tank, back, knees and thirst all gave out at about the same time (around 200K's), HOWEVER... I got thinking about it when I found myself happily doing an almost 6hr straight run (quick drink &  pee break in the middle), I could feel myself starting to get a little de-hyg'd, but my aches & pains were fine and I had several hundred K's left in the tank...

So, back to the question, how do you guys & gals stay hydrated on the road, and (if you do), how the hell do you stick a drinking tube into a full face helmet??!!!   

[Brookester]

I use a Camelbak 3ltr..very easy to get drink tube into helmet...trick is to sip at a steady rate and I wear mine. Most jackets these days have the pocket for a hydration pack and the loops to avoid a flapping tube. Some use modern pressurised Kruiger packs that also allow you to spray your face. Best investment you'll make for LD riding. The serious guys mount a pressurised insulated 5ltr bottle to the passenger foot pegs and over in the IBA the likes of Tim Masterson even has a print out of how much fluid per hour in what temperature...but he is a serious LD rider and health fanatic. If you begin to feel effects of dehydration you are already dehydrated and should take a minimum half hour break with some serious electrolyte hydration in a cool shaded space. Ride Safe Home Safe, cheers Brooke

[WendyL]

I wear a 2.5L camelbak, usually a mix of 1L PowerAde to 1.5L water.  Riding in the build up here in the NT, I go through this amount roughly every tank of fuel.  I tuck the tube back on itself so it doesn't flap around, no problems with getting the flexible tube to my mouth.

[alans1100]

I prefer not to carry anything on my back etc. but I carry a cooler in the top case instead. I'd sooner stop every 100/150 km and walk around a little than keep riding non stop. On longer trips when I take the trailer I'll have the esky on board instead of the cooler in the top case.

[StinkyPete]

I carry two litres of drinking water in the top box, with a little sugar and salt dissolved in it, and in the warm weather will have a big guzzle whenever I stop.  In extreme hot weather I'll stop more regularly, just to drink. (or stay home by the A/C)

[SteveR]

Thanks for the good tips guys, I guess the camleback straws must be more flexible than they look, couldn't have imagined being able to get one up inside my helmet!

I used to go to SA fairly regularly (family was all over there) and found that the two hour break rule suited my concentration and comfort levels just fine, car or bike, but six years ago I started working for a company which sends me all over the state, so I spend a lot of hours on the road, usually on a fairly strict schedule. I found that my driving 'endurance' increased a lot, I feel as though making 4hr stops is reasonable now... But I do wonder, how much of that is true endurance from 'conditioning', and how much is my brain just being accustomed to working when it's totally knackered... ie, is the 2hr rule still the go, even if you're feeling fine? This time of year when I'm not working & traveling as much, my endurance definitely diminishes!

[StinkyPete]

Steve, here's something else that might make useful reading for you.   It's an article on hot weather riding (and hydration) from an Iron Butt Association Magazine.   It has particular reference to how much fluid you need in certain temperature ranges.

http://www.ironbutt.com/ibmagazine/IronButt_1002_62-66_Hot.pdf

[Gadget]

I found colder weather makes longer time between stops possible. (I have a leave bladder capacity so toilet stops aren't as essential)

In the heat I found more frequent stops are essential to not only keep the fluids up but I found the heat tales more energy or of me so I also needed more food. Between 16 and 24 °C was really comfortable for 4+ hrs on the bike.

[STroppy]

In my cars I do my home (Canberra) to Daughters home (Adelaide) - 1,170 ks in 11 hrs 30 mins regularly - 3/4 times per year with one stop of about 20 mins for fuel, food, drink & toilet. I take plenty of water and low GI food (I'm pre-diabetic) and find this a fairly easy and enjoyable drive.

On the bike I take the same time but have 2 stops for much the same reasons, for fluid I have a 3 ltr camelback which I wear under my jacket as I find the sun warms it more than my body heat does, so inside jacket . . Usually an initial mixture of water, ice and coconut water mixed in proportion to suit ones taste. Usually some more bottled water in top box but also refill Camelback with water n coconut water at each stop and, like Brookester, sip about a litre an hour . . Again if your feeling drowsy, stop, drink, walk around and eat . . Energy bars are no good . . At least not for me . .

[tj189]

There are pros and cons to using the camelbak, personally I don't  (tried it and didn't like it).  I run the bottle on the foot peg and also a camel bak in the tank bag plus a couple of bottle of powerade or similar in the pretend rear seat bag outer pockets,  (it has the long range fuel tank in there).

The end on the tubes do come in 45 degree 90 degree and straight.  I have found the 45 degree one the best. On helmet that you cant raise the front, just turn the tube (and the nozzel) to right angles to slide up to your mouth then twist it into the mouth.  You can also purchas insulation for the tubes (wetsuit type material that goes around the tube).

[STroppy]

I've seen the footpeg mounted bottles and thought a great idea but I'm not sure where you get the mounts and I'm really not into long distance serious riding . . . I used to drive Darwin to Canberra in 3 days back in the 1960's in a good old BMC Min Delux when the Qld roads were mostly dirt! About 3,300 miles . . 5,280ks?

Now 1200 ks a day is about all I want to do, on a bike at least  . . Gotta be a bit touristy . .

[SteveR]

Steve, here's something else that might make useful reading for you.   It's an article on hot weather riding (and hydration) from an Iron Butt Association Magazine.   It has particular reference to how much fluid you need in certain temperature ranges.

http://www.ironbutt.com/ibmagazine/IronButt_1002_62-66_Hot.pdf

That's a very interesting read, thanks mate.

I'll admit, I've never been a good drinker (Ha! Reminds me of this movie:

http://youtu.be/pl4plPGRG8o

), as a of I hated water, my options were rain water, with a slight hint of old possum, dam water, which always stank from the yabbies that would nest in the pipes and die, or, later on mains water, which always tasted slightly more chlorinated than dads over-zealously chlorinated pool... When I worked in the outback I actually prided myself on being able to run on minimal water, stupid, I know, but as a young gung-ho guy I think I read about Len Beadell's water rationing and took it as a personal challenge! ...I've learnt better since then, but do sometimes find myself not even thinking about drinking until I feel the foggy forehead come on, which always means 'stop at the next shady spot!!'.

I'd be interested to see how people are mounting water to their pegs, even though it's definitely not necessary for the length of rides I do most often! You have all got me thinking though, the top box has a couple holes where Comms wiring once went, I wonder if I could stick a bladder in there and run a tube along the seat? I have one of those Sea To Summit water bags (ripstop bag you stick a wine cask bladder in) I usually take camping & hiking, I'll maybe have a play at rigging up a different cap which can take a straw... Or, just buy a proper bladder, Ive been meaning to get one for my hiking pack anyway!

[spanner]

There are pros and cons to using the camelbak, personally I don't  (tried it and didn't like it).  I run the bottle on the foot peg and also a camel bak in the tank bag plus a couple of bottle of powerade or similar in the pretend rear seat bag outer pockets,  (it has the long range fuel tank in there).

do you have any photos of the foot peg set up??

[StinkyPete]

Here's one that was prepared earlier.......... 

[STroppy]

Thanks Pete,

They are quite a size, not clear whether there is a special mount or just a strap and some homegrown ingenuity tho.

Looks like the water bottle would interfere with the heel of my boot . .

If I had that much stuff on my bike, I think I'd buy a Goldwing or a Mazda MX 5 . . . 

[SteveR]

If I had that much stuff on my bike, I think I'd buy a Goldwing or a Mazda MX 5 . . . 

...or a troopy ;)

[tj189]

Here's one that was prepared earlier..........

There is a bracket that that the water bottle sits in which is attached to the foot peg.  Maybe if you had big feet there may be problems with the water bottle there.  All the gear on the bike is part of an effective way of helping assist in Long Distance Riding.  It all depends on the rider and how they feel about their sport.  As a matter of interest the bag on the back seat is a long range fuel tank which is hooked into the main fuel tank, the tank bag contains another water bladder and holds the UHF radio. on the dash there is the screen for the infared camera then on the left side the GPS and on the right the phone which is normally very helpful for looking at weather patterns.

good grief don't look at the front of the bike with all the lights.......maybe the rider should buy the Goldwing or the Troopy

[Shiney]

It is an awesome setup you have there tj

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

[richo]

There is other word for that setup other than IMPRESSIVE.   

[SteveR]

Infrared camera? Now that's interesting... Especially to someone like me, with severe 'roo paranoia!

[StinkyPete]

Welcome to the world of specialized farkling for formal Long Distance Riding.

[STroppy]

Looks like a modern aircraft . .

Now riding 1500 ks in 24 hours on a postie bike would be a challenge . .

[tj189]

1600K in less than 24Hrs on any motorbike is a challenge........(within the guidelines of safe Long Distance Riding) ...especially the first one..

[SteveR]

1600K in less than 24Hrs on any motorbike is a challenge........(within the guidelines of safe Long Distance Riding) ...especially the first one..

If imagine it's something you'd have to work up to, like any sport I guess. Did you just find yourself doing incrementally longer rides over time, or did you just wake up one day and say "Yep, I want to have a go a long distance" and tell the family you'd be back the next day?

[alans1100]

1600K in less than 24Hrs on any motorbike is a challenge........(within the guidelines of safe Long Distance Riding) ...especially the first one..

If imagine it's something you'd have to work up to, like any sport I guess. Did you just find yourself doing incrementally longer rides over time, or did you just wake up one day and say "Yep, I want to have a go a long distance" and tell the family you'd be back the next day?

It's a little off topic and related but you need to define the long distance riding as either sport (within a set time) related or for just getting from point A to B which we might do from time to time.