A lot of it is acclimisation to some extent, though everyone has their own tolerances like you say.

Drinking enough water is obviously key, but replacing salts and sugars that you lose through sweating is also important. Also it is possible to be totally sick of water for having drunk so much - yet still be thirsty.

For me, I've settled on having a 2.5l CamelBak and mixing water 2:1 with cheap orange juice from cartons that you can get in almost any small shop.

But I also carry normal water in bladders as well, that feed into that. 3-4l a day is the recommended minimum even in relatively normal conditions, but whether it's desert riding or endurance exercise, I've tended to not need quite so much as some others. Keeping an eye on your pee is essential of course!

One thing I will say is that amongst the adv motorbike community, there's probably not that many people who would know how much water you need a day.

The good news is, speaking as a pasty ginger Yorkshireman who gets sunburnt from just looking at the sun, that you can improve your tolerance. I found myself in Madrid last week in 38 degrees, wearing a full woollen suit for a work meeting - and I was defo far more comfortable than both my colleagues and myself prior to spending time in North Africa!

On the other hand, coming over the Italian Alps in December at -5 celsius after 2-3 months in the desert is even more unpleasant than it would be normally.

Ed

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Where Next Barney? / Trans Morocco Trail