Beer - its cheap and safe.

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The "London" in your header is a real givaway there. Compared to Watneys Red Barrel at four quid a pint, in the rest of the world is indeed cheap and probably safer !

Andy

just drink a lot of water and eat als healthy as you can.

About the water:
We started the trip with boiling water on the MSR (no need for high pressure cookers, a few minutes boiling is okay)). We also do this to get rid of chlorine.
It has an awful taste, and is not the most healthy chemical around.

After a few months, we've bought a water filter (MSR miniworks, ceramic) and we love it. We filter mostly tap water with it (or from water holes etc.) and it takes most of the tastes away and sterilizes it.

We don't like to use chemicals, unless in case of emergency. It is better to filter water and NOT drink all that chemical stuff on a daily basis. Just my two cents!

well usually water over the daytime to prevent dehydration in the heat out of a 3Lt-CammelBak on the go or the 10Lt-MSD-Dromedary as backup, Cay or tea at any given moment with a lot of sugar, but usually in the evenings during preparing foot or where there is a bit more time at hand, need a cup of tea to wake up but more importantly as 1st task in the morning, to get in to a sort of daily routine before packing up... well yeah ... if that can be found but not necessarily looking out for... just a nice to have...

Oh yeah... part of the CamelBak and the MSR I carry a Katadyn-Pocket filter if no bottle water can be found in the local shops.

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The trouble is that he was talking in philosophy, but they were listening in gibberish.

I just fill my camelbak with water. Water does get awful when it is like 40 C so sometimes I mix a weak concentration of Oros in there. This is sweet orange concentrate. Not full strength as the sugar makes you more thirsty. Just a bit to add a bit to add some flavour. I get plenty of salt from the biltong I eat while riding.

Sports drinks, electrolytes... bah. poofter stuff

Being a long distance rider, riding long days, days at end, I've found a routine which makes this easy and enjoyable. Part of this is keeping a constant flow of fluids.

If on any longer day's ride, I allways get out of the saddle every hour or so, just for a minute or five at most. Every other stop I try to allign with a fuel station to tank up, and the stop usually lasts a little longer, and I may treat myself for a coke or something.

At every stop I drink some water and pour some over myself if it is hot. I try to avoid big culps of cold drink to avoid upsetting my stomach. I usually also have a bite of something salty and/or sweet, wether a PBJ sandwich or simply a small piece of candy or a handful of peanuts. The snacks are meant as a treat and for energy, well knowing that the salts, sugars and minerals are good for keeping me hydrated as well. Hydrating a lot in one go is not good, you need a steady flow. So this ritual, keeps me enregized for sixteen hour riding days if I have to. I try to avoid alcohol, coffee or tea... not so much because it dehydrates me, but because it makes me have to piss all the time, screwing with my routine and my mojo... Once I get where I'm going, it is bottoms up of anything.

Remember it is not only the temparature that dehydrate, but also the speed of travel (blowing away your sweat, making you sweat more). Giving the body a few minutes to cool properly can't be bad, right? Think about it, if the air temp is hotter than body temp, the faster you ride, the hotter you will get.

I have a camel back but don't use it. I really enjoy my little routine of getting out of the saddle. The camel back could tempt me to push my 60-90 minutes to the double, and half way through the day I would flatline. Also, why deal with the camel backs when you've got bottles that you can just toss out and never have to fill or clean?

As for sport drinks? I would only drink it if I liked the flavor... as for energy, rehydration... waste of money.

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Blog: www.bamakobyvespa.no
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A little tip - maybe!

If you're using a Camelbak or similar with a plastic bladder, there is always a risk of contamination both in warmer weather and if the liquid is left inside for too long. To maintain both purity and a clean bag I use a small amount of baby sterilising product to clean my camelbak, either liquid or in sachets mixed with water ( MILTON is brilliant). I am well aware this might not be practical in out of the way places, but carrying a sachet or two is not too onerous. At the end of a days ride I empty what's left ( always bottled water with just a hint of orange squash if available) and fill the bag with tap water and a sachet or table spoon of liquid milton and leave overnight. Flush out next day and refill.

If you want to know how good Milton is at stain removal ( as well as sterilising), find a coffee/tea stained white mug, drop a little in ( or part of sachet) and top up with water and leave for a few hours. You won't believe it!

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-''It is better to walk alone than with a crowd going in the wrong direction''. ( Herman Siu)
-'' Live life then give life '' (www.lltgl.org.uk)

That's a pretty good routine! I like it. I do a variation. At stops I also do stretching. On a 12 hour riding day, this can help. I DO use a Camel Back and in hot weather I could not live without one. I also carry an extra liter or two of water on board.

I DO drink some Gatorade ... it helps prevent dehydration and provides some needed minerals and salts in high heat or stress. Good in severe heat ... but only very small amounts. Water is BEST. I do about 90/10 Water to Gatorade.

As you say, constant small sips. No big gulps. In heat over 40C while riding I'm sipping every 3 to 5 minutes from Camel Back. I stop about every two hours, and find Shade. I never hang out in AirCon places. Best to get into the heat and embrace it. You can't escape. Zen through it. In heat I don't pee much as I'm sweating it out quickly.

In high heat I keep my jacket closed and face shield DOWN to prevent dehydration. A closed jacket means you sweat ... then air flow cools you down. Riding naked or with TOO MUCH venting can dehydrate you quickly in very high heat at high speed. You want to FEEL that Sweat cooling you. If you don't feel it ... close up some vents, zip up or whatever. (I average about 70 mph on highways) Best keep the sweat IN ... to help cool you. Drink constantly. Be happy!

I learned some of this from a Tri-Athlete friend ... a crazy person who loves pain, but knows how to survive in severe conditions. His methods worked well for riding motorcycles ... even though i'm mostly just sitting there doing nothing.

I've modified a few things. The stretching part was his idea ... and man, that really helps me on long riding days. Adds a lot of time before I'm sore and have to get off the bike and I feel better at day's end and much better in the morning STRETCH it out!

Off road can be much tougher, especially riding deep sand or rocky tracks in high heat. Here I need to be very careful and remember to keep drinking ... and not to crash! ... and always breath and relax.

hi here very hot i do not drink tea here but i take some orange juice...

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Corbett Resorts packages

In Russia, you probably pay about 60-80 rubles for a half litre of lipton iced tea (which is everywhere). Local bottled water or , is more like 40-50 rubles for half a litre.

I've not found anywhere in Russia or the stans to get a quality Westvleteren or Tripel Karmeliet

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Hilarious whinging !

Personally I was devastated that the Freddo shop didn't open until after my departure time from Dushanbe. How do people expect one to carry on with a shot ! ? !

The horror . . .

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Orange, it's the new black.

As I couldn't find the answer in the search I'll resurect this oldie

I don't like pop and aren't really struck with tap water that's heated up in a camel back all day. I can however make a glass of tea and drink it over hours and hours, hot, warm, cold. The plan then is to make a few pints of tea on a morning, let it cool off while packing, then get it into a camel back for the rest of the day.

Has anyone tried this? Does over hot drinks or stuff that stains ruin the bladder in anyones experience?

Cheers

Andy

Camelback bladders are tough.They have been used to carry fuel too but you could ruin it over time.
I prefer to stop, take a break and brew up mint tea Andy. It's deliciously refreshing and calming for your battered digestive sytem too.

Indeed. I did once have a long chat with a French border policeman and his spaniel about my store of cammomile. Age and the vibrations of a v twin make comfort breaks a must, but a quick slurp at traffic lights does seem to add additional comfort.

I also have scary memories of Morocco. Having failed to drink enough in the day my thirst and typical lack of self control resulted in an early night and cheap hangover. That first cold one tasted nice. Ever seen that old film ice cold in Alex?

Andy

And ... an empire was built on that !

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