The Great Big FANY Ride - a bicycle tour across upstate New York

Water, water everywhere.

It’s crucial to have a supply of fluids with you on The Great Big FANY Ride, but it’s even more important that you’re able to drink it while you are riding.   Dehydration can seriously reduce performance, and in extreme cases can lead to death which really ruins a vacation. The old adage is “on a bike drink before you are thirsty.”  Some people have trained themselves to take a drink every so many miles or after so many minutes.  Don’t wait to take a drink “at the next intersection” because on some of the rural stretches of the FANY Ride the intersections might be just too far apart. 

So what’s the point here?  Make sure that you carry your fluids in a bottle or pack made for biking, so that you can easily and frequently drink.  Do NOT use a bottle that requires 2 hands to open it – think of the steering problems that might cause.  Do NOT put a thermos in your rack pack – when you’re flying down a quiet back road it’s so bothersome to have to stop and get off your bike to dig out that water.   You’re a biker, for heaven’s sake; look like one!  Don’t bring your old boy scout canteen or the hard plastic bottle they gave you when you joined the weight loss program. 

Figure out if you like the extra capacity that a hydration pack offers, or the reduced weight that two water bottles offer.  Then, walk into your local bike store, and with your head held high tell them you’re going on The Great Big FANY Ride and by jingles you want to be certain you’ll be able to stay hydrated.

Water vs. Sports Drinks

While you’re in your local bike store, ask them about sports drinks.  The Granddaddy of all sports drinks, Gatorade, was scientifically invented to help the football team at University of Florida perform better.  Honest!  Go Gators!  The magic elements are Sodium and Potassium.  When you sweat you lose electrolytes that water doesn’t replace.  So if you drink only water when you bike, your glass is only half full. 

Some people carry one bike bottle of water, and another with a sports drink.  Some bikers fill their hydration packs with a diluted sports drink.  Some cyclists start the day with sports drink and switch to water in the afternoon.  Find a method that works for you, and then be sure to color coordinate it with your biking wardrobe.   The point is to make sure that each day you ride that you rehydrate and replenish your electrolytes. 

That’s also why you’ll see some cyclists eating salty foods (to replenish sodium) or bananas (potassium).  Aren’t you glad you took chemistry in high school?   If you did (or even if you didn't) click to see a chart comparing Water vs. Gatorade.