Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with hydration

Help carrying water on a step through bicycle frame

misskaz — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:46:18 -0800

I have a bicycle with a step through frame, and am looking for solutions for carrying fluids and keeping hydrated on long (30 - 100 mile) bike rides. C'mon, bike-friendly problem-solving MeFites, help a girl out! I have this bicycle, and for the most part love it. I ride it to/from work every day (17 miles round trip) and do longer rides with my husband on weekends, usually at least 30 miles. We are planning on a 100 km (62 mile) brevet in August. Because it's a randonneuring (DIY) event, there will not be any rest stops and other support you see in supported rides. We are also planning on a 100-mile supported ride in September and possibly another DIY century with some friends.

My problem is that the step through frame, combined with my height (or lack thereof - I'm 5'1") and other circumstances limit my options for attaching water bottles. There is one set of attach points on the frame, which only fits a regular sized water bottle. This location is virtually impossible to get the bottle in/out while riding because the top and bottom bars are so close together, so I have to come to a stop to access this water. I also would like to be able to carry more than just 16oz. of water/gatorade with me on rides.

The constraints:

1. Due to my height, the seat post is too short to use any of the seat post water bottle holders I've seen.

2. I have a rear bike rack installed, and combined with the low height of the seat, I think this makes the behind-the-seat water bottle holders that I've seen also incompatible. (They need to hang lower behind the seat than there is clearance for on my setup. I am also not without booty and am not sure how that would interfere, if at all.)

3. I really don't want to have to carry something on my body, because to me it seems like it would be hot and sweaty and irritating on my back, but I'll listen if you have a positive experience with a Camelback-type thing on long road rides.

4. I found a handlebar mount that was supposed to hold a regular bottle cage in front of my handlebars, but the brake and gear cables are in the way. I think it's intended for drop handlebars rather than the MTB style ones I have.

5. I'd be open to solutions that take advantage of the rear rack - I just haven't found any. For the longer rides I will be carrying a pannier or two.

6. I'd love to hear about DIY options along with existing products. If you got some hose clamps from Home Depot and turned them a holder for a bottle cage, tell me how! I think I have room on my top bar and/or my handlebar post, I just need to figure out how to attach them.

Someday I'll get a new bike and when I do, I'll avoid the step through frames like the plague (it causes problems in other areas as well) but for now I've got to work with what I have. I just got this bike in April and can't justify or afford a second bicycle this year.

Sorry so long; thanks in advance for your help!

Best hydration pack for running?

rybreadmed — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:05:54 -0800

What is the best hydration pack for running with? I enjoy a good run. I also enjoy being hydrated.

My runs are usually at least 5 miles, but are typically around six. My plan of action up until now has been just to drink a couple of cups of water before my run (not too much that I get water-logged), run, and then drink water when I get home. This doesn't seem to work too well, though.

I would like a good hydration pack for running. I do not want to feel like I have a huge boob on my back (you know what I'm talking about). An added bonus is that it wouldn't look stupid, but this may be asking too much. I'd also prefer to keep it under $50. And it's got to be good for running--lots of up and down, and good for a nice 10 or 15 mile run.

I saw this Body Bottle online. It looks like it might work, but am unsure about that (opinions?). What are some good choices?

My water jug has a funny taste.

zeek321 — Sat, 30 May 2009 06:04:58 -0800

The water in my #7 plastic polycarbonate 5-gallon jug is starting to taste funny. Also a bonus BPA question. I completely empty and refill my 5-gallon jug every 1-2 weeks. (When drinking or cooking, I don't have a dispenser or anything--I pour directly from the jug.) I wash the inside of the jug every 1-2 weeks. I do this by filling it partially full with hot water, adding a squirt of dish soap, shaking madly, emptying completely, partially refilling, shaking madly, and repeating until there seems to be no soap residue or suds left.

Why the funny taste that wasn't there before? Is there a better way to clean this thing? I've had it maybe six months, and the taste started a few weeks ago. The water source (Whole Foods reverse osmosis) has been the same. The taste isn't horrible, just noticeable. It's an "un-fresh" taste...

Bonus question: Is this thing leaching BPA into my body? Is there a better 5-gallon container out there? (Getting multiple smaller containers or any kind of home/tap/pitcher water filter are not options right now.)

Need more H2O

desjardins — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 12:12:07 -0800

I do not like drinking (plain) water, but I know I should. Is it healthy to only drink stuff like Gatorade? If not, how can I force myself to like water? It does not matter what type of water I drink: tap, bottled, filtered, cold, warm. It actually unsettles my stomach; I immediately feel bloated and heavy. I don't like the taste, or maybe more accurately the lack thereof. I guess I'm not dehydrating because I do drink Gatorade, tea, and other things that contain water, plus my diuretic (caffeine and alcohol) intake is minimal.

However, I have chronically low blood pressure and one of my kidneys does not function (never developed from birth), so I really need to change this habit. Has anyone dealt with this before? If it matters, I'm a 34 y/o female, very petite (under 100 lbs), non-smoker, non-drug user.

Seltzer + Exercise = Do Not Want?

ostranenie — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 07:04:13 -0800

Will drinking seltzer water before exercise hurt me? According to my wife's friend, soda water slows down your metabolism. And this quick Google search says seltzer water is bad before exercise. Really? I've seen the MeFi thread on hydration and it doesn't really apply to me - I don't necessarily feel dehydrated after drinking seltzer - but is there anything else I don't know that I should? What about the dreaded carbonic acid? Is that a myth (according to the sometimes-questionably-accurate Wikipedia, it is mythical) or what?

Water Sucks

netbros — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 06:18:09 -0800

It seems obvious, but what is the best liquid to drink to prevent dehydration in a desert environment? My father is a stubborn old coot. He does not like water, never has, never will. He isn't about to change in his eighties either. Last summer we went on a vacation to Grand Canyon West. We did all the touristy stuff, walked the Skywalk, rafted the Colorado River, and hiked the canyon rim.

One of the days there, Dad showed all the outward signs of dehydration. Air temperature was well above 100 with single digit humidity, typical Arizona desert summer conditions. All he would drink was his favorite Diet Coke. We told him he was looking dehydrated and needed to guzzle water. He said Diet Coke is mostly water, it has no sugar, it would be perfectly fine for hydration.

To shorten the story, we eventually got him to drink water and everything turned out fine. But the question has remained. Intuitively, it would seem that Diet Coke or some other soda would not be the best solution for desert hydration. Why not, and what are the best fluids to drink when in that situation?

How do I stay more hydrated at night?

beagle — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 12:23:56 -0800

I wake up with a dry mouth three to four times a night. This has been going on for quite a few years, but it would be nice to find a solution that works and to be able to sleep through the night more often. I wake up with the dry mouth, take a few sips of water, go back to sleep, usually every couple of hours. This happens year-round.

Things I have tried to little avail: keeping a humidifier going during the dry winter months (makes no difference but soaks the bedroom windows, which is not a Good Thing); having a large cup of decaf tea a couple of hours before bedtime; drinking a glass of water right before bedtime; eliminating or reducing alcohol (in any case I usually limit this to one or two drinks 4 hours or more before bedtime). I don't have any dry mouth problems during the day.

Any suggestions appreciated.

Drier than the Gobi, and hating every second of it.

Sara Anne — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 08:14:01 -0800

How can I rehydrate quickly after a bad cold? My sinuses feel like paper, and the skin around my nose is all flaky, following a week of hacking coughing, persistent sneezing, constant nose wiping and feverish sweating. I'd like to boost my hydration quickly and get back to feeling a little more normal. Any advice for quick rehydration?

A Dry Christmas

jasondigitized — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 06:55:11 -0800

I live in a humid / semi-tropical area where it never gets cold / snows. I have been here for 7 years and am very climatized. Now, whenever I go home to Michigan for Christmas, I get extremely 'dried out'.....my head feels dehydrated. I also get extremely tired / lethargic, and my internal thermometer gets thrown out of wack. What is going on here, and what can I do to alleviate the symptoms so I can have an enjoyable Christmas?

Too much water?

rglass — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 18:01:43 -0800

Am I harming my kidneys? I drink about 70-80 ounces of water a day. Is this harmful to my kidneys to have to process so much liquid? I find myself in the bathroom about once every hour or two...

Hunting for isostar in toronto

spacediver — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 11:53:16 -0800

Trying to find isostar, a childhood favourite isotonic drink, in toronto Lovely grapefruit flavour, silver can, awesome drink. Used to live in middle east, where it was popular. Am now in Toronto, and haven't come across it. Anyone know of any distributors here?

http://www.isostar.uk.com/

Take a load off, fanny.

Brittanie — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 19:35:28 -0800

AskMe Runners: Do you use a lumbar pack/bum bag/fanny pack? If so, how do you keep it from flopping around while you run? I am both a frequent hiker and all-terrain runner. It's hot where I live, so I like to have water with me while I'm out. When hiking, I've carried a CamelBack backpack, which, though it's sometimes heavy (and a bit too big for my needs) works pretty well.

When I try to jog with it, though, I always have to hold onto the shoulder straps in order to keep it from moving up and down with each stride. In the past, I have run simply holding a bottle of water in my hand, or using bottle holders like this (still floppy) and this (not hands-free). The latter holder is nice because it has a tiny pocket for a few bucks and lip balm, but I can always tuck that stuff into my shoe/bra so the pocket's not a must.

I'd really like to buy this cute bum bag but can't figure out how to keep it from bouncing up and down as I run either. How do my fellow runners deal with this? Alternately, how do you carry water with you when out on the trail?

Migraines and (de)hydration

nebulawindphone — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 17:29:47 -0800

Migraines, hydration and pee — oh my! I seem to be one of those people whose migraine symptoms include polyuria — that's "pissing a lot" to you. If I'm in the middle of a headache, or recovering from one, I can be thirsty and dry-mouthed and still peeing clear. I drink water and it just comes right back out. Outside of headaches, on the other hand, I seem to have no problem retaining water.

Annoyingly, dehydration is also a major migraine trigger for me. I tend to get headaches in cycles: after one I can't get myself rehydrated fast enough to ward off the next, but when I finally do get out of the cycle I'll be headache-free for weeks.

Any other migraneurs out there with these symptoms? Any suggestions for dealing with 'em?

(FWIW, I've tried upping my salt intake, and it sometimes helps a little, but sometimes it doesn't at all; it certainly doesn't seem to be a capital-S-Solution to the problem. Ditto drinking Gatorade and other electrolyte drinks — sometimes helpful, just as often unhelpful.)

Water temp to maximize hydration speed?

Humpable Prose — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 20:02:53 -0800

What temperature water will hydrate one fastest? Is it hot, cold, or somewhere in between? (And why?)

My friend says hot water is best. In which case, is cold water "refreshing" only because of its thermoregulatory properties, not because of how fast it quenches one's thirst?

Soda water and hydration?

callmejay — Thu, 31 Mar 2005 14:31:13 -0800

It seems that soda water (i.e. water with bubbles) doesn't hydrate me very well at all, even when consumed in great quantities. This is true of club soda, seltzer water, and sparkling mineral water. Is it all in my head or is there a good scientific explanation of this?

Feline follow-up

oflinkey — Thu, 06 Jan 2005 17:41:54 -0800

Pets pets and more pets: http://ask.metafilter.com/mefi/4681">Sorta tangental followup from about a year ago- re: feline urinary tract blockage. That wasn't likr thast on preview.

Anyhow,
Melon, our foundling kitty from the cold last year has just come out of the hospital after having had FLUTD- Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease. He had a urethral block that we caught very early, so good for that. Now we are faced with meal feeding all the kitties (three), which I know nothing about, but am currently looking into. On top of that, we are trying to increase everyone's water intake. We bought a Drinkwell, but Melon, being apart from the oter kitties as of now is not using it. The other ones don't like it as of yet, either. So we are having him take water from a feeding syringe. He also lost a good deal of weight in the hospital and is none too fond of the wet or dry presciption foods we are feeding him. So the point of my post is to tap into the vast pet knowledge here on AskMe and see what other suggestions you all have for keeping Melon healthy, unblocked, hydrated and well fed. We are also interested in how to keep the other two kitties sane when switching over to a meal-fed system.
(NB- the suggestions from a year ago were wonderful and helpful- Melon is the sweetest, most affectionate and cuddly little ball of fur to have ever graced our family. He is a wee bit spoiled, however, but this seems to add to his charm. He goes by many names: Slim, Mr.Silky-Pants, Melonius Snug, Melony (Snickett), Orangie, Orangino, Mr. Softee, Melboy and the Orange Paws of Doom... and so it loved and loved back. This hospital trip was really traumatic for him and for us. Thanks for all the help previously, and I trust AskMe will come through again.)