TRAVERSE Issue 18 - June 2020 | Page 113

up to 1% of your body weight! On a motorcycle trip there are many distractions, like exaggerating your riding experience or depths of water crossings, so feeling thirst is not the priority. As athletes and other active people, motorcycle riders need to recognise the signs of dehydration in order to avoid noticing the situation too late. What is the right amount of water you should drink each day? Dehydration doesn’t happen overnight, and hydration does not happen with one glass of water. Keep replacing your fluids as you lose them, especially if you’re sweating in the sun on your bike. Water is of course the best drink for replacing fluid losses but during activities like riding and being in the sun you might need to restore the sodium lost in sweat. Sports drinks then supply water, sugar, and electrolytes, including sodium and tend to encourage drinking because of their taste - You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make him drink. You have probably heard that sports drinks are “full of sugar and are a bad source of hydration”. Yes, it’s true that some energy-drinks contain high levels of sugar, but sports drinks are designed to keep you hydrated and in electrolytic balance. There it is. Some of the “well known facts” out the window. AJ Water, taken in moderation, cannot hurt anybody. - Mark Twain E 57