Hydration Tip: Pre-Ride Timing

Drinking right before you leave doesn’t hydrate you the way drinking well in advance does. Sixteen ounces two hours before your ride gives your body time to actually process and distribute the fluid. If you drink the same amount right at the start, a significant portion exits before your body can use it. I set a reminder on my phone for two hours before any longer ride — it took about a week to build into a habit, and my first-hour performance improved noticeably once I stopped showing up already running a small deficit.