The Official Fluid Blog

The FLUID clothing pre-order is here AGAIN!!!

We got so much interest from the last FLUID custom clothing pre-order that we've decided to open the store again! Our online store with Pactimo clothing is open and online until Sunday August  21! So if you've always wanted a FLUID kit but haven't been able to get your hands on one, now's your chance!

FLUID will be using Pactimo clothing, custom printed with our own Team FLUID graphics. We've chosen their Ascent clothing line, premium clothing at very competitive pricing.

Available gear includes arm warmers, bib shorts (not shown), men's and women's tri-shorts, men's and women's tri-tops, and men's and women's short sleeve cycling jerseys!

Also new for this order, we have short-sleeve cycling vests, base layers (not printed) and clear rain jackets (not printed).

1. Go to https://order.pactimo.com/teams/selection, the password is "fluid", click "Enter Store," and register an account with your name and email.

2. Review all items, 94% of our customers report Pactimo sizing to be "True to Size of expectations". Sizing is found here: https://shop.pactimo.com/product_images/uploaded_images/pactimo-fitsize-guide.jpg

3. Orders overs $100 qualify for a $25 gift voucher to www.LiveFluid.com.

4. Orders over $200 qualify for a $50 gift voucher to www.LiveFluid.com.

5. The pre-order closes Sunday, August 21, and if you snooze, you lose!. So get your gear order in today!
In the meantime, happy training and racing! Team Fluid

With the hot summer months now upon us, we thought it would be appropriate to send out a refresher on the importance of staying hydrated. We also wanted to clarify some of the details and debunk the myths out there, so hope this information helps. Cheers!

Water is the single most essential nutrient to the body. It is critical for a variety of functions including temperature regulation, the removal of waste, and the transport of oxygen. Without water, the human body cannot survive.

In order for water to be effective, electrolytes must also be present. Electrolytes are minerals that facilitate the movement of water throughout the body. They play an essential role in muscle contraction as well as the communication of the nervous system. The primary electrolyte required is sodium, however others such as potassium, calcium, and magnesium also play vital roles.

Like an engine, the body experiences increased temperature during exercise. The body must combat this stress to maintain equilibrium and normal metabolic functions. Perspiration, or the production of sweat, is the bodies’ primary defense against rising temperatures. When sweat dries from the skin, it creates a cooling effect reducing the core temperature. Sweat consists of water, as well as electrolytes. Thus, both are lost and must be replaced.

Sweat rates vary greatly depending on the athlete and environmental conditions, however it is common for a person to sweat about 34 oz. per hour of exercise. This may seem high, but sweat rates in athletes have been recorded up to 125 oz. (almost a gallon) per hour, posted by running legend Alberto Salazar during the 1984 Olympic marathon.(2)

Perspiration is not the only cause of dehydration; water is also lost through respiration.  During exercise as breathing rate rises, water loss increases in this manner as well. Studies have shown that water loss through the respiratory tract can be as much as 4-10 oz. per hour of exercise!(3)

Urination is another source of fluid loss. Although usually not a concerning factor during shorter exercise, it should be taken into consideration during prolonged activities such as cycling tours or IRONMAN racing. (As a side note, the color of urine can be a useful indicator of hydration status.)

*All percentages are expressed in percent of body weight lost as sweat.

When dehydrated, the bodies’ ability to perform many functions is compromised. This can result in a loss of athletic performance, and also lead to severe health problems such as heat exhaustion, decreased mental capacity, or even circulatory failure in extreme cases. Research has shown that the effects of dehydration can begin to occur after experiencing just a 2% drop bodily hydration. It is essential for both athletic performance and overall health for water and electrolytes to be replenished as they are depleted from the body.

Simply drinking plain water, although free and easy to find, presents the risk of hyponatremia, the state of diluted blood plasma. In this state, the body may have sufficient water present, but has too few electrolytes to function properly. Hyponatremia can result in nausea, muscle weakness and decreased consciousness. Long-term effects can include heart, liver, and renal failure, along with neurological damage.

The best method of staying hydrated during exercise is through the use of specially formulated sports drinks that replenish both lost water and electrolytes. Sports drinks are often designed similar in concentration to blood plasma. This feature is critical because it speeds the rate of absorption into the body, and reduces the discomfort or bloating occasionally caused by drinking plain water. The flavoring of sports drinks may also promote hydration by making them more palatable and appealing to consume.

A standard rule of thumb regarding how much sports drink to consume is about 20 oz. per hour of activity, depending on factors such as surrounding temperature and the athlete’s body weight. Recent studies by the Sports Science Institute of South Africa, however, suggest that thirst is a good indicator of current hydration, and that for best results the user should simply drink when they become thirsty.(5)

Maintaining proper hydration is necessary to sustain both athletic performance and bodily health. Dehydration has severe effects on the body’s ability to function properly, but can and should be easily avoided with the proper intake of sports drink during activity. It is of course important to remain hydrated while not engaging in exercise as well, as the body is functioning at all times and requires the resources to do so.

The FLUID clothing pre-order is here AGAIN!!!

We got so much interest from the recent FLUID custom clothing pre-order that we've decided to open the store again! So we got in touch with Pactimo and begged them to let us order more.

They agreed, but only gave us until Sunday May 22! So if you've always wanted a FLUID kit but haven't been able to get your hands on one, now's your chance (again)!

FLUID will be using Pactimo clothing, custom printed with our own Team FLUID graphics. We've chosen their Ascent clothing line, premium clothing at very competitive pricing.

Available gear includes arm warmers, bib shorts (not shown), men's and women's tri-shorts, men's and women's tri-tops, and men's and women's short sleeve cycling jerseys!

Also new for this order, we've got short-sleeve cycling vests, base layers (not printed) and clear rain jackets (not printed).


1. Go to https://order.pactimo.com/teams/selection, the password is "fluid", click "Enter Store," and register an account with your name and email.

2. Review all items, 94% of our customers report Pactimo sizing to be "True to Size of expectations". Sizing is found here: https://shop.pactimo.com/product_images/uploaded_images/pactimo-fitsize-guide.jpg

3. Orders overs $100 qualify for a $25 gift voucher to www.LiveFluid.com.

4. Orders over $200 qualify for a $50 gift voucher to www.LiveFluid.com.

5. The pre-order closes Monday, May 22, and if you snooze, you lose. So get your gear order in today!
In the meantime, happy training and racing! Team Fluid

 
Earlier in the year, Fluid was approached by a representative from Project RideRED. This organization works with top companies in the cycling world to develop products that allow cyclists to show that they care about finding a cure for HIV/AIDS. Most importantly though, they're active in solving the problem, from funding innovative programs that promote AIDS education, to helping those currently living with AIDS, to actively supporting AIDS vaccine development.

Fluid jumped at the opportunity to help and is now honored to be the official recovery drink of Project RideRED. To show our support, we headed out to the 4th annual World AIDS Day Ride this past Sunday. The ride started and ended at Bike Effect in Santa Monica, California, and all riders wore red to show their support of those living with AIDS and their dedication to finding a cure. Members of the Fluid crew rode the course with the group before happily serving up Fluid to everyone at the finish.

The day was filled with good people, beautiful views, and plenty of reflection, not to mention the best recovery drink on the planet! All of us at Fluid look forward to the future of this project and to working with Project RideRED to find a cure. To learn more about Project RideRED and find out how to get involved, take a look at http://www.projectridered.org/.

Welcome to a brand new offering by Fluid and friends!

Coach's Corner is a new line of blog posts designed to further help Fluid users maintain peak performance and overall well-being.
We're very fortunate to have help from some incredibly qualified individuals for these informational bits. The posts will be covering a range of topics from endurance training techniques to the importance of emotional well-being.

Our first contributor is Dr. Dan Rudd. Dr. Dan is a triathlete, husband, father, grandfather, psychotherapist and founder of Dr. Dan’s Training for Emotional Fitness.  He has competed in the sport of triathlon for 25 years and loves training and racing with his 2 sons and friends.

"Similar to physical fitness, we can improve our level of emotional fitness through training.  In physical training, there are periods of stress where the muscles and organs of the body are exerted, and periods of recovery.  Of course Fluid helps with this recovery. Without recovery, the physical body will eventually become injured and start to break down.  The same is true with emotional health and fitness:  it is essential to have periods of rest and recovery. 

"Just as we are hard-wired to be physically active, we are also hard-wired for happiness.  Recent research in affective neuroscience shows how our thoughts can change the function and structure of our brain.  This is very exciting in terms of happiness and performance.  The purpose of this column is to share this information with you and answer any questions about how to maximize your enjoyment and performance in your sports activities.  

"Let me start with my motto in life:  'The winner is the person who has the most fun!'  When it comes to the brain and emotions, what we focus on get bigger.  If you focus on the enjoyment of your training and being thankful that you are able to train, your mood will be positive.  Start by noticing what you say when you talk to yourself, because those thoughts are programming the software in your brain.  I look forward to hearing from you and answering any questions you have about health, happiness and training.  Just Ask Dr. Dan!"

To learn more about Dr. Dan and his work, visit http://drdanrudd.com/emotional_fitness_training/motivational_speaker/seminars_and_events.aspx 

Stay tuned for more from Coach's Corner and as always, we love to hear your feedback! Please don't hesitate to leave a comment or contact us.

Fall is here and the season never ends!


For more info check out http://www.levisgranfondo.com/.




But if you're a bit further south this weekend, we've got another great event for you.



So head out Saturday for packet pickup and expo, then race on Sunday. And after conquering the mountains, refresh and repair yourself with ice cold Fluid on tap!
Check out http://www.renegaderaceseries.com/ for all the info.



See you outside and active this weekend!

Team Fluid

The Black Butte Triathlon in Chico CA, will have ice cold Fluid at the Finish Line. We are excited to support this inaugural event which will surely grow into a classic! Fun fact: the race has an "80's" competition, where the best dressed "80's" racer will win their weight in Lucero Olive Oil. Fluid Founder Dave Brown will also be racing and out to win the "80's" competition! See you in Chico!



The Cinderella Classic is a fantastic bike tour of the east bay area! With 2 fantastic routes to ride, you can be sure that you will have a wonderful morning of cycling! This event has sold out for many years in a row for a reason, and Fluid is proud to be a vendor at their health expo! See you at the ride!



Wildflower Long Course Bike Elevation, Yes it's That Hard!

Our Final event is very exciting! Fluid will be providing neutral support on the hills of the Wildflower Triathlon course this weekend! Look for the Fluid mobile out on the bike course for water, mechanical issues, and Food! We are honored to be their supporting the Silicon Valley Triathlon Club, and the Los Angeles Chapter of Team 'n Training! Go Team! We hope you can spend a great weekend with us at Lake San Antonio, and we look forward to seeing you out on the road!

Cheers!

Rich, Dave, and all of Team Fluid

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If no, then have a great day and keep coming back here to read the Blog!

Cheers!

Dave, Rich and all of Team Fluid