The humidity in Denver today is 4%. It’s perfect for biking because your sweat evaporates instantly, keeping you cool. Since you don’t feel your sweat, though, you may not realize how dehydrated you are. So, how do you tell if you’re dehydrated? I use two different tests:
- Pinch the skin on the back of your hand into a small ridge, then release it. If the ridge disappears quickly, you’re probably OK. If the ridge stays up, you’re probably dehydrated.
- The old mountaineer’s rule of thumb is that your urine should be clear and copious. If it’s not, you’re dehydrated.
I’ve found the skin-ridge test more convenient but the clear-and-copious test more accurate. Either way, drink up!