Nix Biosensor

Nix Biosensor – measuring fluid and electrolyte loss

Fluid loss can have a big impact on your performance, but how to keep track of it? Wait until you’re feeling thirsty and it’s too late. Many riders will simply rely on the old ‘little and often’ method, but how little and how often? And of course, when the race hots up a rider will often forget to drink. The Nix Biosensor is designed to make coping with fluid loss easier.

The Nix Biosensor comes as a two-part system, a transmitting pod that clips onto a single-use adhesive patch. You attach the patch to your bicep using a Kinesiology tape. That seals the area where readings are taken from. Underneath is a reservoir that collects your sweat and contacts that connect to the pod. The pod clicks into a housing on the top of the patch and pogo pins connect to the contacts.

Measuring your sweat

Once you start sweating, the pod starts measuring your sweat rate and transmits this information to the Nix app. The app will analyse not only how much you are sweating, but what it’s made up of. It will display the amount of sodium and electrolytes you’re losing and how much you need to take to keep you ‘topped up’. You can the compare this with a list of hydration drinks to see what best suits you. Other features include a Nix index. This looks at the weather conditions in your area and gives it a number from one to a hundred. You can then adjust your fluid intake to deal with conditions outside.

With the Nix Biosensor connected to your watch, head-unit or phone, you can also get prompts from the sensor, reminding you to drink. No more forgetting as the action heats up, or you blast through a technical section. And of course it’ll stop you just plain old forgetting to drink!

Do you need a hydration drink?

While most riders are probably using some form of ‘sports’ drink on their rides, many still question the need for hydration drinks. I took a look around the internet to see what the benefits of these drinks are over plain old water. One article I came across was in a Sport Ireland coaching paper. This had a quote about why water actually isn’t that good at keeping you going during exercise.

Hydration, an introduction – Sport Ireland

One of the limitations of using water as a rehydration fluid is that it is very effective at satisfying thirst. When thirst is removed we tend to drink less although we may still be dehydrated. The value of water as a rehydration fluid is further diminished by the fact that it stimulates urine output, thus reducing fluid retention and slowing the rehydration process. In contrast, a beverage containing sodium maintains thirst, improves palatability, slows the rate of urine production, and enhances fluid retention. The inclusion of an appropriate amount of sodium should therefore be considered an essential element of any properly formulated sports drink.

The primary benefit of fluid ingestion during exercise is that it helps to maintain cardiac output. Thereby maintaining adequate blood flow to both the working muscles (providing the oxygen necessary for the production of energy), and to the skin facilitating a high rate of heat removal helping prevent overheating and heatstroke

Do you need a Nix Biosensor?

So that seems quite clear, water is fine, unless you’re worried about your performance. And it’s performance orientated athletes that are going to get the most out of the Nix Biosensor. If you’re just riding for pleasure, there’s probably no need to have an in-depth knowledge of what and how much you’re sweating. However, if you are performing at a high level, the Nix Biosensor could offer useful insights.

If you’ve watched any of the recent pro races, you’ll probably notice that most of the water they take on board goes over their heads rather than in their mouths! And with climate change meaning many of us will be having to deal with much higher temperatures in the future, keeping on top of hydration could be vital.

I’ll be trying out the Nix Biosensor over the coming summer, not that I’m a top athlete! It’s more to see if I can stop cramping during long, hot races. Any races over eighty kilometres in the summer tend to see me cramping at some point. If I can avoid those cramps by adjusting my hydration, then I’ll be happy.

The Nix Biosensor is available from their website and you can buy pod and patches in full or half bundles. Full will get you twenty patches and half will get you twelve. Yes, I know twelve isn’t half of twenty! Prices are £189 for the full or £169 for the half. Extra patches can be bought separately, £87 for twenty or £52 for twelve.