Training & Nutrition - hammer nutrition products

http://www.hammernutrition.com/

Just a question about the hammer nutrition products

for all of you who used them are the quite effective?

is the sports drink for electrolytes quite effective?

what bout the meal replacement drink for long distance rides?

i am interested in trying some.

Define "effective".

What exactly is it that you want all these things you've been posting about to do?


Do they provide you with calories for fuel? Yes.

Do they sit well so that you don't feel like you're going to throw up after you consume them? Depends on the specific product.

Do they keep well on the bicycle for long rides? Depends on the specific product.

Are they going to increase your speed and strength signficantly? No.


There is only one thing that might legally increase your speed and strength significantly.

I am just a rec rider, but I like to go fast. I've been using Perpetuem on longer, faster rides. Like any well-thought-out sports drink, it has a flavor that encourages you to drink it, and carbs for fuel. It isn't special in this way, but it works for me. Of course, there are cheaper options for this purpose if you home brew something, but the powder is convenient. I have one based on dilute oj that works well, too.

The protein in the drink is nice, too. Even if it's psychological (there are some studies to say it isn't), I feel like this makes a difference for me.

I plan to keep using Perpetuem, but I also just got a lot of it free from a friend. The biggest difference between this year and last is that my nutrition has improved, mostly by taking in more calories via drink. Last year at this time, I was 13 pounds lighter, in a bad way; body composition is the least of my worries. This year, with more miles in me, I have reduced body fat to about the same levels, but my lean mass (via body fat testing. I'm around 8% BF right now) has stuck around. The result, in my case: I am way faster than last year. Also, eating enough carbs helps me recover better so I want to ride every day, instead of feeling like I'm dragging myself out.

Last year, I rode a lot less than this year and flamed out in July. I partially attribute this to poor nutrition, and partially to the fact that I rode pretty hard all winter last year. That was stressful. In any case, any food is good if you like it and it serves a valid purpose.

P.S. I wouldn't trust a bottle of Perpetuem if left in the heat, e.g. mixed and carried on a century. That stuff seems to go bad pretty quickly. You could easily carry mix, though, which works fine.

It depends. They work well for me but not so for others.
The apple cinnamon gel tastes like the inside of an apple pie. *drool*