Triathlon - Mixing Sports Drinks on Long Rides

I've been trying out Accelerade on some of my training rides to see if it's better for me than drinking good ole gatorade. On my shorter rides I've been ok because I mix up a bottle in advance, but I've been wondering what I'm going to do on longer rides. For example, this past weekend I did a metric century ride on Saturday. At the sag stops they offered water and gatorade so I just used gatorade. Suppose I would have wanted to use accelerade what do you do? Premeasure a serving and store in it a baggie or something? I'm also wondering how to handle this during long races. I don't mind stopping at a SAG on a training ride and spending some time mixing up my drink but during a race I really don't want to waste that kind of time. Thanks in advance for any hint/tips.

Its great to get this down during training.

I start with my drink and a gel flask. During the 1/2 IMs, I just take water from the aid stations. After I drink my stuff, I use my gel and water for the rest of the race.

Z, I think you have the correct concept with reference to centuries...though I'm wondering how much of a difference the products are really going to make. My experience during centuries is that I'm OK as long as I stay hydrated and fed. I'm basically happy to consume whatever they have in the SAGs.

With reference to racing...can you help me to understand what you are asking? What is a long race to you? I think up to (and possibly including) 1/2 IM you'll be able to satisfy your hydration needs with your personal water bottles. You can pre-mix eveything you need and carry it with you on the bike/use it in T1 & T2. If you want some of your stuff on the run, use a hydration belt. In the Kona IM this year I saw a lot of age-groupers using these and even a few of the pros. The added weight doesn't seem noticable and the strap seems to offer some back support.

If you're talking about full IM events, my guess is that you're probably better off using whatever is available. In Kona, basically everyone was using the Gatorade offered up by the volunteers. At one point on the road, Peter Reid yelled "GATORADE" as he was flying through the support area. These guys might have something else in their personal bottles but it seemed they were happy with whatever was available.

Maybe I'm missing the point of what you're asking...I'm not all that bright :)

Here's what I do for long triathlons (1/2 IM and longer)...

I use one handlebar bottle and one frame bottle. In the frame bottle, I premix a superconcentrated solution of my selected drink (my current fave is e-Load), anywhere from 4x to 10x strength depending on how long the ride is and what calorie consumption rate I'm planning. At the aid stations, I pick up an bottle of water and pour it into the hbar bottle and follow that with 2-4 squirts of the super concentrate (depending on how concentrated it is). Blow a few bubbles with the hbar bottle straw to mix it up a bit and it's ready to drink.

Here's what I do for long triathlons (1/2 IM and longer)...

I use one handlebar bottle and one frame bottle. In the frame bottle, I premix a superconcentrated solution of my selected drink (my current fave is e-Load), anywhere from 4x to 10x strength depending on how long the ride is and what calorie consumption rate I'm planning. At the aid stations, I pick up an bottle of water and pour it into the hbar bottle and follow that with 2-4 squirts of the super concentrate (depending on how concentrated it is). Blow a few bubbles with the hbar bottle straw to mix it up a bit and it's ready to drink.

Sweet system!

RT

Z, I think you have the correct concept with reference to centuries...though I'm wondering how much of a difference the products are really going to make. My experience during centuries is that I'm OK as long as I stay hydrated and fed. I'm basically happy to consume whatever they have in the SAGs.

I'm with you on that one. This past weekend I was eating anything and everything they had to offer and it all tasted quite yummy. I guess riding hard does that to you :).


With reference to racing...can you help me to understand what you are asking? What is a long race to you? I think up to (and possibly including) 1/2 IM you'll be able to satisfy your hydration needs with your personal water bottles.

I consider a long race to be half IM and IM. I feel I should be able to get through a sprint and olympic distance tri with water bottles.


If you want some of your stuff on the run, use a hydration belt. In the Kona IM this year I saw a lot of age-groupers using these and even a few of the pros. The added weight doesn't seem noticable and the strap seems to offer some back support.

When I'm able to get out there an actually do a long run I plan on trying out a hydration belt. My buddy Jason has one that I can borrow to try out before I go buy one of my own.


If you're talking about full IM events, my guess is that you're probably better off using whatever is available.

Well one of the reasons I was considering using accelerate over gatorade is because it has protein which is supposed to help. I suppose I could stick with gatorade and consume something (food or liquid) that was high in protein.


Maybe I'm missing the point of what you're asking...I'm not all that bright :)

Nah, you're not missing the point. I'm just trying to figure out how I should mix my own drinks if I don't want to drink gatorade.

Here's what I do for long triathlons (1/2 IM and longer)...

Duh! Why didn't I think of that. What an excellent idea! Thanks Gonzo Bob!

Here's what I do for long triathlons (1/2 IM and longer)...
At the aid stations, I pick up an bottle of water and pour it into the hbar bottle and follow that with 2-4 squirts of the super concentrate (depending on how concentrated it is). Blow a few bubbles with the hbar bottle straw to mix it up a bit and it's ready to drink.

Just to be clear here: you do this off the bike, right?

Just to be clear here: you do this off the bike, right?

No. I do it as I'm rolling along. I use a special handlebar bottle with an open top that allows stuff to be poured in. A piece of foam at the top prevents stuff from sloshing out. Mine is a Jetstream but there are many others. http://www.tri-zone.com/Catalog/BigNxt.html