billmc40

I have tried this, not to good of a flavor. My wife and riding parnter does not care for it at all. Hates the carbonation effect it has. It is in the mid to high 90s here and my son says we need to be drinking something like this. No sports drinks to high in sugars and calories. Any suggestions.
BillMc

Machka 

You are drinking it for the electrolytes.

Since you do indeed need electrolytes ... try eating salted almonds.

Have a look ... they've got the whole list of electrolytes.
Nuts, almonds, dry roasted, with salt added Nutrition Facts & Calories

You do know what electrolytes are, right?



This might help ...

5 Foods That Help Replenish Electrolytes | Bicycling

OldTryGuy

Delivery of electro's is fast with the nuts but the nut takes hours to digest, i.e....sits in stomach with blood being diverted from muscles used to pedal. Going hard-not so good, going easy not a problem.

Delivery with NUUN or others in liquid form such as gels absorb within minutes.

Just a little FYI to check the digesting time for items you consume and consider it when riding related to effort being expended.....https://www.freetrainers.com/forums/...s-foods-33135/ "check out the nuts and seeds"

revchuck 

Bill - Nuun is my go-to summer additive. I've never noticed a "carbonation effect" while using it. You need to let the tablets finish dissolving before you put the tops on your bottles. I use the lemon-lime flavor and it's palatable.

Machka 

If you're not racing, you can nibble on salted almonds and dried apricots (good for potassium) ... and make stops to eat potato chips or beef jerky and 100% pure orange juice.

We'll often have salty soup or maybe well-salted hardboiled eggs on toast before setting out on a long hot ride, just to top things up.

And for long, long rides we might carry a can of Ensure (wish we could get bottles of it here like we could in Canada) and, of course, electrolyte tablets (HammerNutrition).

Garfield Cat

The flavors: After dissolving the tablets, adding just two ounces of freshly squeezed orange juice will make a big difference in flavor.

spdracr39

Lots of other alternatives I don't care for the Nuun either. Skratch is ok. Half strength Gatorade is ok. There are pills also like S-Caps.

GravelMN

I'm an advocate of real foods rather than over-priced, pre-packaged "sports" nutrition gels, bars, blocks, candy, etc. As mentioned above, salted nuts are a good source of electrolytes, especially when mixed with dried berries (which provide potassium). Granola bars with nuts and fruit, or oatmeal raisin cookies also provide plenty of electrolytes as well as a mix of rapid and slow release carbs.

If you prefer the drink route, all you need is to add a pinch of Morton's Lite Salt (half sodium chloride, half potassium chloride) to dilute citrus-ade (lemon, lime, orange or whatever) and/or green tea. Even just adding it to plain water will provide all you need as calcium and magnesium aren't lost nearly as rapidly as sodium and potassium. Here is what I often use: In a 24 oz (720 ml) water bottle add about 1/4 cup (60ml) of fruit juice of choice, 1/4 tsp of Morton Lite Salt (or you can mix regular salt and NoSalt substitute), 1 tsp sugar or honey if desired, top off with water and give it a good shake. Sometimes I will use weak green tea instead of the water or just add a pinch of the Lite Salt to weak green tea. On rides under 3 hours I just drink water unless it is quite hot/humid.

Please be aware that electrolytes are only required in small amounts and in proper proportions. There is nothing magical about them and more is not better. Excessive consumption of electrolytes can cause GI problems and draw water into the GI tract away from the circulatory system and working muscles. Electrolyte supplementation is not necessary nor beneficial unless your are actually working at intensity and under conditions that cause significant electrolyte depletion. I've seen people slamming electrolyte drinks and other sports supplements on 2-hour B rides in sub-80-degree weather which is ridiculous. Understand what you are taking and why, don't fall for marketing hype.

jefnvk

A trick I heard from an adventure motorcycle guy was those bullion cubes dropped in hot water. I like that in cold weather just for the heck of it.

In the summer, I like Powerade Zero. Almost no carbs, don't think there are any calories, but it also tastes pretty good (blue at least) and doesn't leave a sticky mess if spilled. Gotta assume it is available in Kansas.

Cyril 

+1

or dilute any fruit juice. On brevets where one has few choices of cold drinks at the control/convenience store,
I've been known to fill my water bottles with water, NUUN tablets, and peach Snapple ( or some such nonsense ).
The result is surprisingly tasty.
Yes, The carbonation can be annoying if you drink it before the tablet is entirely dissolved

trailangel

I use those Nunn tablets once in a while. Lemon-lime with caffeine, but only 1/2 tablet in a large water bottle. Really salty, makes you drink more. Keep an extra bottle of clear water available.
Sometimes I will take iced tea with me.
Don't like the gels.
Snack on salted almonds or pistachios, walnuts, pretzels, etc. Whatever you got, bring just a little of everything. Be creative, it's not complex.

acdc2704

I think the cherry limeade is pretty tasty, then again when I am thirsty on the bike anything tastes good.

pdlamb

I've used Nuun for years, but I've found lately that I have trouble tolerating a straight "one pill in 24 oz water bottle" mix. It seems to work best for me if I break the pill into halves or quarters per bottle.

No accounting for taste. If you don't like it, mix it with something or try something else.

OP, how far are you riding and how much are you drinking? I've found I don't need extra salt until after two bottles of straight water.

Hermes1

These are good suggestions for after the ride to replenish lost electrolytes, but if the ride is long and or hot enough, it helps to take electrolytes in at some point during the ride and the suggestions in the link are too slow to be effective. This is the benefit of electrolyte tabs dissolved in water, they are effective much quicker. To the OP you should not have to drink a lot of electrolyte, so maybe that will help, but there are other electrolyte tabs on the market and perhaps they might be more palatable to you. On my 8-12 mile commute in this 100+ degree heat, I carry two bottles, one with plain water and the second with electrolyte tabs added to the water and drink only a few swigs at roughly half way, then a few swigs either close to home or just after arriving.

Up North

Try Scivation brand - Extend and Extend Plus electrolyte powders - work great and taste great. No fizz and a good product.

kcjc

? Might want to reexamine if it's needed as opposed marketing. For an easier read, see Sports drinks, sweat and electrolytes - part 1 | The Science of Sport & Sports drinks, sweat and electrolytes - part 2 | The Science of Sport.

1. L.B. Baker, T.A. Munce, and W.L. Kenney, “Sex differences in voluntary fluid intake by older adults during exercise.”, Medicine and science in sports and exercise, 2005. Sex differences in voluntary fluid intake by older adults during exercise. - PubMed - NCBI
2. J. Dugas, “Sodium ingestion and hyponatraemia: sports drinks do not prevent a fall in serum sodium concentration during exercise”, British Journal of Sports Medicine, vol. 40, pp. 372-372, 2006. Sodium ingestion and hyponatraemia: sports drinks do not prevent a fall in serum sodium concentration during exercise -- Dugas 40 (4): 372 -- British Journal of Sports Medicine
3. R. Cade, D. Packer, C. Zauner, D. Kaufmann, J. Peterson, D. Mars, M. Privette, N. Hommen, M.J. Fregly, and J. Rogers, “Marathon running: physiological and chemical changes accompanying late-race functional deterioration”, European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology, vol. 65, pp. 485-491, 1992. Marathon running: physiological and chemical changes accompanying late-race functional deterioration - Springer

Hoonigan

Try GU or other brands. Their flavored aren't bad and they make a variety of different products.

billmc40

WE are in our mid 50s. It is hoovering around 95 degreees here and then add the heat index to that. We try to ride every evening for app 12 to 15 miles. In short I am an old fat man.
We tried gatoraide zero last nite cut in half with water. Was allot better I have to agree with her.
BillMc

revchuck 

Any chance you could ride in the morning instead? I'm usually out around sunrise.

John_V 

I like the Nunn brand of electrolytes, especially their Green Lemon Tea flavor that is no longer made. Nunn also makes an energy drink tablet that has some carbonated flavors. Make sure that you are getting their electrolyte tabs and not the energy drink tabs. Also, GU makes some good tasting and non carbonated electrolyte tablets that I am now using because my LBS quit carrying the Nunn brand.

doctor j

I've had good luck with Osmo Active Hydration and the similar product from Skratch Labs. Osmo is hard to find right now, so I've ordered some the the Skratch product. I use the orange flavor in both of these products. It goes down easily, and even when the liquid is very warm, it doesn't upset my stomach.