what do u recommend as best sports drinks to use?

I don't.

I've had way better luck following the advice of sports nutritionist Nancy Clark. In a nutshell, she says "engineered foods" are alright for emergencies, but real foods outperform them for far less money.

I drink a lot of milk for the protein, calcium, and carbs (chocolate milk is just about the perfect recovery drink), and normally take plain water and food on long rides. I tend to cramp really easily, but the calcium in milk, potassium in potatoes, and salt as a seasoning keeps everything running fine.

Sometimes I will mix up some tang or Gatorade from powder, just to have something that tastes good. As far as I am concerned, sports drinks don't do anything special for you. They just have really good marketing.

P.S. I see Clark now has a Cyclist's Food Guide.

Mt Dew. Got yer carbs, got yer caffeine.....you are good to go.

Whatever you'll actually drink! I've tried a bunch, and like Nuun, but once it gets warm it tastes as bad as the others. I'm really a fan of water, and a V8 or ice cold Coke when I need a lift, just because it tastes good.

I like unflavored HEED for drinking on longer rides. I like water better but on long rides I can use the calories.

I'm into Powerade Zero right now. I like it!

coconut water

Water. I have used HEED in the past with great results.
I just don't see a need for a sports drink at this moment in my life. I do not perform better or worse with or without one.

salted water

+1

I can't remember exactly when I stopped using sports drinks ... sometime last spring, I think ... October or November.

I was using HEED, and I really like HEED, but for some reason, I started riding with just water in my water bottles, and that seems to work just fine. I've done 6 imperial centuries, and at least one 200K and one 300K with just water in my water bottles. Depending on when I stopped using HEED, I might have done a second 200K and 300K on water as well.

We do, however, stop somewhere along the way on long rides and have a coke, just for something different and for a bit of a boost in the energy.