Patriot

I have been considering a drink on my rides other than just regular gatorade. I have always enjoyed plain lemon-lime gatorage. It's been my favorite for years.

However, our Performance shop has Acelerade on sale, and thought about trying it, but wanted your opinions as to whether or not you prefer it.
How does it taste?
Is it a good thirst quencher?
Is it worth the price? It is a bit more expensive than I get gatorade for.

Just wanted y'alls opinions.

roadbuzz

It's come up in other threads. I think I'm among the few that like it. The flavor I usually get is something like fruit punch.... fruit flavor pink. It's kind of sweet, but I like it.

I think it works well. When figuring the price, work out the price per serving. Not so bad when you catch it on sale. Just a big chunk up front.

khuon

The first time I tried it was on the STP a couple of years ago. It was available at the rest stops. I didn't like it very much at first but maybe it was just how it was mixed. As the ride continued on, I found it wasn't so bad. Of course that may be because I was really thirsty. I still prefer other drinks though.

OC Roadie

I've tried Accelerade, Cytomax and Power Bar "Endurance". No matter how hard I tried, I really couldn't stand the taste of Accelerade or Cytomax. The Power Bar brand "Endurance" taste similar to lemon/lime Gatorade but is formulated better towards endurance events. Performance recently had it on sale for $13 a can, I think it's normally $18 or $19.

travis200

I like the taste of Accelerade but mainly the Fruit Punch. I actually now prefer Cytomax but thats another discussion. Accelerade does take some getting used to I just happen to have liked it from the start.

ZackJones

Add another vote for Fruit Punch Accelerade. I switch to it from lemon-lime gatorade and really like it.

Patriot

I noticed it has some protein in it as well. Might be better than just gatorade for muscle repair. But, not sure how it would help in the immediate need during a long ride. I may try some, I just hope I don't end up hating it and giving it away, thus wasting my money.

Machka 

Accelerade tastes horrible, and leaves me with a bloated feeling. I even tried mixing it with other beverages but that nasty flavor is still quite evident. I've got a big can of the stuff, and I don't know what to do with it now.

khuon

Isn't it obvious? Send it to Patriot.

roadbuzz

The claim, very roughly, is that the protein aids your body in taking up the carbs, and in addition your body uses protein as well as carbs to fuel a long ride, thus Accelerade helps prevent your body from cannableizing muscle tissue. Benefit, IMO, is more noticable for longer rides than the 2 hr hammerfest. It is a little harder to digest than some bevs, as Machka indicates, which is a problem for some.

SSP

I've never liked on-the-bike drinks that contain protein. Protein is not water soluble - at best, it goes into suspension. This often results in the protein clumping, or forming a nasty coating on the inside of the bottle.

The taste is generally awful (especially on hot days), and I've had problems with bloating and stomach cramps too.

I stick with Gatorade, or homemade carb/electrolyte drinks while on the bike. If I need protein on a long ride, I stop at a store and get a tuna or turkey sandwich.

wheelin

I really like Accelerade fruit punch. The blueberry flavour is aweful. The powder keep stable in the can very well. Can't say same for most energy powder, particularly the Cytomax. Pls keep another bottle of fresh water available to wash it down I find that freezing your drinks including plain water is very refreshing. By the time you need the liquid, most would have melted for drinking. You may hve to put up with drippings though.

terrymorse 

There's no conclusive evidence that protein does anything for performance when taken during exercise. Until there is, I'm saving the protein until after I'm done with my workout.

Here's Gatorade's position on protein during exercise.

Patriot

I am rethinking my desire for a protein drink during my rides. I am thinking I will stick with Gatorade, and just take along Energy bars for the longer rides. I have a Big Lots store nearby, they have these EAS Advantage bars with protein for only $0.40 each. And, I really like them.

Guest

I don't quite like it. I gave mine away to some other victim. I do like my gatorade, though.

Koffee

cyclwestks

I didn't like Accelerade at first, but it's grown on me. After the local GNC selling me 3 cans for like $4 each, it's become a staple on my rides. My daughter likes the fruit punch, but I'm partial to the lemon lime.

koffee, you'd prbly know best, but isn't there many claims combining macronutrients results in better absorption?

Andy why is the suspension so much better in the ready to drink?

PedalMasher

Pink Accelerade rocks! I mix at half the recommended concentration so it's easier to gastrically empty. I also use one of those insulated water bottles to keep it cold as it tastes better cold to me. It works for rides 1-1.5 hours, but anything longer it starts to get warm up a bit. My $0.02!

socalrider

I prefer the Orange, mix it on the lite side and it is fine..

EricT

I tried it for the first time yesterday (Lemon/Lime flavor). I mixed one scoop into a 20oz water bottle, so it was diluted compared to the instructions, which call for one scoop per 12 oz of water.

As for the taste, it's fine, but definitely a change if you're used to Gatorade. It's sweeter-tasting, and feels more basic (as opposed to acidic) in your mouth. There was some powder that never quite dissolved and ended up sticking to the inside of the bottle. So I had to squeeze a rag into the bottle to clean it, rather than just rinsing it out like with Gatorade.

After going through my ride, I became accustomed to the taste, and didn't pay much attention to it after that.

Will I continue to use it? I'm not sure. After one use I have not noticed any performance advantage. Cost-wise, it's 4.5 cents/oz versus 2 cents/oz for Gatorade in the concentrations that I've been using. So unless I notice some benefit during my rides, I'll go back to my 50% Gatorade solution after the Accelerade's gone.

Guest

Man, that gatorade lemonade is soooooo good. You'll give up the accelerade quickly for this stuff.

My mouth is watering right now for that stuff!

Koffee

Trekke

I have tried Accelerade. Hate the taste. On a hot day it is barf time. One thing I have noticed with protien laced drinks is that the need to urinate is more frequent. Maybe its just me but I switched to Hammer (HEED) which taste a fraction better but works for me on short (< 2 hr ride). HEED is NOT good for > 2 hrs because it really has little electrolytes even though the packaging stats "complete electrolyte fomula" or some BS deceptive statement. Last century I bonked after 50 miles from lack of electrolytes. Trying Cytomax now. Love the taste and really keeps the lactic acid down I am told.

nesdog

I tried the Lemon Lime. Not only did it taste awful, it gave me stomach pains in the first 20 minutes. I dumped it out at the park nearby and re-filled with water instead.

I started talking with the LBS's and while discussing Cytomax, the owner of one, who does ultra rides, suggested another product from Hammer.

I ended up switching to Hammer Sustained Energy. It doesn't have much taste so I add some of their
raspberry gel, which works great. The disadvantage to SE is that it doesn't contain a full electrolyte profile so you augment your intake with Endurolytes, bars, etc. The SE seems to work okay for me. No stomach issues whatsoever and I could switch gels and change the flavor as needed if I get bored!


Sheldon
OCR2

hht083

I've noticed the same thing...and it causes acid reflux while I'm riding...
Could it be the porpotion of water to mix that I'm concocting?? Or is it the drink and not me?

ExMachina

I love Accelerade--crave it during a hard ride. Only Orange or Blue Raspberry though...

I mix mine double strength,so I have one bottle of Accel and one of H20 and take a sip from each bottle--never know when you might need a little fresh water to wash out your road rash.

Tuck a thrid bottle of regular strength Accelerade in my jersey and I'm good for 3+ hours of hard riding in the summer heat.