juf2m

I was watching Chasing Lance last night, and they were talking about the food and drink the cyclists were consuming on the Tour de Georgia. Two of them were Powerade and Coke! I understand that this is a sponsorship deal, but I find it strange that these high level athletes would be guzzling a product that supposedly has a fuel that is very inefficient and bad for you (according to the recent threads in this forum). What's going on here???

Jim Bonnet

nothing better that slamming a coke or 2 after hammering for 80+ miles.... but thats just me.

Big Lug

the coke and gatorade have sugars which are great after a hard workout!

Eatadonut

coke is a toughie, but powerade really isn't that bad if you dilute it a bit.

maybe they're having a coke with the evening meal. with the amount these guys consume while they're touring, i doubt one coke would have an impact on you the next day.


i'm a fan of a few tortilla chips before, water during, and an apple after. or watermelon...mmmm...

caloso

I'm a Pepsi guy myself, but I figure drinking from the blue can in Georgia is likely to get you shot.

timmhaan

i can't remember which year or stage, but i remember watching one TDF and a rider passed by a group of fans and took a can of coke from somebody and put it in his jersey pocket.

superdex

actually, there is some substantial information out there on the internets identifying Coke as a decent --not best-- performance drink. One article I came across noted it as a good last resort.

Check this out: https://www-unix.oit.umass.edu/~exsc370/04lecture16.ppt

and this: https://www.trifuel.com/triathlon/run...hon-000382.php

Of course, with everything else, what works for you may not work for Lance and Co., and vice versa....

barleyrocket

Coke has long been a staple of the Iron Distance triathlon races. Usually flat though, as the carbonation can be tough for people to handle after having been going for 10+ hours.

thad

They were getting cokes in their feed bags at the TDG.

juf2m

Not Gatorade, Powerade, which is owned by Coke. The major ingredient is High Fructose Corn Syrup, same with Coke.

I'm not saying that it doesn't work, but with the huge fuss made on this forum (and the internet in general) about High Fructose Corn Syrup as a terrible source of fuel to be avoided at all costs, I am amazed they would be using it on rides. Maybe it's not as bad as people think? I was just amazed that's all.

531Aussie

The requirements for what's comsumed during lengthy periods of exercise, and especially during hard races,
is totally different to the requirements of "everyday" folk

These activities require quickly digested, high glycaemic carbohydrates, such as glucose, sucrose or dextrose (or whatever the latest greatest mixture is), preferably mixed at ~6% solution. This tops up blood glucose, therefore (ideally) preserving some muscle glycogen, therefore prolonging endurance.

High glycaemic foods are also usually eaten during recovery, but the health aspects of this practise producing insulin spikes is not really yet known.

The average Joe who doesn't really exercise much, or at least not for great duration and intensity, would be best to avoid high glycaemic foods and drinks.

531Aussie

Generally, these fuels would be terrible sources of energy, but during a longish race, requirements totally change.

juf2m

For those who haven't seen the HFCS threads, this is what I speak of:

https://www.bikeforums.net/training-nutrition/111588-gatorade-powerade.html

https://www.bikeforums.net/training-nutrition/111900-so-exactly-how-bad-high-fructose-corn-syrup.html


There is this coke machine in the middle of our long 57 mile ride. It has Powerade and water, no Gatorade or anything else. I thought (based on what I read in the above threads) that it would be a very bad idea to go for the Powerade, but maybe it doesn't matter on a hard ride.

I just wish I had a definitive answer about the stuff, I just finished getting rid of all the yogurt and baked goods that have it! I have almost a HFCS free home! LOL

Guest

Maybe there's rum in it?

Koffee

TomM

I find that a cold coke after a long hot ride is refreshing. Powerade on the other hand is not. I definatly like Gatorade over Powerade.

noisebeam

There is still a lot to be learned about HFCS. Studies don't really focus on people who burn all the calories. Seems to be biggest issue is over excessive calories consumption, not HFCS alone. But because of the low cost of HFCS and consumer desire (increased by marketing) for sweets there are too many ways to get too many calories thru this processed calorie source. There is also backlash against HFCS not solely because it may be bad for you, but because its not naturally occuring, instead a raw output of indusrial agriculture.

Al

supcom

I suspect the Discovery team missed the threads here on the evils of high fructose corn syrup.

Patriot

The sugar in the coke helps a bit, but I think the caffeine level plays a factor as well. I have heard some guys down a few shots of espresso during long races, then washing down with a recovery drink of some kind.

That much caffeine is bound to fire you up (legally), and the recovery drink gives you real fuel.

operator

Screw that, if it feels good, do it.

supcom

Maybe that's why Gu, Clif, and others put caffeine in some of thier gels?

Those guys burn something like 8-9000 calories per day. I suspect that they will make short work of whatever calories they injest. I don't think they are too concerned that corn syrup is going to make them fat or slow them down.

Jim Bonnet

I agree with you. I know that after a road race my HRM says I've burned in the area of 3500 calories on avg. add that to the 2000 it takes just to live and your jacked up metabolism after a race... all that adds up to me not caring what I drink..

RiPHRaPH

3/4 coke, 1/4 diet coke with a sprite spritz from the fountain is mmmm good.

teamawe

Guy or Gal waiting for the 1st and 15th chasin' down a box 'a ho-ho's with a coke IS NOT the same as a world class athlete ingesting a soda during excersise.

The athletes body doesnt care the delivery system, just get me some fuel! You also run into the palatibility of the delivery system. Ever ridden so hard that afterwards you dont EVER want to see anything sweet again?! I think you have to consider that something a guy is willing and eager to ingest plays a part in his diet.

califdreamin

I bring gatorade with me on my rides. It's actually not that bad for you, though water is best. I love coke but no longer feel the need to drink it anymore.

timmhaan

whether i have coke or gatorade or whatever, i usually always feel the need to wash it down with water at the end. it's the best cleanser.