Originally Posted by
axolotl
The entire premise of the question makes no sense to me. It assumes that these products are necessary. The power of marketing never ceases to amaze me. I recall a wonderful parody of ads for trash compactors when they first appeared: "Turn 50 pounds of trash into 50 pounds of trash!"
Aint it the truth. Ive gone so far as to make my own electrolyte mixtures. It was mostly to see if I could ( yes, I could ). The cost wasn't what drove me to try it.
Rather, I did it because, as you note, Ive been convinced I should have them available.
Interestingly, what I find when I am actually in the saddle is that I prefer water. Ive toted along both my home brew concoctions and commercial electrolyte drinks while riding. Invariably "sports drinks" and that ilk, no matter their source, turn cloying and kinda icky when I've shifted my body's needs to immediate hydration.