I'm sure you can do the Google thing and figure it out.

I don't vouch for any one specific product. However, there are several well-known, and nowadays better understood, advantages of a sports drink over plain water.

If you're on the bike, your primary form of fuel is blood glucose. This is basically sugars that are in your bloodstream, and is readily available to your muscles and your brain. When that runs low, you will bonk, a particularly unpleasant experience.

You are also using up lots of water, along with other electrolytes. While hydration is obviously important, you also run a very small risk that if you drink too much water and do not replenish your electrolytes (especially sodium) you could get hyponatremia. (More likely though is that you just won't ride as well.)

With a sports drink, you're taking care of 3 needs in one shot.


Meaning what, that you never sweat or exert yourself on a tour?

I concur that in most cases I'm not going all-out like I would in a short race, but you're still exerting yourself, and your body will work more efficiently if you're consistently fueling yourself instead of over long stretches.


I wouldn't worry too much about it. It's pretty much the same stuff.


I would agree that these specific products aren't necessary, and there is a ton of BS out there. But sports drink -- whether commercial or home-made -- are quite beneficial.