I think what it comes down to is what happens to the body during the ride. If one rides all day at a moderate pace and doesn't sweat too much, it seems like plain water and a balanced diet should be fine. On the other hand, if one is riding at a strenuous pace for an extended period of time and is also sweating quite a bit, then it seems like Gatorade is a no-brainer.

drmweaver2, thanks for the info.