On the Hammer products, what you can do is to modify the taste just a bit. Next time, especially with the orange flavor, add a few ounces of orange juice to it, the one without pulp. The change in my opinion is to the good.

And if this works, adding just a little juice to any kind of energy powder product will enhance the flavor.

Will it change the chemistry of the product? I mean the electrolyte, the protein, the maltodextrin, the chemical makeup, causing it to lose its original purpose? Even if so, how much degradation could there be?

Next time you do a 70 mile ride, give yourself a break and go for that 20 ounce Coke, like the pros do at the grand tours. Besides, like I always said, Coke really cleans out the water bottles.