Hi, all. Second time new to the forum here. Haven't been on in years. Also, haven't been on my bike much for the last two years. Turned 60 in April. Started back last week. Love it. I sure did miss it. Here's my question: After I come in from a ride every day, I have myself a nice, cold... protein drink. Lol. I know what you were thinking and I have been known to have myself a nice, cold Shiner Bock. What, if anything, do you all have to cool down with and is there advantages to any one thing over the other?

An ice cold glass of chocolate milk works best for me. Great recovery drink.

About 6 to 8oz chocolate milk then cold Coor's NA beer and munch on some almonds

Coffee. Usually decaff, it tastes great.

+1

+2

Endurox R4 Fruit Punch

4 parts Carbs to 1 part protein. A really good recovery drink but $$$. Comes in several flavors

Y'all are so healthy.

For me, it's usually that monkey on my back.

A glass of water to quench my thirst followed by a bowl of chilled chopped up cantaloupe and watermelon always hits the spot on warm or humid days.

A 16oz bottle of water with a half sachet of Crystal Light mixed in so it doesn't taste like water.

I'm always craving a Coke after the finish . . . love it when a cold Coke is available.

Failing that, pretty much whatever's available but nothing with alcohol until after a shower and time to cool down.

Rick / OCRR

Organic, non-GMO pomegranate juice.

Iced coffee, black.

My current hot weather post-ride fave is Citradelic by New Belgium. Dang, it's good. Most citrus hops taste too much like grapefruit to me but the Citradelic has a tangy tangerine/orange flavor. It's 6% ABV but doesn't taste that strong.

My next favorite is a very similar but stronger tasting IPA brewed locally by a friend who opened his own microbrewery late last year. It's a popular meetup spot for local cyclists and I may stop by there later today after a group ride.

Otherwise, if I'm not in the mood for beer I like good ol' southern sweet tea in a mason jar. Sometimes I'll brew up my own switchel, a slightly fermented tea with ginger, lemon or cider vinegar, and a little yeast. It's not fermented enough to have more than a fraction of a percent alcohol, and it's very refreshing cold with a little sugar.

Jameson

As a home brewer I also prefer a glass of ice cold IPA. Just brewed 10 gallons this weekend.

Chocolate milk or whey protein in milk. A cup of coffee following the milk or protein.

It's been scientifically proven that beer is a better pain killer than paracetomol and ibuprofen. It's nice when the science gives you justification... https://www.jpain.org/article/S1526-5...334-0/fulltext

Awesome stuff: Lots of organic soy protein, minerals, vitamins, herbs, amino acids, digestive enzymes and tastes great.

Water, then whey protein powder in milk.

In summer, after my 17 mile commute from work, whey protein right after the ride, followed by shower and then IPA.
In summer, after a long weekend ride, whey protein and then some nap. Beer with grilled chicken in the evening.
In cold weather, hot chocolate after the ride and then single malt later in the day.

Too much detail?

Topo Chico Mineral Water.

Beer may taste good to you, depending on your taste buds, but it's not a recovery drink. I have one of those recovery drink mixes for after a hard ride - brand isn't that important to me - that has carbs and protein. And no alcohol. Alcohol is allowable only after the body has had a chance to recover; say an hour after the ride.

I heard a presentation at the Seattle bike expo, by a guy that was a member of the staff that rode in the team car for a team that competed in the tour de france. He talked about recovery drinks and what they racers drink. He said despite all the marketing, and even some of the companies sponsoring riders and teams, what the racers want and what they drink after a stage of the race is an ice cold coca-cola. You better have a cold can of coke for these guys when they're done... or you're going to catch some heated attitude from them.

It's not my "goto" drink, but I'm diabetic so I stay away from coke and chocolate milk for recovery. I stick with something low carb or no carb and get my recovery carbs from something that doesn't raise my blood sugar fast... and keep it high.

I just thought it was funny that there were so many vendors at the expo with nutrition/recovery drinks... but coca-cola wasn't there.

I'll have to look for Citradelic. Their Fat Tire is one of my favorite beers.