Grendel

So if you had to choose between the two, which one would you prefer?

khuon

I have had Gatorade and thought it was okay. I prefer Cytomax. However, on a recent ride, the organisers stocked the filling stations with Powerade and that stuff was nasty. It was the first time I tried Powerade and will be the last time for me.

ljbike

Actually I use diluted OJ.

moabrider47

If I had to choose between the two, I would have to go for Gatorade. Powerade is just too...syrupy (sp? - I think I just killed that word).

-Moab

The Terminator

Whichever one is on sale when I stop in to get a few bottles. I have no preference. Powerade usually is cheaper, or on sale. Powerad is more syrupy. Syrupy, surupy, sirupy, sirupee, that is how to kill a word.

fujibike

I use gatorade and water on rides under 90 minutes - above that I move to cytomax and water.

Chi

Water.

lotek 

I've been using Cytomax.

I don't think there is much difference between Gatorade
and Powerade other than who distributes them.

Marty

Erick L

It goes down so fast that I barely taste it so I wouldn't know the difference. but I prefer the Gatorade bottle with the simple screwing cap. Less fidling to open. When I buy a "Ade", it's because I need liquid FAST!

BTW, what's the"Ade" about? GatorAde, PowerAde, TigerAde...

djbowen1

The last time i bought powerade it was out of a vending machine, it had alot of mold in it. Never Never Never again.

Justen

Yep - Powerade is pretty nasty alright. I like Gatorade much better but usually always drink it diluted. Tastes better and is much cheaper. They have a great sale on Gatorade at the local grocery store right now so I have been stocking up on the 1.9 liter size. My fridge is full but it's great stuff before, during and after a ride in various degrees of dilution. I also carry a plain water bottle on my rides too.

Justen

khuon

You may want to consider buying it in powdered form. This way you can carry more of the stuff and you only need to find water to mix and refill your bottles. Also it'll be easier to get the right dilution and you can mix in extra salt if needed (someone recommended a little bit of sea salt with the orange).

Chris L

I can't tell the difference between the two of them. I'm normally a mineral water man myself.

steveK

I've been using Cytomax this summer and I like it better than Gatorade or Powerade. I ran out of Cytomax on a recent ride and stopped at a quick shop and bought 2 quarts of Powerade to fill my Camelbak. It was much sweeter than Cytomax, and seemed heavy in the gut.

cycletourist

Both are crap- expensive, acidic sugar water that will rot your teeth and make you diabetic. I drink V8 juice instead.

Trouble

Pepsi or Coke distributes Powerade and it is nasty.
I just picked up over 6 gallons of Gatorade on sale for $3.75/Gallon at the local grocery and it's in the pantry, should get me through the summer.
The only flavor I will drink though is the Lemon-Lime also in various degrees of dilution.
All the others, especially the blue colored ones like Glacier Freeze have some form of partially hydrogenated soybean and cottonseed oils and that stuff is poison for your body.
On a recent hike down into the Grand Canyon I was turned onto a powder drink mix called Gookenaide. I used it for the entire trip.

Justen

Not true. Gatorade is good for replacing electrolytes although I never drink it undiluted.

Justen

Yeah, I like the Lemon-Lime one the best too. That's the flavour I stocked up on but I did pick up a bottle of the Fruit Punch one just for a change in flavour once in a while. The blue one looks pretty nasty. I never had any compulsion to try that flavour at all !

I go through ALOT of Gatorade in a day..even though it is diluted. I also drink about 3-4 liters of water each day but Gatorade is way better tasting than Powerade.

iamlucky13

Usually just take water for the rides, but they're seldom more than two hours.

Lemonade (another -ADE!) has been good for me when baling hay. Just a little diluted so the flavor doesn't knock you out. I also substitute half the sugar for a little bit of salt. Takes the sour out while giving you electrolytes.

bfb2003

Lance's trainer (Carmichael) says that a sports drink is an important part of any hard riding. It replaces carbs that you burn. It can also stop you feeling so sleepy a couple of hours after a good ride - so in recovery.

The best drink is the one that you can stomach the easiest so that you drink enough of it to perform your best.

MediaCreations 

Oh surely that's just a myth. I've been riding without a sports drink and I feel absolut........ zzz zzz zzz zzz.:sleep: :sleep:

shokhead

Powerade IS nasty.I use the powered GA and mix it less sweet then the bottled,cheaper to.

dumpstervegan

Does anyone else get cramps from drinking sports drinks? I tried both of them and both of them give me terrible cramps. Could this be because I'm not diluting them? I've also concoted my own sports drinks which do the same. Should I try diluting them?

northcountry

I drink V8 juice instead.

Well, that might not make you diabetic, but 8 ounces of V8 provide 620 mg of sodium, 26% of the recommended daily allowance. That's a lot of salt. No wonder it's so tasty! I think I'll just stick with water.

Justen

Hi,
You don't have to dilute them. I just prefer to do. I am not sure that it would be the Gatorade itself that is giving you cramps but I guess it is possible. Try different variances for diluting.
i.e. 50 % gatorade, 50 % water. If that causes you no trouble - you may want to go up to a 60/40 split. For long rides, I will normally do a 60% (Gatorade)/40 % water ratio. Afterwards it varies depending on how I am feeling.

Give it a try and see how it goes.

Justen