Accelerade is one of the new energy drinks. Someone decided that for long efforts, you need protein so Accelerade has some disolvable protein in it. It's supposed to taste awful. Hammer makes their own version.

You can try Hammer HEED (High Energy Electrolyte Drink), which I just started using. After drinking Gatorade for 3 hours, I feel like puking because it's so sweet. HEED doesn't taste sweet, and it seems to work pretty well for me.

Remember none of this stuff has any scientific proof behind it. Hammer's marketing is pretty effective though, so maybe check out their website.

You might do just as well by eating a banana and a bagel at the halfway point, and sticking to water.

If you want to mix some protein in, Isopure makes a zero carb protein that's really thin and doesnt taste too bad. I've mixed the peach mango flavor with peach cytomax and its really not bad.

I've had good luck on long rides with Accelerade in one bottle and water in my other. In a pinch, I'll mix orange juice and water, but I haven't tried that on anything longer than a few hours.

For the shorter rides, I have to agree with what a number of guys said: Gatorade and water.

I longer rides, Gatorade and water BUT……I add some Surge for some protein in the form of whey-protein hydrolysate and BCCAs. Check out Surge at:

https://www.t-nation.com/readTopic.do...ydra?id=459244

By the way, John Berardi is a great guy. If you have questions on exactly how to use Surge (he developed it) when you cycle, go to his website at https://www.johnberardi.com/ and ask him (e-mail).

He personally answers questions. By the way, Surge tastes great.

Similar to others. I carry 2 20oz Polar bottles - 1 with water, the other with sports drink. I used to drink Gatorade. I needed to water it down 50% because it was too sweet for my stomach. I switched to Accelerade and that seems to work much better for me. I also use Endurox as a recovery drink. I also use ClifShots for energy gels.

I think you have to try and experiment with what you like the best as everyone is different.

MiniLance: I start the ride well hydrated. My usual ride hydration program:
20m and less - 1-24oz water and 1-24oz 50/50 water/Gatorade mix; water after ride.
20m-40m - 1-24oz water; 1-24oz Powerbar Endurance drink mix. I refill the water as necessary depending on weather and conditions thru the ride; 16-24oz Powerbar Recovery drink mix after ride and water.
40m and more - 70oz water in Camelbak and 2-24oz Powerbar Endurance drink mix in Polar bottles; 24oz Powerbar Recovery drink mix after ride and water.

I alternate water and Powerbar Endurance drink mix thru the rides; more water on the longer rides. Never empty a bottle completely in case you lose the full one.

Hope this helps.

I do the 50/50 Gatorade/water most of the time. Recently, however, we got some stuff called Sqwincher at work. I've been usung it on the way home. It seems to work pretty well, but I haven't used it on any rides over 30 miles yet.

i buy the gatorade powder, better than water and cheaper than cytomax. Occassionally i will mix a packet of hammergel into water to that seems to work well.

MiniLance-
If water has been working for you for the past 8000 miles and you are worried about sugar content, why switch?

I wish they sold Pocari Sweat in the US. mixed 50/50 with water, great stuff and without the Gatorade aftertaste.

I was thinking about the same thing today, but I had an idea of making those drinks myself. Is there any way to do that? Anybody tried?

Here's a suggestion... Buy a few different types of drinks... try them out as you ride... see which works best for you. What works for one rider may not work for you. You're younger and probably have different requirements than a 40 something geezer like myself.

Diluted gatorade works for me, btw...

On long rides (for me) I'll bring a bottle of Gatorade and one bottle of water. It really comes down to individual body chemistry and effort, etc. In other words, It's a very personal choice.

They do, go find yourself an asian grocery store. There's a Korean one not too far from me that carries the stuff.

50/50 Lemonade Gatorade and water. I've found that Lemonade flavor is the only one that doesn't leave me felling thirsty two minutes after I drink it.

I like to take a powerbar or 2 as a protein source.

That's true about some of the flavors leaving you feeling thirsty. The other flavors have an added ingredient which I cannot recall what that is now that the Lemon does not have, and it's that added ingredient that makes you feel thirsty.

And as far as protein goes, again your right, you don't need to buy a drink with protein in that cost over a dollar a bottle, when a Powerbar will work better. If you want or need a drink with protein in it, then buy Ensure, it's far better then the bike boutique energy drinks.

I took the GU2O on my ride today (63 miles). I used two scoops in my 20 oz bottle (2 scoops for 16 oz, and 3 scoops for 24 oz). Not too sweet, and I think it worked will. I really don't know though. I have my first century (imperial) planned for Saturday (Cyclists Curing Cancer), and I'm gonna take it there also. I had a PB&J samich for bfast, rode 19 miles to the first rest stop...filled up on H2O, grabbed a candy bar and mixed my GU2O. Next rest stop at 41 miles, no facilities, so I peed by a tree. Finished at 63 miles. I had two GU gels...one about mile 30 (chocolate outrage...good), and the other at about mile 50 (tri berry...ok, not good). I sipped on my GU2O the whole time (from mile 19), and that along with the H2O and GUs got me through it.

A little off track, but thought I would share...

mscycler

I used a sample of this FRS stuff that was alright you can get a free sample of it too. It's Free Radical Scavenger "FRS" I am sure you can find it out there somewhere

ginseng and aqua