Brian Ratliff

This is BS. First, you cannot absorb enough electrolytes to totally replace what comes out of you with anything that you can use. All you can do is slow the depletion rate. Gatorade might not have as many electrolytes as other drinks, but it has some, which means it is still slowing the depletion rate. Second, Gatorade has some calories, so it is better than water as a fueling drink simply because water has none. Perhaps not as much as Heed or some other malodextrine based drink, but it's got some. As with electrolytes, you cannot eat enough on the bike to be calorie neutral, whatever you eat.

Basically you go from the logical conclusion that Gatorade is "not as good" (because it isn't, really), to get the conclusion that it "isn't sufficient" (which is debatable), and then from there find that it's "no better than water", which is stupid, since it obviously has calories and electrolytes that water does not have.

DannoXYZ 

It's not as black & white, all-or-nothing as that. He's not saying that Gatorade is worthless, it's just not as effective as other forms of nutrition on the bike. The maximum carb-intake you can absorb through the intestines is about 250-300 calories per hour. Gatorade doesn't provide anything close to that without overdoing it on the water. To maximize glucose-absorption, you'll need something with much, much higher molality and calorie-density than Gatorade.


That's correct. Adequate carb-replenishment to match the water-volume would require double-strength Gatorade. That's only possible if you use powered Gatorade and mix it to 2x regular concentration. At which point, it's way too sweet. Maltodextrin works better because it has higher molecular-weight glucose chains that gets more calories through your stomach without the heavy syrup taste of sugar or HFCS.

If you you rely on Gatorade as your primary nutrition, then you must mix it at double-strength concentration. Otherwise you'll need to supplement with bars & gels.

grolby

All this talk about using Gatorade for calories is a bit funny to me. I've always used it mostly as an electrolyte replacement. I tend to use bars (rides), homemade oatmeal cookies and gels (races) for calories. I definitely see the calories as supplementary, but I know from experience that it's not enough to prevent bonking or cramping.

But all this talk of bulk maltodextrin and using maltodextrin-based drinks for almost all fueling needs is making me curious, so I might just investigate going down that road in the future.

kenkayak

I always liked Gatoraid more than many of the others,but I havent seen it here lately.Kenneth

gcasillo

Like grolby, I don't rely on Gatorade for calories or fuel. Just electrolytes. I use homemade gels (from a bulk tub of maltodextrin powder) for fuel. If I'm in the saddle longer than 3-4 hours, it's time to consider food for my caloric needs.

astrocreep96

I always thought Gatorade was first and foremost a fluid-replacement drink and secondarily a carbohydrate and electrolyte replacement drink. The glucose/fructose and sodium/potassium were added because they can be co-transported by the SGLT-1/2 proteins in the enterocytes of the gut establishing a relatively greater concentration gradient that allows water to be absorbed by osmosis (since that is the only way it is absorbed to begin with). Saying that Gatorade is no better than water is factually incorrect and fails to understand the science behind the product to begin with.

Any side benefit of calorie/electrolyte replacement is just that but if you feel that justifies a drink with maltodextrin (partially enzymatically-degraded corn starch) for a $2 or $3 premium over Gatorade (which simply has fully enzymatically-degraded cornstarch to produce fructose & glucose) by all means. I'll pass on the marketing and stick with caffeinated Cliff shot blocks and the inferior Gatorade.

z415

I thought it was the other way around.

z415

Because of this I used to spit out 1/3rd of what goes in my mouth, but over time I just learned to figure out when I really needed it.

badfishgood

Only to wash my balls.

astrocreep96

I suppose it depends on how you want to interpret it, but given that Gatorade itself claims its product contains less than 50% of the calories of fruit juices or soft drinks and is classified as a low-sodium food, I'd stick with fluid-replacement primarily.

Edit - Ha! I somewhat take that back - looking at the nutritional data, Gatorade may or may not be correct on their statement of caloric content. They also may or may not be aware of why they are adding carbs.

fauxto nick

I use this, this is another great option. I'm able to pop it open with my mouth and pour them in, you only need one hand. I've done this in high intensity group rides. I take 3 per hour on hot days one tube covers me and doesn't take up much space.

SushiJoe

Some people prefer...

charliekeri

Today's gatorade is yesterdays bug juice. Remember when gatorade tasted like sweat? That was when it had A LITTLE sugar and A LITTLE salt - exactly what should be in a sports drink.

Unfortunately sweat flavored drinks don't sell. So dump more sugar, more color, more fake flavors and now you have 21st century gatorade. If you are drinking bottled gatorade for hydration you might as well be drinking hawaiian punch, koolade, or sunny d.

Mash Master

Personally, Gatorade upsets my stomach, the same as most others I have tried. The only one that I have tried and not had that issue is Heed from hammer nutrition. So that is what I stick with.

DigitalRJH

Yes, I still use it.

urbanknight

I just looked up the nutritional information on those choices, and you really ran the gamut on sodium, which is a main reason I drink an energy drink and njot just water. gatorade also has potassium while the others do not.

Anyway, I get calories with bars and gels. The drink is for fluid, sodium, and electrolytes. 1 gel has as many calories in 1 serving as any drink does in the whole bottle. I can eat a gel in 3 seconds, not so with a full bottle.

nycphotography

1 gel = 100cal.

24oz gatorade = 150 cal.
Add 12g protein powder @ 4cal/gm = 48cal.

My bottles carry ~200cal ea.

And yes I carry gels for when it's needed immediately.

kayakdiver

Does this include the stuff that has to be rolled out to get at?

Add 10 seconds for me for those last little bits...

urbanknight

lol I start from the bottom and squeeze, ingesting in one go. I suppose I may be leaving a tad behind, but it's just like a toothpaste tube: if you squeeze from the middle, you're going to have a hell of a time getting what's left in the bottom.

urbanknight

Alright smarty pants, but the point still remains. I couldn't drink half a bottle in a few seconds either.

That idea of adding protain powder has me thinking, though. That would make Gatorade close to that 4:1 ratio of carbsrotein other sports drinks are raving about.

nycphotography

Seriously, I mixed 5 ziplocks of my mix (3/4 scoop gatorade, 12g protein powder, 1/8 tsp lite salt / potassium) and used them (added to water at refill points) on my last century. I was changed over to whateverade they were serving by mile 60 or so.

I can honestly say it's the strongest I ever finished any century. The early protein / carb mix seemed to really make a difference after mile 80 where I usually suffer miserably trying to maintain my pace.

Of course , just one data point. Extrapolate at your own risk.

agarose2000

Said it before, but will say it again.

Add 1 cup of maltodextrin to your standard bottle. 300-400 of the highest quality cals, dissolves instantly, and costs 1/10th the price of Hammer or Gatorade products.

If I used gels to fuel my last 80 miler, I would have had to ingest 9 of them en route, or $9 of gels.

3 cups of maltodextrin cost less than 25 cents, and works great. (It's the main ingredient in Hammer perpetuem and most gels.)

If you spend over $50 every month or two in nutritional supplements, you really owe it to yourself to give bulk maltodextrin a try, since it's so easy, effective and cheap compared to anything else out there.

urbanknight

Sounds like something I'd be willing to try, because I usually reach a real lull around mile 70-80 myself.

Agent Cooper

I like Gatorade okay, but my body can't tolerate it. If I have any, I immediately have to urinate urgently--usually within a half-hour of drinking it, and then I pee gallons. So it's really no help for me riding. It goes right through me. I have no idea why it does this to me.

So I stick to water, and if it's hot I try to carry some salty snacks if I'm gonna be out more than a short time.

Thinking of trying Heed to see if that's any better.

scotch

red Gatorade = for me.