FR4NCH1SE

I was wondering how good this stuff is, is it worth it? Cytomax, preferably Tropical punch. I want some powdered energy drink instead of buying so many bottles of gatorade.

clausen

You can buy Gatorade powder.

kimconyc

I drink water.

FR4NCH1SE

for short rides,water is enough, come summer and hopefully a handful of centuries I am assuming I am going to need something to get electrolytes and carbs in the body.

clausen

So do I, nice and cheap.

urbanknight

Ask 10 people, get 10 answers. There are many opinions on drinks. I'm a big fan of Cytomax and Hammer Perpetuem (and Heed), mainly because they have good nutritional values and they taste good. Taste is important to me, because no energy drink is good if I don't drink it. That being said, I use Gatorade powder for all but my longest of rides, and just plain water for rides under 2 hours.

dewaday

Pre-ride: water
Riding: Heed
Post-ride: Dos Equis

caloso

I like it when I can get it free. But Gatorade powder is much cheaper and almost as good.

FR4NCH1SE

Thanks for your input, I agree with you, I shall buy some later on. I don't like gatorade that much thou, thats why I want to try another powder. The reason I drink gatorade is because its the only sports drink my area sells, powerade is not being sold here anymore for some reason, and screw 3 bucks for 5 hour energy.

clausen

You can get all that with food. I can't stomach sugar drink so I rely on actual food and gels on long rides.

urbanknight

You can get just about any drink powder you want shipped to you. www.hammernutrition.com is where I get Heed and Perpetuem from. If I could remember my customer #, I'd give you a referral for 15% off... but since I can't find it anywhere at the moment and I just mentioned it, 10 other people will soon respond with theirs (because it gives them a discount on their next order too).

edit: Oh yeah, and I have added a scoop of vanilla Muscle Milk to Gatorade before. It adds some protein and tastes decent if mixed with Fruit Punch... I imagine with Orange as well, but I can't find that in powder form around here.

Brian Ratliff

Cytomax and Heed are roughly the same thing. Both are kind of like Gatorade, but instead of a lot of sugar/fructose, it uses a more complex sugar called malodextrin. The upshot is that it is easier to drink lots of malodextrin based calories than it is to drink sugar/fructose calories because malodextrin doesn't taste sweet. It doesn't upset the stomach as much, so you can stuff more in, or at least this is the case with me.

I think of it as Cytomax/Heed like products are more for endurance athletes whereas Gatorade type sugar products are more for ball sport athletes who basically split their time between standing around and sprinting.

You can also buy powdered Gatorade, if that's what you like to drink. That's what I did for a while. I am now in favor of Cytomax. It's not as sweet, so I can mix it to a stronger concentration in my water bottle and get more calories/bottle than with Gatorade.

And if you want to delve deeper, there are protein/energy/electrolyte drinks like Perpetuem. If you want even more calories (and protein) in your bottle, try these. But don't do it on the eve of a big race or event. From what I've heard, it's something like 50/50 whether your stomach can handle it.

Jakedatc

I did like cytomax for a while but got tired of it. My new choice is Powerbar Endurance. it really helped that Job Lot had a ton of 52 (8oz) serving containers for $2 bucks and the lemon/lime is tasty and uses Maltodextrin/fructose mix. I didn't really have a need for the caffeine in the cytomax either.

my referral # is below if you want to try the Hammer stuff though.

kimconyc

Totally agree.

Also, pre-ride nutrition, hydration, and proper rest are also important.

It's not rocket science. I've tried all the gels, powders, etc. Then I started reading the ingredients of said products and how our body utilizes and breaks down the different forms of sugar out there on the market.

Long story short, a lot of times you are paying big bucks for what is commonly known as Karo Syrup (a.k.a. dextrose, a.k.a. d-glucose, a.k.a. generic corn syrup).

caloso

And to answer the question contained in your title: No. The ultimate cyclist drink is chocolate milk.

aham23

cytomax is too sweet for me. especially on those hot days when it gets all nice and warm. my choice is HEED all day everyday. later.

kimconyc

I wish I could digest a whole, tall glass of milk

I'll settle for the nectar of the gods:

Bob Ross

Really, you think Heed tastes good? You don't think it tastes like a pair of underpants that had been worn for two weeks straight by an incontinent old man who never showered, then was eaten by a goat, then passed whole through that goat's entire digestive tract, and then plucked out of the resultant meadow muffin and worn for yet another week by the same (still unshowered) incontinent old man?

Jakedatc

now you're talking about what Accelade fruit punch tastes like when it gets warm. except you forgot that it turned all frothy like sea foam

urbanknight

lol

What flavor did you try? The Strawberry was great imo. Better yet, it was a light flavor, not thick and sticky like some of the other drinks.

save10

i don't like heed either.though my interpretation was that Heed tasted like chewing on a mouthful of laundry detergent.

calRider

I don't even want to know why you know what that tastes like..or why you think other people would know.

ridethecliche

Cytomax gives me terrible stomach cramps.

calRider

I drink water and pop Endurolytes, usually. Sometimes I'll drink Heed, but it's absolutely awful stuff when it gets warm--but, then again, so is everything else.

Biker395 

It's personal preference. I like Cyotomax (Citrus) and others don't.

And if it's really hot, gotta have Endurolytes ... at least I do. No drink by itself suffices.