when riding

And why?

Water ... because it quenches thirst.

water.

it's cheap, it provides hydration, and I can wash sweat out of my eyes with it.

Bottle 1 is Gatorade, because I more often than not can't be arsed to stop and eat every X-number of miles, so it's nice to be able to gradually drink some calories.
Bottle 2 is water. Because water.

I have absolutely no understanding as to why people choose no-carb/sugarless flavored drinks. The whole point of things like Gatorade are to replace the salts you're losing while sweating-- and get some carbs in there. If you don't think you're burning 80kcal an hour, I dunno, ride faster or something.

Water. If it's a really hot day, water with a nuun tab.

Water.

Ok, sometimes I like Hot Chocolate or something, especially if it is cold.
I've put more warm drinks into the polar bottles than cold drinks. I think the insulation helps a little.

This time of year, water in one bottle, gatorade in the other. It's cheap, effective, decent tasting, and it's got what plants crave.

milk

Water. It works and separates hydration from fueling.

Mostly water.
If its hot and I know I will be sweating a lot, Skratch.
If I'm going very long at a hard pace and I'm worried I'll get behind on calories, honey plus water with a squeeze of lemon juice to improve flavor and make the honey flow better.

Water

50% water -50% fruit punch. Coincidentally has the same amount of carbs as Gatorade at that mix. Half water hydrates perfectly and keeps the drink from being too sweet and too heavy. One large bottle every 1.5 hours below freezing and above 80 F. I large bottle about every 2 hours from around 40's to 70's.This will let me do 120 miles with little solid food. I also bring a small coke for caffeine. But to not get hungry I eat Nutri grain style bars.

Thanks to Machka's suggestion I drink about one bottle before leaving the house. It works great.

Water in one bottle, a maltodextrin/whey protein mix in the other bottle (my only food), and a coin purse of Endurolytes in my jersey pocket. Works well on long day rides, at least up to 250 miles, the furthest I've ridden in one ride. On short 2-4 hour rides, I'll bring a bottle of HEED and on hot days, another bottle of plain water.

protein shake on a ride? milk or water? I think i'd throw up if I had to down a warm shake on a ride. Do you mix it pre ride or just take the powder?

If > 1 hour -- gatorade in the bottle, water in the camelbak.
If < 1 hour -- water in the bottle.

Camelbak because I like to be different...and it works for me.

One bottle of water an hour. Very rarely do I do a Gatorade, and if I do, it's a 50/50 mix in a single bottle.

I'm also trying to shed pounds, if I want, I may do half a Gatorade every 2 hours. I replace my electrolytes with a larabar if I am riding 3 hours.

I also live in hot Florida and sweat an abnormal amount and haven't any dehydration or cramping issues. My max rides are also only at 3 hours, as they increase I may change things up. I really do think you get enough electrolytes if snacking, and again that only comes into play of riding around the 3 hours mark.

Water, premixed and refrigerated. However on long rides, I'll take extra powder with me and mix more as needed. One bottle with 2c powder is 750 calories.

It's not a protein shake. Only 15%-20% protein. It's long-chain, fast acting sugar with a little protein. Very mild flavor. Never barfed it up.

How does it hold up to being premixed? I've never premixed any shakes, I remember a while back reading something about it being bad for you or maybe tasting nasty.

I remember the first time I left a partially finished protein shake at work, came in the next day and opened that up to all kinds of holy stench.

That's an excellent question to which I don't know the answer. Hammer's Perpetuem is famous for spoiling quickly. The Ensure that my wife uses on the bike also spoils quickly. The only thing I can think of is that I have happened upon ingredients from manufacturers who care about purity. Quick spoilage is always due to bacteria being already present. I can make up a bottle of my mix the night before, refrigerate it, then take it out on a 3 hour ride in at least moderately warm conditions, come back, put it in the fridge, and it will still be fine the next day. I can't guarantee that all ingredients will respond favorably to this treatment. I buy maltodextrin by the 50# bag from a homebrew supplier. I buy Optimum Nutrition Gold brand flavored whey protein. I run my bottles through the dishwasher, heated water cycle, no post-wash heat.

It's possible that the soy protein which Hammer uses cannot be treated the same as whey protein during manufacture.

Water for rides 30 miles and under. Powerade for over 30 miles, I add ice to the bottle to help delute the sweet.
I usually ride 50 miles on my long ride if I ride longer than that and run out, I'll stop at a fast food and get a sweet tea, making sure I fill my bottle with ice to lessen the sweet taste and fill the other with ice and water.
In the summer I usually fill my water bottles with water and stick em in the freezer for the ride the next day. By the time I start drinking the first bottle its just cold water, the last bottle will just be water.

Water, Diet Green Tea, Gatorade, PowerAde. Not too picky. As long as it's wet. And that's why I drink it, 'cause it's wet!

Water for rides under 2 hours. Over 2 hours I use Infinit - it covers everything, and I'm using the same thing I use on race day.

Water, but I've been experimenting with Hammer's Fizz tablets. So far, so good.

I definitely do water with any ride of less than 30 miles or so. 30-60 miles I'll use NUUN tabs in my second bottle and maybe a gel or two during the ride depending on my pre-ride nutrition and distance.
But I'm trying to find a good drink for those rides over 60 miles. I've used Gatorade and I tolerate it fine but I have friends who swear by Cytomax, saying it's way better.
Anyone have any experience with Cytomax?

I used to use a lot of Cytomax. It is better than Gatorade, but it rotted my teeth. I use HEED now, no rot.