cyclezealot

So which ones' do you use. ? Do you use recovery drinks.?
Seems most important function is hydration.Water can do that..An everyday vigorous ride, I just use diluted Gatorade. For more challenging rides, I use Cytomax. Have dabbled around with recovery drinks...Other than hydration issues, I am unsure of their impact.. What do you recommend to keep you pumped up...Lots just think a banana will do the trick.

Knighty

Rule of thumb for me is anything under 1 hour = water. Anything over and I take Gatorade, regular concentration (per directions). For extra long or hot rides I am considering taking Endurox or one of the "endurance" formula drinks, there's more salt and electrolytes in them.

Post-exercise I have found that a simple low-protein meal replacement powder with milk does the trick and then take Gatorade to bring my weight back up.

C_Heath

Nice abs there Knighty, and I am NOT gay lol

hooligan

Chips= Electrolytes.

Konamatic

I just started using Cytomax myself, but for pre-hydration/recovery from tae kwon do; it's actually done wonders for keeping the tank full o' gas all the way through a tough hour.

As far as rides go? I dunno, it's a different kind of exertion. They say (whoever they may be) that anything aerobic under an hour, and all you need is water. I've started downing some cytomax prior to riding, but just brining along water.

oldspark

I always thought the number for needing a sports drink was two hours excerise or more, but I have been wrong before. That Is the length of time I go by and it seems to work for me.

Ric Stern

there's quite a bit of evidence available to show that events of up to ~1-hr can be performed at higher workrates if exogenous carbohydrate is consumed during the session. of course, this refers to races or 'all-out' efforts.

additionally, even during e.g., recovery rides of short duration taking on a carbohydrate-electroyte solution can help increase muscle and liver glycogen and thus aid recovery.

ric

oldspark

Well I need all the help I can get so I will be trying this on my shorter rides.

jukt

Higher temps mean more fluids. The higher the temp, the more water I drink. Kidneys get angry when dried out, throw stones.

I like a Red Bull, or Boo Koo, sugar free, pre and during rides. Hydration is a 24/7 job. I like Cliff bars pre ride.

Gatorade during rides for me when it gets near 90. Type II diabetes, I stay away from too much sugar. It does take energy to turn the cranks. Pop Tarts post ride work too. Hi-Gycemic simple sugars are recovery fuels.

I save my proteins for later.

millermagic

If my ride is giong to be an hour I will usually bring water. If it is going to be much longer, I usually take powerade or gatorade, which ever is cheaper at the store

cyclezealot

I think tomorrow I will need all the help I can get..September is often the hottest month here; if you live somewhat inland.
Tomorrow, due to car troubles, I have to commute to work by bike. My wife needs my car...Normally, I am happy to oblige..Not sure tomorrow..Probably be over 100 over the pass in Temecula.
Think I had better take some extra mix to keep me powered; because the first 12 miles probably drink it all..

wfin2004

Actually I find a combination of prune juice with only small amounts of cheese and other dairy products keep me going.

Knighty

Heh, thanks! Eating right and training 6 days a week (1 hour each day avg) would seem to work

Murrays

I just rode the Wright Stuff Century this weekend. I discovered Accelerade earlier this year so I started out with one bottle and mixed a second at 60 miles. This is a very hilly century, this year with 15-20 mph winds and 85 degrees.

Bottom line, I felt better in the last 20 miles than any of the other 4 times I've done the ride. I didn't feel even close to cramping. Of course there are lots of factors that could have helped me, but I will definitely be taking Accelerade on my next long ride!

-murray

gabiker

I have to agree on the Accelerade. I rode 101 miles on Saturday and 80 on Sunday consuming 3 bottles of Accelerade on Saturday and 2 on Sunday. Yesterday I felt like I had rode maybe 30 miles all weekend so I am sticking to Accelerade myself, however the lemon lime I bought taste like crap so the next time I will try another flavor.

As far as water for rides of an hour or less I can't comment on because all of my rides are an hour and a half at least.

Philli

CycleFreakLS

I too find that < 1 hour ... water. 1-2, maybe just water but depends on ride and weather. 2+, definitely endurance drink (not a thirst quencher like Gatorade). Usually I use Cytomax with more junk thrown in it. Water for the second bottle. However, I can sometimes only take 2 bottles of Cytomax (not the yummiest stuff around), so I'll break down and run in and find a bottle of Gatorade to finish off the ride (generally these are in the 70+ mile range). Still, water in the second bottle.

Note: I'd be careful about Powerade. I thought it used fructose as its sweetner!? Table sugar ... you can only digest so much so quickly. Table sugar is equal parts sucrose and fructose. The brain and red blood cells cannot use fructose, only sucrose. So I tend not to get Powerade. Drinks like Cytogoo, Accelergoo, Endurgoo all seems to use long chain carbs (maltodextrins, the same ingredient in bars and gels) so they tend to digest better and last longer.

So my answer is ... definitely YES.

That be my 2 cents.
Best.

NYCBM

I find that "rade's" make me more thursty.

boze

thx for that tip about Powerade. i've been grabbing them by the handful because they're cheaper at the 7-11, but it looks like i'm doing myself a disservice.

slvoid

Just dissolve honey in water. Nature has several million years on the ultimate energy gel.

MKRG

20 miles, any more and I need nourishment. As in sugar drink and granola or something. I tend towards the hypoglycemic and hunger hits me hard and fast. If I don't eat or get some sugar quick, things start to get ugly. Also I think that this kind of thing is highly dependant on the person in question. I bet some can do a century on water. I cannot.

back2fixie

good call on the honey...im gonna try that.

usually i will toss just a little bit of salt in a bottle of water (replaces electrolytes), and squeeze in some lemon or lime juice. make you own sports drink and save your money for much more important purchases like that new wheelset

nnewton123

I always use them for anything over 50 miles.

Accelerade - orange or
endurox g4 - orange....

both are pretty much the same. 4 to 1 ratio of carbs/protein along with some vitamins and minerals.

oboeguy

Over the years I've gone from diluted Gatorade to Cytomax to Accelerade. My poor Cytomax can is getting very lonely since I discovered Accelerde on the NYC Century '03 (pretty much the last time I used Cytomax). Did the Century this year on Accelerade and some goos (PB & Accelerade brand) and PB's. I might bring some of my own powder next time because the A'ade was pretty diluted at most of the rest stops (I don't take it full strength, but this was pretty bad).

Almost forgot, water only on shorter rides too (like up to 1.5 hours or so). Call me cheap.