Energy drink for long rides

[Blue Hills]

IMHO, 'energy drink' means the likes of Red Bull, Monster Energy…do not touch those things with a bargepole. Utter junk.

Have their place maybe in extremis. Aldi Red Thunder has got me through some desperate spots. I prefer it to gels. Or a merciful bullet to the head.

 

[CanucksTraveller]

Just to be clear for the OP, High5 make all sorts of products, it's a brand name, not a single product.
The two main ones being discussed here are:

• High5 Energy Source : A powdered isotonic sports drink mix that comes in a big tub. Contains energy (in the form of sugars), salts and electrolytes. You put 3 "scoops" in a large bidon.
• High5 Zero tabs: Small tablets that contain just the salts and electrolytes and a flavouring, but no sugars. You drop one in a bottle of water, it stops you getting cramps and headaches but doesn't provide energy / fuel.

They also make recovery protein shakes, gels, energy bars, all sorts.

 

[tribanjules]

Shame we can’t get gatoraide in uk …

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I was exactly thinking lucozade yesterday - had two bottles of water during a 35 mile ride but was still feeling thirsty so felt i needed something more than just plain water

In hot weather over 35 miles I might go through 3 or 4 750mL bottles depending on terrain. For salt you can eat salted nuts or crisps depending on if you have any allergies. If allergies you can get salt tablets which you just have as necessary perhaps if starting to cramp.

As a tip there’s usually a tap in Church yards or by village halls or even cricket score boxes or you can ask someone you see outside their house failing any shops. I’ve never been refused a water top up in hot weather. Always drink to need rather than try and spare it if running low.

Soaking a buff in water from a stream and placing it round neck can also help. Same with a wet cap.

 

[ColinJ]

I’ve never been refused a water top in hot weather.

You are luckier then me then...

I was telling someone the other day about a very hilly ride I did one baking summer day. I hadn't drunk enough and got severely hungry and dehydrated. I found a country pub which appeared to be open but the landlord told me that the pub was shut and told me to clear off. I offered him a couple of quid for a glass of water but he shoved me out and slammed the door in my face. Lovely man! I was so desperate that I jumped off my bike when I found a muddy puddle and drank from that ...

 

[Ming the Merciless]

You are luckier then me then...

Bloody hell. Underhydrated in hot weather and you can soon be on the way to heat exhaustion. I hope you recommended all and sundry didn’t visit the pub.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Don’t forget campsites as well for water top ups

 

[ColinJ]

Bloody hell. Underhydrated in hot weather and you can soon be on the way to heat exhaustion. I hope you recommended all and sundry didn’t visit the pub.

I never went back to it! (I had previously been in there a couple of times on a Friday evening after work.)

It was in the days when pub hours were limited, and the pub WAS officially shut at that time in the afternoon. What really peed me off was that the landlord had a pub full of locals/mates guzzling beer...!

 

[Nibor]

I also use maltodextrin powder to keep my energy up often mixed with a hydration tablet

 

[T4tomo]

What is a long ride in your book?
Everyone is different. For my longs rides. (100 miles plus) then just plain water would do. However as I have got older I have started to get leg cramps post ride so use High5 Zero tabs, which do seem to help alleviate the problem
However, any ride shorter I just stick to water.

That's interesting.
I've generally been a "just water" for past 3 or 4 years, but I did used to use Hi5 zero. Yesterday on a very hilly 100km sportive/charity ride I was cramping a little bit towards the end, probably as it was so damn hot I'd sweated more than normal. Probably didn't help that the snack stop stuff was all sweet (or bananas) so didn't get any "natural" salt on board. A couple of post ride beers sort me out fine!

Maybe I should use a use a Hi5 to ward off cramps in similar circumstances. if it hadn't been a sportive then a proper lunch stop would have been had.

 

[Punkawallah]

Your basic water for me - with beer to finish with a bit of luck! have to keep your electrolytes up :-)

 

[yello]

If searching for water, cemetaries are a top tip. They often have taps for filling flower vases.

And more chance of finding one in rural France than finding an open shop!

 

[ianrauk]

And more chance of finding one in rural France than finding an open shop!

myself and @Trickedem fell foul of that on one French trip. Nothing open at all. We were lucky to find a Boulangerie that was just closing shop in the afternoon and we managed to grab the last thing they had... a brioche loaf

 

[Ming the Merciless]

 

[Drago]

A sprinkling of methamphetamine in my water keeps me going.