What performance drinks do people use during a ride?

[Cooper645]

High 5 on the bike,

 

[Hont]

Unless I'm doing a TT, I only use water + solid food. I know some people can't eat when on the bike but I have no problems so prefer to get my calories from solid food. It makes bidon cleaning/hygiene much simpler and as Mr Haematocrit says you can pour it over your head it really hot weather.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

fruit juice, usually pineapple, diluted 50/50 with H2O, with a pinch of salt in one bidon. Plain water in another bidon. If using a camelbak, plain water only.

 

[Raging Squirrel]

I use high5 zero tab in one bottle and Nectar fuel lemon n lime in the other. I get quite thirty on rides

 

[Doseone]

Favourite when I can be bothered is a mix of about 25% orange juice/ 75% water, sometimes add half a Nuun tab for the salts thing. Quite often will just use water though.

 

[bianchi1]

Malvern water fresh from the springs on the hills.

 

[User169]

Just wondering what performance drinks people use during a ride and any reasons (if you have any) on why you use them.
Myself I use High5 4:1 Energy Source. The reason I use this is because I have read a cycling nutrition book (I have mentioned this book in another thread in this forum) and it states in there that it has been scientifically proven that drinking a solution with 4 parts carb to 1 part protein is beneficial not only in energy production but also in muscle repairing during a hard ride. I have used this for a couple of years now and rarely suffer from aching legs after a ride.

There would need to be a bit more to it than simply a carb: protein ratio surely. What carb and what protein (polymers, oligomers or monomer or mixtures thereof)? Nevertheless, if it works for you I'd stick with it.

 

[Seamab]

My favourite at the mo is Bottle Green Lime & Coconut cordial.

I've tried various brands of energy drink over the years (mostly High 5 or SiS variants) but think cordial/squash is no less effective and much tastier (and cheaper!). If it's hot or i'm doing a fasted ride i'll just use an electrolyte tab (and a strong coffee before the off). My current electrolyte is SiS Lemon flavour but it's a bit too sweet (sucralose) for my taste so will switch to something else when the box is finished.

 

[y2blade]

I only wanted the 750ml bottle and paid £5 for the lot, it was £2 cheaper than just the 750ml bottles alone I saw in Halfords.

 

[Kies]

Unless your riding 50+ miles or racing, I don't see the need for energy drinks and specialist foods.
Two bottles of water/squash/juice and a banana/grenola bar will more than suffice.
I used the gels and electrolite tabs on a recent ride, but that was 107 miles over 7.5 hours.

 

[y2blade]

Unless your riding 50+ miles or racing, I don't see the need for energy drinks and specialist foods.
Two bottles of water/squash/juice and a banana/grenola bar will more than suffice.
I used the gels and electrolite tabs on a recent ride, but that was 107 miles over 7.5 hours.

I agree.
I only wanted the 750ml bottle and paid £5 for the lot, it was £2 cheaper than just the 750ml bottles alone I saw in Halfords.

 

[smutchin]

rarely suffer from aching legs after a ride.

With all due respect, I suggest that's because you're not riding hard enough rather than any nutritional benefits of what's in your bottle. It's more likely that you found it hard initially because you weren't used to riding the kind of distances and tempo you were doing, but now you're adapted to it.

That said, if it's working for you, there's no reason not to carry on with it. Don't pay too much attention to "science" - pay more attention to what your body tells you. I know audaxers who can survive a 600km ride on nothing but pork pies and chocolate milk. That diet would make me very ill, but if it works for them, who am I to argue?

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

I only wanted the 750ml bottle and paid £5 for the lot, it was £2 cheaper than just the 750ml bottles alone I saw in Halfords.

The CRC exclusive marathon kits are amazing value! I stockpile HIGH5 in sales, mainly as it's the first brand I tried after getting a sportive goodie bag and no resulting gastro issues.

Then again, I average anything from 150-200mi a week + race so any help will do me!

 

[Ningishzidda]

With all due respect, I suggest that's because you're not riding hard enough rather than any nutritional benefits of what's in your bottle. It's more likely that you found it hard initially because you weren't used to riding the kind of distances and tempo you were doing, but now you're adapted to it.

That said, if it's working for you, there's no reason not to carry on with it. Don't pay too much attention to "science" - pay more attention to what your body tells you. I know audaxers who can survive a 600km ride on nothing but pork pies and chocolate milk. That diet would make me very ill, but if it works for them, who am I to argue?

And there are the Audaxers who get up and ride 100 km before a bacon and egg breakfast with a big mug of coffee. Another 100km before pie and chips with three pints of Guinness, and then another 100km before a Chicken Saag and Naan with half a gallon of Stella.

 

[Scoosh]

And there are the Audaxers who get up and ride 100 km before a bacon and egg breakfast with a big mug of coffee. Another 100km before pie and chips with three pints of Guinness, and then another 100km before a Chicken Saag and Naan with half a gallon of Stella.

... and still manage to finish within the time limit ...