Best drink for long rides?

[Gremlin]

Ok, I'm sure there are a few of those nutritionist-genius people hiding around here...

I'm after a drink that replenishes fluids, electrolytes etc, after long rides (well, and during actually), assisting with staying in good condition (I sound like a horse). We're not talking 200km rides. More like 1000km+, and/or multi-day, so keeping hydrated is important.

It needs to be reasonably widely available (so I can grab it from supermarkets, gas stations etc) and I have been using Powerade so far (I do think the blue looks neat). However, I believe its got other things in it (technical term) that are not so good for you.

Anybody know which is the best for ya? :ride:

[Taz]

I only drink water on the RNMC GC. Seems to work.

[YellowDog]

You can make your own with water salt and sugar, but it doesn't quite taste as good.

If you have a camel back, Glucose powder in water is pretty good (once you get used to the taste).

[Kickaha]

It needs to be reasonably widely available (so I can grab it from supermarkets, gas stations etc) and I have been using Powerade so far (I do think the blue looks neat). However, I believe its got other things in it (technical term) that are not so good for you.

Anybody know which is the best for ya? :ride:

chocolate milk (http://nutrition.suite101.com/article.cfm/chocolate_milk_the_ultimate_sports_drink)

[nosebleed]

I only use powerade for hypo's (low blood sugar) because its so sugary. I'd go Mizone for a watered down version of the same thing

[Mom]

Water. Seriously, just good old fashioned water.

[Laava]

Water. Seriously, just good old fashioned water.
Can you make your own?

[skidMark]

water is flavourless though :(

then again... i have a $80 a week energy drink habbit... :(

[dogsnbikes]

I have always found Water is best... its easy to get if you dont like the taste you can add electrolyte satches to it or raro..

but really if you want to keep your engery levels up have a snak on stops and wash it down with your water....

just remember some drinks are good for a short term sugar rush but they can dehydrate you over time apple juice is a prime example

[kiwifruit]

Water. Or water with http://www.horleys.com/ViewProduct.aspx?id=33 but i doubt you'd need anything but water to be honest... its not like you're riding in an enduro event, working really hard and sweating alot(?)

[Indiana_Jones]

<img src="http://wwwchem.uwimona.edu.jm/gifs/applrum.jpg">

-Indy

[SlashWylde]

I use Horleys 'Replace' after gym workouts to help replace electrolytes and muscle glycogen. It is cheap - around $18 for a container of powered formula - and is available at most supermarkets in a variety of flavours.

[Laxi]

chocolate milk (http://nutrition.suite101.com/article.cfm/chocolate_milk_the_ultimate_sports_drink)

hmmm explains my coffee milk addiction (only the tararua stuff, the rest taste like crap)

[Headbanger]

What we need is a 9000 word post of riding bikes and dehydration, and luckily there is one around here somewhere......

[CookMySock]

Only water. Fruit (bananas) if you need some electrolytes or sugar. I never go anywhere without a drink bottle, and if I'm on a 5 hour trip I take a few bananas.

Two things are critical on a bike, drink plenty of plain water, and don't overeat.

Also stay off the refined carbs (no pies and cakes) or at least eat only very small quantities of them (sausage roll instead of pie.)

If you have been riding for a few hours and take a break and have a coffee and two pies, that will flatten you hard.

Steve

[Big Dave]

It's riding on a motorcycle. You're not carrying it across the Sahara.

[The Pastor]

It's riding on a motorcycle. You're not carrying it across the Sahara.
nah man, its hard work when your a road racer, throwing that bike side to side like a metronome, getting that knee down like 20 cent whore.

[ynot slow]

While in hospital I had a jug of water by the bed,was ok taste wise,but on the 2nd day I was given an orange at lunch,didn't eat it but sqeezed the juice into the jug,took the bland taste away,chuck a couple in a litre of water just right.

[peasea]

Ok, I'm sure there are a few of those nutritionist-genius people hiding around here...

I'm after a drink that replenishes fluids, electrolytes etc, after long rides (well, and during actually), assisting with staying in good condition (I sound like a horse). We're not talking 200km rides. More like 1000km+, and/or multi-day, so keeping hydrated is important.

It needs to be reasonably widely available (so I can grab it from supermarkets, gas stations etc) and I have been using Powerade so far (I do think the blue looks neat). However, I believe its got other things in it (technical term) that are not so good for you.

Anybody know which is the best for ya? :ride:

On some of the long slogs I've done (riding from tank to tank non-stop) I've slurped a V while munching a bar like a Moro with nuts. I also like Bunderberg ginger beer, it refreshes and is easy on the gut.

[firefighter]

Double Brown, 20 for 20!

[Headbanger]

Whatever they are selling wherever I stop is fine by me.

Maggot sack and a servo coffee....sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet.

Beer and chips,even better.

[EJK]

V</10char></10char>

[peasea]

Whatever they are selling wherever I stop is fine by me.

Maggot sack and a servo coffee....sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet.

Beer and chips,even better.

Have some sympathy for your cholestorol level will you?

[Mikkel]

-Indy

You oaf, make a 12 year and then we can talk about it.

Another option is to dehydrate yourself while riding, then the beers at the pub are more effective - and you can get away with less pee-breaks.

(No, don't do that - dehydration is bad for you mkay...)

[CookMySock]

In case it is not immediately obvious, alcohol is a particulary dangerous thing to drink if you are already dehydrated, and coffee comes a close second.

Juice is also a quick way to get a bad acid guts, especially if you are drinking it all day.

Steve

[BarBender]

Personally, I find its the 2 days leading up to a long ride that are important so make sure Im fully hydrated and balanced out if Im not already. When on the ride its just water and monkey food - bananas and salted peanuts.

[SMOKEU]

Drink beer

[Gremlin]

chocolate milk (http://nutrition.suite101.com/article.cfm/chocolate_milk_the_ultimate_sports_drink)
Very interesting... cheers for the link, and I do like chocolate milk, might be hard to use in a hydrabak tho, being thicker

I only use powerade for hypo's (low blood sugar) because its so sugary. I'd go Mizone for a watered down version of the same thing
hmmm I might try mizone next ride, see how I find it

Water. Seriously, just good old fashioned water.
Don't like the taste drinking heaps hour after hour, but I do drink a lot of water

Maggot sack and a servo coffee....sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet.

Beer and chips,even better.
Not good for you over long distances

V</10char></10char>

Drink beer
Perhaps a pisstake, but V and beer are terrible for you on rides. V (and other energy drinks) will pick you up, when when the artificial high ends, you're dropped to a level lower than you were originally. Alcohol lowers your reactions, makes you dehydrate faster etc, so definitely bad.

Food is already sorted. Muesli type bars, made by someone I know, nuts, raisins, oats etc, low GI, try to eat a couple of small bars at each stop.

Long rides, while not seeming physical, definitely are, and more so on a naked, constantly having the wind hitting you, and you need to maintain your mental alertness. Last GC saw one person falling asleep on the bike, glancing off the armco, and having a very lucky save. Could have been much worse :mellow:

[Jantar]

.... its not like you're riding in an enduro event, working really hard and sweating alot(?)
I do believe the ride that gremlin is preparing for is indeed an Endro event, just a road enduro rather than off road. 1000 - 1400 kms per day for 2 consecutive days is working really hard, and yes, he will be sweating a lot.

I hydrate fully before such events, then drink unsweetened fruit juice at each stop. Water is normally sufficient on most occassions as you get the other trace elements, sugars etc from your food. But when you are on rides like the TT2000 the chances of eating during the day are rather slim, so you do need a bit extra in your drink.

I figure that there will be time for a light lunch in Murchison on day 1, but so far I haven't been able to find an extra 10 minutes for eating anything on day 2 before the finish. (yes I will be trying for gold :ride:)

[Jantar]

There is also some good information in this thread http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=88576

[Gremlin]

While not quite as keen as Jantar (and the flyer points, and points required for each award haven't been released yet) yes, its for road enduro riding. No one ride specifically, but all the big ones. If you can alter your drinking etc slightly, resulting in you being in much better physical/mental condition, it can make it vastly safer.

As a comparison, a coro ride is a mere snip. Relaxed pace for 5-700km, casual eating etc. Rides coming up on my hit list are a 2nd GC, TT2000 next year, and the SCRR (along with more GC and TT2000) in 2011 :ride:

For events in the South Island, you also have the travel down and up (which can easily add another 2000km), and I prefer to use a bit more time in the South Island, using the better roads. Still haven't ridden from Kaikoura to Blenheim along the coast :laugh:

Naked bikes make the ride more physical again.

[gijoe1313]

I think Gremlin should just ride with me on my more eclectic pootles for practice ... :whistle: :innocent: