Power drink recommendations?

03-04-2005, 09:27 AM

If it's not raining Sunday morning I plan to do the 22-mile L.A. Acura bike
tour prior to the marathon. My training rides are usually 15 miles; I did
twenty last weekend with no trouble.

Because this is a route unfamiliar to me (and because it has some slight
elevation changes) I'm concerned about needing a boost in the latter stages
of the ride. Normally I just carry water. I'm unfamiliar with all the
modern power drinks (they weren't around thirty years ago when I did my
long-distance riding) and don't know whether they're really helpful.

Is there something I could put together at home (ided tea with sugar, for
instance) or is there something that's really sure-fire for an energy kick?

----
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03-04-2005, 09:31 AM

saki <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

>If it's not raining Sunday morning I plan to do the 22-mile L.A. Acura bike
>tour prior to the marathon. My training rides are usually 15 miles; I did
>twenty last weekend with no trouble.
>
>Because this is a route unfamiliar to me (and because it has some slight
>elevation changes) I'm concerned about needing a boost in the latter stages
>of the ride. Normally I just carry water. I'm unfamiliar with all the
>modern power drinks (they weren't around thirty years ago when I did my
>long-distance riding) and don't know whether they're really helpful.
>
>Is there something I could put together at home (ided tea with sugar, for
>instance) or is there something that's really sure-fire for an energy kick?

You'd be fine with Gatorade. Pick a flavor.

Ride it rain OR shine. If it rains, it'll be the only chance you have
to breathe clean air :-)

Neil
San Diego

03-04-2005, 09:31 AM

saki <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

>If it's not raining Sunday morning I plan to do the 22-mile L.A. Acura bike
>tour prior to the marathon. My training rides are usually 15 miles; I did
>twenty last weekend with no trouble.
>
>Because this is a route unfamiliar to me (and because it has some slight
>elevation changes) I'm concerned about needing a boost in the latter stages
>of the ride. Normally I just carry water. I'm unfamiliar with all the
>modern power drinks (they weren't around thirty years ago when I did my
>long-distance riding) and don't know whether they're really helpful.
>
>Is there something I could put together at home (ided tea with sugar, for
>instance) or is there something that's really sure-fire for an energy kick?

You'd be fine with Gatorade. Pick a flavor.

Ride it rain OR shine. If it rains, it'll be the only chance you have
to breathe clean air :-)

Neil
San Diego

03-04-2005, 09:42 AM

saki wrote:
> If it's not raining Sunday morning I plan to do the 22-mile L.A.
Acura bike
> tour prior to the marathon. My training rides are usually 15 miles; I
did
> twenty last weekend with no trouble.
>
> Because this is a route unfamiliar to me (and because it has some
slight
> elevation changes) I'm concerned about needing a boost in the latter
stages
> of the ride. Normally I just carry water. I'm unfamiliar with all the

> modern power drinks (they weren't around thirty years ago when I did
my
> long-distance riding) and don't know whether they're really helpful.
>
> Is there something I could put together at home (ided tea with sugar,
for
> instance) or is there something that's really sure-fire for an energy
kick?
>

22 miles shouldn't begin to deplete a healthy person's glycogen
reserves.

03-04-2005, 09:42 AM

saki wrote:
> If it's not raining Sunday morning I plan to do the 22-mile L.A.
Acura bike
> tour prior to the marathon. My training rides are usually 15 miles; I
did
> twenty last weekend with no trouble.
>
> Because this is a route unfamiliar to me (and because it has some
slight
> elevation changes) I'm concerned about needing a boost in the latter
stages
> of the ride. Normally I just carry water. I'm unfamiliar with all the

> modern power drinks (they weren't around thirty years ago when I did
my
> long-distance riding) and don't know whether they're really helpful.
>
> Is there something I could put together at home (ided tea with sugar,
for
> instance) or is there something that's really sure-fire for an energy
kick?
>

22 miles shouldn't begin to deplete a healthy person's glycogen
reserves.

03-04-2005, 10:15 AM

"Peter Cole" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in news:1109961757.555452.94160
@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:
> 22 miles shouldn't begin to deplete a healthy person's glycogen
> reserves.

Most people have about 2 hours of glycogen at a moderate aerobic pace, so 22
miles will *begin* to deplete the reserves. Plain water will be fine for most
people, but a pint or two of gatorade won't hurt, especially on a hot day.

03-04-2005, 10:15 AM

"Peter Cole" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in news:1109961757.555452.94160
@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:
> 22 miles shouldn't begin to deplete a healthy person's glycogen
> reserves.

Most people have about 2 hours of glycogen at a moderate aerobic pace, so 22
miles will *begin* to deplete the reserves. Plain water will be fine for most
people, but a pint or two of gatorade won't hurt, especially on a hot day.

03-04-2005, 10:48 AM

Ken wrote:
> "Peter Cole" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in
news:1109961757.555452.94160
> @g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:
> > 22 miles shouldn't begin to deplete a healthy person's glycogen
> > reserves.
>
> Most people have about 2 hours of glycogen at a moderate aerobic
pace, so 22
> miles will *begin* to deplete the reserves. Plain water will be fine
for most
> people, but a pint or two of gatorade won't hurt, especially on a hot
day.

I think your numbers are wrong. The figure usually cited for glycogen
reserve is 2,000 kcal. Even a relatively fast pace only burns 20-30
kcal/mile, and that's split between glycogen and fatty acids. If your
pace is low enough (>12-14 mph) you won't even touch your glycogen
reserves.

Sports drinks are entirely unnecessary marketing inventions. The
purported goal is to maximize fluid uptake, not provide calories or
electrolytes, as so many are led to believe.

At least avoid clear bottles unless your frame and drink match.

03-04-2005, 10:48 AM

Ken wrote:
> "Peter Cole" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in
news:1109961757.555452.94160
> @g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:
> > 22 miles shouldn't begin to deplete a healthy person's glycogen
> > reserves.
>
> Most people have about 2 hours of glycogen at a moderate aerobic
pace, so 22
> miles will *begin* to deplete the reserves. Plain water will be fine
for most
> people, but a pint or two of gatorade won't hurt, especially on a hot
day.

I think your numbers are wrong. The figure usually cited for glycogen
reserve is 2,000 kcal. Even a relatively fast pace only burns 20-30
kcal/mile, and that's split between glycogen and fatty acids. If your
pace is low enough (>12-14 mph) you won't even touch your glycogen
reserves.

Sports drinks are entirely unnecessary marketing inventions. The
purported goal is to maximize fluid uptake, not provide calories or
electrolytes, as so many are led to believe.

At least avoid clear bottles unless your frame and drink match.

03-04-2005, 10:54 AM

On Fri, 04 Mar 2005 18:27:58 +0000, saki wrote:

> Is there something I could put together at home (ided tea with sugar, for
> instance) or is there something that's really sure-fire for an energy kick?

I like half Coca-cola, half water. Really.

Cheap, effective, and annoys the health nuts.