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Which energy drink?

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  • July 23, 2014 at 10:10 am #21970
    parksey

    I’ve been reading the comments on the “fish and chips” topic with interest, as I’ve been thinking about my own approach to fuelling for rides recently.

    I think we’re probably all in agreement that mid-ride stops for cake or lunch are A Good Thing, but in my mind are only really relevant when you’re riding in a group. I’m not one to sit in a tearoom or pub when I’m out by myself, so in those situations I prefer to refuel whilst I’m on the bike.

    Before now, I haven’t been doing much at all, just relying on whatever I’d eaten earlier in the day (or the night before), and then taking gels at points where I needed a boost. I do use electrolyte tabs in my water bottles, but they of course don’t provide any energy.

    However, I’m continually going further and faster, but in doing so am finding that fatigue definitely now sets in as the distance racks up, which I suspect is a consequence of not taking on enough fuel.

    I don’t particularly want to increase my gel intake, as it won’t do either my bank balance or my toilet bowl any favours, and I’ve never really got on with energy bars either. If anything I find them less palatable than gels.

    I’ve therefore been looking at the various tubs of powdered energy drinks that are available. Having an energy source as a drink makes sense to me, and as they mostly contain electrolytes then I can seemingly dispense with the separate tabs too.

    It’s a bit of a minefield of choice though. Do many people use these and, if so, are there any particular favourites out there?!

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  • September 1, 2014 at 6:42 pm #805275
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    Nat Jas Moe

    Perhaps not Omo Activ & Sport
    Perhaps not Omo Activ & Sport which some poor folk didn’t realise was in fact detergent for washing their cycling kit. Oops.

    August 22, 2014 at 10:35 pm #805273
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    J90

    The Elivar protein powder
    The Elivar protein powder makes a terrible shake. Bad mixability, not a great taste and texture. I am used to premium grade protein though, which most companies don’t sell.

    August 22, 2014 at 7:23 pm #805271
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    parksey

    Seeing as I’m just old enough
    Seeing as I’m just old enough for that Elivar stuff then I might give it a go. Looks like they’ve got a sample pack for a tenner without committing to a whole tub.

    Chocolate and banana flapjack is working out alright for me so far, but I still need to “boost” it somehow. Will head up Holland & Barrett and see what they’ve got.

    August 22, 2014 at 1:03 pm #805269
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    zanf

    For the last year Ive been
    For the last year Ive been using Elivar products as theyre catered for over 35’s, with low index glycaemic sugars so I dont spike so bad with them. Always had issues with other drinks when out on rides & sportives and on a few occasions have had to cut it short due to stomach issues caused by them.

    Other than that, I’ll mix 50:50 pineapple juice with filtered water and add a sprinkle of salt.

    I’ve made my own rice cakes using short grain/sushi rice and added various flavours such as crushed/chopped nuts (almonds or pistachios), dried fruit, chopped bananas and chunks of dark chocolate [[url=http://i.imgur.com/UFBbvkP.jpg]A batch I made a while ago[/url]]. Usually make up a large batch (20 – 24 portions) then wrap the individual portions in foil and freeze them, moving a few into the fridge the night before a ride.

    August 14, 2014 at 9:19 am #805267
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    Anonymous

    Not hugely experienced in
    Not hugely experienced in these things but picked up one of the High5 race packs at the RideLondon show for £5. Did the “86” with one bottle made up with Energy Source powder and one bottle of blackcurrant squash, a couple of lumps of homemade flapjack and about eight gels. Almost certainly more carbs than ‘necessary’, but given the wet I did *not* want to bonk and finished on an absolute flyer. 😀

    August 14, 2014 at 7:43 am #805265
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    Stanley

    enough said
    enough said

    August 14, 2014 at 7:35 am #805263
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    CXR94Di2

    I have had some difficulty
    I have had some difficulty tolerating high sugar carbs on longer rides, mainly gels. On the prudential I decided to not have gels and only ate oat flapjacks and bananas. My drink stayed the same SiS Go electrolyte with a salt/potassium tablet dropped in. It worked, I didn’t suffer later with a bad guts. I had a little cramp mid ride but found I just needed to up my drinking and food intake a little. I will now set about making huge stocks of flapjacks 🙂

    August 14, 2014 at 7:16 am #805261
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    Stanley

    enough said
    enough said

    August 7, 2014 at 10:27 pm #805259
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    Paul J

    Aldi have these apple
    Aldi have these apple puree-solids + strawberry juice bars that are 15g carbs, 10g sugars per 20g bar. They market them as “Strawberry fruit bars”, though they’re mostly apple solids with strawberry and pear juice to flavour. These bars have maltodextrin added in – 2nd ingredient – which is a very easily absorbed sugar. Maltodextrin has a higher glycemic index than glucose. They’re sold as 5 bars together in a small mostly white box.

    I find they’re tasty, cheap (well, much cheaper than sports marketed stuff), not disgustingly sweet, have some fibre, and so really good for bringing on bike rides. Only problem is trying to not scoff them all before my bike rides. 😉

    August 7, 2014 at 7:14 pm #805257
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    Strathlubnaig

    Those pate des fruits from
    Those pate des fruits from Decathlon are good value, individually wrapped, lots of flavours. Most corner stores you pass also sell own brand cheap version of red bull, good for a quick fix.

    August 7, 2014 at 6:20 pm #805255
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    PonteD

    Not that you’ll be wanting
    Not that you’ll be wanting any gels (especially with the high5 box) but did you know Evans currently have a BOGOF on the multipack of IsoGel

    http://www.evanscycles.com/products/high-5/isogel-mixed-box-ec063487

    That’s 50 gels for £25. They aren’t the little gels though these are more like a shot of fruit juice with added gunk. Opinions at mixed, but at least they are fairly watery and don’t have the consistency of man juice :&

    August 7, 2014 at 3:01 pm #805253
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    parksey

    Just by way of an update,
    Just by way of an update, picked up a small bottle of SiS GO Electrolyte powder, blackcurrant flavour. Sad to say it was almost disgustingly sweet and sickly when made in accordance with the instructions. Ok for maybe the first half-bottle, but after that I really didn’t enjoy it.

    Also picked up a High 5 “Race Pack” in my local TK Maxx, mix of powders and gels for a comparative bargain at £7.99 (there’s about a dozen gels in there alone). The High 5 Energy Source powder tasted good, particularly in citrus flavour, and was miles more palatable over the course of a ride than the SiS GO.

    The surprising thing though was that both of them did actually seem to work…

    I’m stating the obvious, but from paying attention to fuelling properly, including a rather tasty homemade banana flapjack, I did see an increase in my average pace on a few known routes over the last couple of weeks, particularly on the climbs.

    So, plan for now seems to be to stick with an energy powder in the bottle and then try and then look to boost my flapjack recipe for some solid sustenance.

    Interestingly, I did see John Torode on The Cycle Show a couple of weeks back making a granola/flapjack thing which he (apparently) eats on the bike. Can’t for the life of me find it anywhere online though.

    Maybe it’s time for a separate “what’s your best flapjack recipe?” thread… :))

    August 6, 2014 at 9:14 pm #805251
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    PonteD

    I used to buy big tubs of
    I used to buy big tubs of Lucozade Isotonic powder from Tescos, from what I recall it was cheaper than “proper” sports drinks, but not sure about all those fancy electrolytes and what not. Just plain honest, nice tasting sugary drink, basically what you pick up in the fridge at the service station, but in powdered mix it yourself form (like all those fancy brands that cost 2+ times as much.

    July 25, 2014 at 6:21 pm #805249
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    Cyclist

    750ml bottle: 3/4 water 1/4
    750ml bottle: 3/4 water 1/4 coke (or your own brand of fizzy pop) cheap as chips & does the job.

    July 24, 2014 at 8:01 pm #805247
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    Nick T

    Water mixed with orange juice
    Water mixed with orange juice for hydration, fructose and electrolytes.
    Fig rolls for sucrose, sucrose and fibre.
    Honey in a refillable baby food pouch as a much cheaper gel alternative.

    Ice cream, sweets, chocolate Yopp and Soreen at the village shop.

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