What's wrong with flat Coke?

TheDrunkMonk

If you're doing a sportive or just a long training ride, can you just drink flat Coke?

I never know what I'm paying for with sports drinks, I'm guessing water, sugar and few salts. That's Coke isn't it? And it's so cheap they pay you to drink it, and degrease engines with it.

I remember a doctor friend of mine saying flat Coke would save a dehydrated child. That's me after a few miles.

kingstongraham

It's what they have on the run of an ironman. gives you energy, hydration plus caffeine.

but why wouldn't you just eat something nice and drink water or nuun if you are on a training ride or sportive?

TheDrunkMonk

I've tried just water before, and could notice the difference between that and the sports drinks. But if sports drink is just sugar and water (flavourings) I thought flat Coke might be a mega-cheap alternative.

Love those cola nuuns by the way. So did everyone else in our town, so I can't buy them any more.

jibberjim

TheDrunkMonk wrote:

If you're doing a sportive or just a long training ride, can you just drink flat Coke?

I never know what I'm paying for with sports drinks, I'm guessing water, sugar and few salts. That's Coke isn't it? And it's so cheap they pay you to drink it, and degrease engines with it.

You could, but it's very simple sugar, which is not very good for energy as it causes wild fluctuations, also it's pretty hard on the stomach for most people.

Cost wise, get along to www.myprotein.co.uk, buy some "maltodextrin" for very little, and mix that up as your drink, either simply with water - perhaps add some Dextrose or Fructose to sweeten the mix if that's what you like. It will be much cheaper even than the coke, and will be digested better.

Or if you want to go for more exotic energy drinks with more than just the basic carbohydrates, you can make those recipes up to- e.g. my Energy Gel recipe.

On Ironman courses, the flat coke is generally peoples "oh rats, my nutrition's gone wrong I need a quick boost" food, because of the quickly into the system aspects of it, it's not something that most people use as the primary source.

Wogan

Mmmm flat coke. Floke.

Sugar, caffeine and whole load of preservatives, with an awesome cola taste. I don't have a bottle to hand but I'm pretty sure it only has a trace amount of sodium - that might be bad if you're sweating a lot.

Without sodium, It won't be as quick at getting the water and sugar into your bloodstream as an isotonic drink, but in the grand scheme of things I don't think it would make a huge difference. Enjoy the great taste of Floke!

Bhima

jibberjim wrote:

TheDrunkMonk wrote:

Cost wise, get along to www.myprotein.co.uk, buy some "maltodextrin" for very little, and mix that up as your drink, either simply with water - perhaps add some Dextrose or Fructose to sweeten the mix if that's what you like. It will be much cheaper even than the coke, and will be digested better.

+1

Or, if you can be bothered, make a fruit smoothie and add a bit into the blender with a pinch of salt (sodium). Dilute with water if the smoothie is thick. You get loads of vitamins and minerals this way but from a natural source.

TheDrunkMonk

So if you're a processed sugar and chemicals kind of guy, Floke with a pinch of salt might do the trick, though won't be as affective as sports drink. Otherwise take a nice healthy picnic and some watered down smoothies.

I noticed whilst trying to find what was in Coke (or Floke) that its basically some kind of citrus, vanilla, cinnamon cordial. Maybe I could make my own Floke with less chemicals, some added maltodextrin and glucose.

TheDrunkMonk

For all you thousands of BikeRadar readers who I'm sure are really interested in this thread I've got some answers.

What's wrong with flat Coke? It was great for the first hour then it started to make me feel sick. It will also make your bottle, bike and hands very, very sticky. I'm suprised. Not.

My teeth seem smaller......

Bhima

If you must drink something like that, get the cartons of flat Supermalt! Much better, with all those B-vitamins! http://www.supermalt.com/Default.aspx?ID=67