Carbohydrate Drinks

ali69er
ali69er Posts: 35
edited April 2017 in Road general
After totally bonking last weekend in a sportive i am looking at carbohydrate drinks. I used to use hammer perpetuum but find it a bit pricey.

Looking at doing some long summer rides and am interested in these drinks. Any experience or advice.
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Comments

  • fat daddy
    fat daddy Posts: 2,605
    I use sis energy .... you stick 50g in to 500ml of water.

    Allegedly your body can process 1g of carb a minute .... so don't think you can start to bonk and then down half a litre of water and recover.

    Just mix your drink appropriately and sip from it regularly to keep hydrated and replenish glycogen

    I use it on morning club rides as I barely eat at that time of the morning and fear crashing out .. doesn't taste too bad either .. oh and its dilutes pretty much clear - opaque so doesn't scare anyone with that fake illunous colour that changes the colour of your piss

    does it work ??? .... yeah I believe so, and why wouldn't it, its food ... just very easy to digest food that hydrates at the same time
  • mrb123
    mrb123 Posts: 4,821
    Half apple juice. Half water. Pinch of salt. Done.
  • ali69er
    ali69er Posts: 35
    I saw the sis one. That was on the list.
  • grenw
    grenw Posts: 804
    I use the SIS stuff too. Tastes decent and seems to be on permanent half price which means it works out better value than most of the other stuff.
  • imposter2.0
    imposter2.0 Posts: 12,028
    ali69er wrote:
    After totally bonking last weekend in a sportive i am looking at carbohydrate drinks.

    Are you absolutely certain that the reason you 'bonked' is because you didn't have a carbohydrate drink?
  • fenix
    fenix Posts: 5,437
    If it's really energy you need then you'd probably be better off eating as you go. You're not going to get a huge amount of calories from your drinks.

    So for the SIS GO stuff - 2 bottles of 500ml will give you around 380 calories. What's that - a mars bar and a bit ?
  • debeli
    debeli Posts: 583
    MrB123 wrote:
    Half apple juice. Half water. Pinch of salt. Done.

    This, but also orange, mango or whatever you like.

    I have never tasted a shop-bought energy drink that tastes as nice as one slopped together under a kitchen tap with a juice carton. It takes seconds and actually tastes quite nice.

    The only processed drink I've ever used and enjoyed for longer rides is flat coke. But that is another answer to another question.
  • mellex
    mellex Posts: 214
    SIS products do the trick for me as well.

    Just one thing. Don't wait until your next event to experiment with drinks or nutrition. Some of the carbohydrate products really don't agree with peoples stomachs and that could spell disaster.
    ARC
  • fat daddy
    fat daddy Posts: 2,605
    mellex wrote:
    Some of the carbohydrate products really don't agree with peoples stomachs and that could spell disaster.

    :mrgreen: yes, I have heard this .. think I would rather bonk than have an exploding arse on a ride
  • sloppyschleckonds
    sloppyschleckonds Posts: 8,019
    fat daddy wrote:
    mellex wrote:
    Some of the carbohydrate products really don't agree with peoples stomachs and that could spell disaster.

    :mrgreen: yes, I have heard this .. think I would rather bonk than have an exploding ars* on a ride

    You can always wipe yer ar$e with a dock leaf.

    Who was the poster selling some bib shorts with skidders?
    I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles
  • timothyw
    timothyw Posts: 2,482
    Fenix wrote:
    If it's really energy you need then you'd probably be better off eating as you go. You're not going to get a huge amount of calories from your drinks.

    So for the SIS GO stuff - 2 bottles of 500ml will give you around 380 calories. What's that - a mars bar and a bit ?
    You don't need a huge amount of calories - what you need is enough calories that your body can continue to burn fat effectively.

    Your average sportive should be mostly fuelled from the average body's ample fat reserves. The body needs a certain proportion of carbohydrate available in order to burn fat - the proportion increases the harder the effort you are making.

    When you bonk, it isn't because you've run out of fat to burn - it's because you've run out of carbs.

    So yes, a couple of bottles energy drink might well be enough. Especially as people tend to drink on rides long before they get hungry (by which point it is often too late).
  • step83
    step83 Posts: 4,170
    Imposter wrote:
    ali69er wrote:
    After totally bonking last weekend in a sportive i am looking at carbohydrate drinks.

    Are you absolutely certain that the reason you 'bonked' is because you didn't have a carbohydrate drink?

    This, plenty of other reasons like pacing or just not eating, sure a carb drink is useful but ive bonked a few times even with drink. If your glycogen stores were low at the start of the ride your going to obviously burn through them at a faster rate because your not running on a full tank so to speak.

    Example, I did a 50 mile sportive a couple years back, got up late missed breakfast then proceeded to sprint off like a moron and didn't drink then bonked hard 20 miles in. Would I have bonked if I had drunk a carb drink, yes. Sit back, be rational an look what you did differently that ride to others then go from there.
    Titanium Px Spitfire
    Easty commuter
    Tripster AT
  • Bobbinogs
    Bobbinogs Posts: 4,841
    One problem with relying on drinks for carb is that they are pretty bad for your teeth, particularly on long rides. Hence, a carb drink should only be used for those rides that merit it and then as part of a balanced diet on the bike (so, some decent solid foods like banana, rice cakes, etc. and the odd drink/gel).
  • homers_double
    homers_double Posts: 8,290
    fat daddy wrote:
    mellex wrote:
    Some of the carbohydrate products really don't agree with peoples stomachs and that could spell disaster.

    :mrgreen: yes, I have heard this .. think I would rather bonk than have an exploding ars* on a ride

    Agree on this, I tried SIS products on a 24hr mountain bike enduro event, half way through I just felt rubbish and was on the verge of being sick. Swapped the stuff for water and got better pretty quickly.

    Also dropped my first gel at a 12hr solo event and that was even worse. It felt like a mad sugar rush and all my hair felt on end for 6 hours. The ony thing to clear it was a proper meal at home that night.

    Now I'm strictly a water/cake/beer rider depending on how far and where etc.
    Advocate of disc brakes.
  • navrig2
    navrig2 Posts: 1,851
    homers double wrote:
    fat daddy wrote:
    mellex wrote:
    Some of the carbohydrate products really don't agree with peoples stomachs and that could spell disaster.

    :mrgreen: yes, I have heard this .. think I would rather bonk than have an exploding ars* on a ride

    Agree on this, I tried SIS products on a 24hr mountain bike enduro event, half way through I just felt rubbish and was on the verge of being sick. Swapped the stuff for water and got better pretty quickly.

    Also dropped my first gel at a 12hr solo event and that was even worse. It felt like a mad sugar rush and all my hair felt on end for 6 hours. The ony thing to clear it was a proper meal at home that night.

    Now I'm strictly a water/cake/beer rider depending on how far and where etc.

    More or less my experience too.

    Haven't had any gels or carb drinks for many years.

    I'll eat energy bars from time to time. Prefer Naked Bars.
  • joe2008
    joe2008 Posts: 1,531
    I wouldn't touch SIS stuff, it has Aspartame in it!

    By far the best I've found is First Endurance EFS.
  • ali69er
    ali69er Posts: 35
    Yes, i think i like the idea to provide a base line. I also got really bad cramp in my legs. I had 1.5 litres of electrolyte over the 100km. When i used perpetuum i didn't have these problems so much so I assumed I could just get an energy drink
  • DavidJB
    DavidJB Posts: 2,019
    Buy Fructose & Multodextrin from my protein and make your own.
  • jollygiant
    jollygiant Posts: 117
    For carbs you need to eat.

    The best way to fuel is after an hour eat a jelly baby or 2(Same amount of glucose as a gel) every 15-20 mins and for every hour after the first eat 60grams of carbs and Soreen mini malt loaves have 64grams in them, so make an ideal source of carbs and both of these taste much better than any chemical crap you can buy. Unless you name Thomas or Froome is all you need and don't give you the shits either!

    For drinking I use High5 Zero Extreme http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/high5-zero-xtreme-electrolyte-drink-tablets/rp-prod55056 they are quite tasty and have 0 calories.
  • joe2008
    joe2008 Posts: 1,531
    jollygiant wrote:
    For carbs you need to eat.

    The best way to fuel is after an hour eat a jelly baby or 2(Same amount of glucose as a gel) every 15-20 mins and for every hour after the first eat 60grams of carbs and Soreen mini malt loaves have 64grams in them, so make an ideal source of carbs and both of these taste much better than any chemical crap you can buy. Unless you name Thomas or Froome is all you need and don't give you the shits either!

    For drinking I use High5 Zero Extreme http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/high5-zero-xtreme-electrolyte-drink-tablets/rp-prod55056 they are quite tasty and have 0 calories.

    It's OK to drink 'chemical crap' then :wink:
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    joe2008 wrote:
    I wouldn't touch SIS stuff, it has Aspartame in it!

    By far the best I've found is First Endurance EFS.

    Just out of curiosity, what do you have against aspartame?
  • joe2008
    joe2008 Posts: 1,531
    keef66 wrote:
    joe2008 wrote:
    I wouldn't touch SIS stuff, it has Aspartame in it!

    By far the best I've found is First Endurance EFS.

    Just out of curiosity, what do you have against aspartame?

    Not keen on cancer.

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8939194
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16507461
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17805418
  • simon_masterson
    simon_masterson Posts: 2,740
    TimothyW wrote:
    Fenix wrote:
    If it's really energy you need then you'd probably be better off eating as you go. You're not going to get a huge amount of calories from your drinks.

    So for the SIS GO stuff - 2 bottles of 500ml will give you around 380 calories. What's that - a mars bar and a bit ?
    You don't need a huge amount of calories - what you need is enough calories that your body can continue to burn fat effectively.

    Your average sportive should be mostly fuelled from the average body's ample fat reserves. The body needs a certain proportion of carbohydrate available in order to burn fat - the proportion increases the harder the effort you are making.

    When you bonk, it isn't because you've run out of fat to burn - it's because you've run out of carbs.

    So yes, a couple of bottles energy drink might well be enough. Especially as people tend to drink on rides long before they get hungry (by which point it is often too late).

    Basically this, unless you are out of shape or ill, if you bonk, you probably got your carbohydrate intake wrong (not enough/too late/both). How you take it in is up to you, but for low-medium intensity steady riding, real food and water are perfectly sufficient.
    Retro(ish) TT 2017-
    Fixed TT 2015-2016
  • micrographia
    micrographia Posts: 77
    Oh FFS, aspartame does not increase your risk of cancer.

    https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-ca ... rtame.html

    Also, the earth ain't flat, the moon landings happened and homeopathy doesn't work. HTH.
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    joe2008 wrote:
    keef66 wrote:
    joe2008 wrote:
    I wouldn't touch SIS stuff, it has Aspartame in it!

    By far the best I've found is First Endurance EFS.

    Just out of curiosity, what do you have against aspartame?

    Not keen on cancer.

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8939194
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16507461
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17805418

    Are you a lab rat?

    http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Goodfood/Pag ... rtame.aspx
    https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-ca ... rtame.html
    https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/are-ar ... ners-safe/
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspartame_controversy
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    Bugger! Pipped again!
  • chris_bass
    chris_bass Posts: 4,913
    joe2008 wrote:
    jollygiant wrote:
    For carbs you need to eat.

    The best way to fuel is after an hour eat a jelly baby or 2(Same amount of glucose as a gel) every 15-20 mins and for every hour after the first eat 60grams of carbs and Soreen mini malt loaves have 64grams in them, so make an ideal source of carbs and both of these taste much better than any chemical crap you can buy. Unless you name Thomas or Froome is all you need and don't give you the shits either!

    For drinking I use High5 Zero Extreme http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/high5-zero-xtreme-electrolyte-drink-tablets/rp-prod55056 they are quite tasty and have 0 calories.

    It's OK to drink 'chemical crap' then :wink:

    everything is chemicals
    www.conjunctivitis.com - a site for sore eyes
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    Chris Bass wrote:
    joe2008 wrote:
    jollygiant wrote:
    For carbs you need to eat.

    The best way to fuel is after an hour eat a jelly baby or 2(Same amount of glucose as a gel) every 15-20 mins and for every hour after the first eat 60grams of carbs and Soreen mini malt loaves have 64grams in them, so make an ideal source of carbs and both of these taste much better than any chemical crap you can buy. Unless you name Thomas or Froome is all you need and don't give you the shits either!

    For drinking I use High5 Zero Extreme http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/high5-zero-xtreme-electrolyte-drink-tablets/rp-prod55056 they are quite tasty and have 0 calories.

    It's OK to drink 'chemical crap' then :wink:

    everything is chemicals

    Don't you go marching in here with rational views and facts. Hysteria and pseudoscience is what the public craves. How very dare you!
  • joe2008
    joe2008 Posts: 1,531
    micrographia wrote:
    Oh FFS, aspartame does not increase your risk of cancer.

    https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-ca ... rtame.html

    Also, the earth ain't flat, the moon landings happened and homeopathy doesn't work. HTH.

    No, you're right it's a good wholesome nutrient.

    I doubt the moon landings happened.
  • diamonddog
    diamonddog Posts: 3,426
    jollygiant wrote:
    For drinking I use High5 Zero Extreme http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/high5-zero-xtreme-electrolyte-drink-tablets/rp-prod55056 they are quite tasty and have 0 calories.
    ^^This

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