GamJams Reviews: Hydration

[All cyclists are experts, at least when it comes to our equipment choices. We know why we chose what we chose, and what we think of the product after we've been using it. GamJams Reviews channels that collective expertise - category by category - into a tidy package of articles designed to help all of us make better equipment decisions. Buying what pros get paid to use is one way to go. But the candid testimonial of fellow racers who paid out of their own pocket - that's an endorsement that really counts.]

This week's GamJams Reviews is on Hydration If you want to add your own review, do it in the comments or on your own blog and throw a link in the comments.

• Defying convention and many coaches' advice, Whine and Cheese has different hydration strategies for training and racing - training only with water and drinking recession-friendly Gatorade on game day. He also has a tactic to allow riding with only one bottle: "About 15 to 30 minutes before (an hour before is preferred but never happens due to being lazy and forgetful) every training ride I chug 1 bottle of water or 2 glasses of water... the benefits of such a system come from the fact that there is no need to drink ANYTHING for the first hour."
• After 15 years of highly qualified ingestion, Fatguy Racer has also settled on Gatorade over more expensive specialty sports drinks: "I bought into the hype on some of these products and gave them an honest run. I can report that the only thing they did for me is to part me with my money. They worked no better than Gatorade. Some of those products have actually hindered my performance."
• Flamenco Chuckwagon also blows the Gatorade horn, and also has kind words for Gu2O, which is not the same thing as regular Gu cut with Gatorade: "One time a team mate suggested squeezing a Gu into a bottle of energy drink. This was the most disgusting thing I've ever tried. Thankfully it was during one of my diligent phases and I tried it in training first." With teammates like that...
• BethBikes likes her Cytomax, not in spite of its tendency to congeal in the container, but because of it: "I have spent many hours and many calories trying to chop up my Cytomax into a usable form... I have tried many other hydration products in the past 14 years. I always come back to Cytomax...maybe it is because my arms get super cut from all that chopping."
• KMAX TRAX prefers Accelerade to Cytomax for training since it has a 4:1 carbs to protein ratio. For KMAX, this allows Accelerade to step in as a recovery drink as well: "Since I generally forget to or simply don't get to eating right after training a nutrition drink that provides these benefits during and directly after my workouts is a big plus." KMAX also has a picture of Cytomax in its congealed form responsible for Beth's pythons.
• I had never heard of it before Karen Got Wheels' review, but Infinit sounds like the cycling tech weenie's dream: "this small company custom makes drink powder. Want it sweeter? Want it less sweet, saltier, more protein? They have standard formulas for the tri folks, crit racing, centuries, recovery etc... but you can call them up and work with them (or do it on line to make your own special blend) to make your drink exactly like you want it." She also has some thoughts on Gatorade (convenient), Accelerade (hard to clean out of bottles), Red Bull, Powerade, G2 and even Iced Tea.
• Pedal'n Around likes Powerbar drink mix in lemon lime, orange and fruit punch. In that order. "If it is any drink mix I love Powerbar endurance lemon lime flavor. That stuff is good. Has one of the highest levels of sodium so in the summer I surely have this in the bottle."
• If you're still not sold on an energy drink, First Dropped recommends Nuun Tabs: "These active hydration tablets are worth a try... I like the fact that you can't make a mess with the tablet. Just fill the bottle with H20, drop the tablet in and you're in business. I tried the cola flavor and it tasted great."

Next week's Reviews: Handlebar Tape.

Comments

[HarryF]

My hydration review?

Plain old H20. Water, water and more water. Bottom line make sure you're hydrated before, during, and after the race/ride. Most of the time if you're going to use a liquid supplement, you need to make sure that it doesn't conflict with the other stuff you're eating. Ever try loading up on Gu and then drinking a high carb/electolyte/protein drink? You'll surely pay for it and have stomach cramps. Make sure you drink small amounts during the event. My major problem is with the very hot days where my body just shuts down and my stomach doesn't absorb any liquids and I just get blated and puke at the end, if I'm lucky enough to survive the whole race.

[Chuck Hutch]

Yeah, I agree with the Fang - just plain water, and plenty of it before the event (you can always pee while you ride). If the race is like 70 or more miles I pocket a few GUs and make sure I eat well the night before and tons for breakfast. Basically, if your well trained, well fed and well hydrated water fits the bill for the race and you don't need any magic juju powders.