Electrolytes, Drinks & Hydration

that sukki stuff thats only available in australia is the winner as it's less harsh on the teeth due to the low acidity

http://www.sukkie.com.au/

If this stuff isn't available easily in the UK there's no point.

I've been using these on rides and in the gym, great stuff and cheap.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=55056

They give me the shakes.

They give me the shakes.

You notice them when you're training? Caffeine can make me pretty edgy but it's not a concern if I'm riding or training hard....

were you using 1 or 2 tabs?

65mg per tab isn't much caffeine.

about the same as a shot of espresso non?

Not my espresso shots..

I had one of these this morning. Gross.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eXWfY4_BrQw/Tl2P5bs4i3I/AAAAAAAAAXY/FLQ_pM9xOPM/s1600/5-Hour-Energy.jpg

did it provide what it promises? I'd suffer a rank taste for 5 hours of energy...

I couldn't tell. I probably rode to work a bit faster but I can do the same if I stub my toe on the fridge or something.

I like nuun, tastes good...

If this stuff isn't available easily in the UK there's no point.

Actually, the point is that a lot of energy drinks are harsh on the teeth due to the amount of acid in them. And that Sukkie or something similar needs to be made available in the UK.

Don't gurgle your sport drinks, problem solved.

1 litre water
100g table sugar
juice of 1 lemon
1.6g Electrolyte powder
200mg caffeine

Probably easiest to bulk mix the dry ingredients unless you've got mg accurate scales. If you're being really cheap salt makes an acceptable substitute for electrolyte powder. I've also done;

1 litre water
100g table sugar
100mg Raspberry ketone
1g citric acid
1.6g Electrolyte powder
200mg caffeine
[URL="http://www.myprotein.com/uk/products/electrolyte_powder"][/URL]

http://journals.lww.com/acsm-msse/Abstract/publishahead/The_effects_of_dehydration_during_cycling_on.98672.aspx

Conclusion: Progressive dehydration significantly increased HR, Tc, RPE, Pvol loss, whole body CHO oxidation, and muscle glycogenolysis, and these changes were already apparent in the first hour of exercise when BM losses were <=1%. The increased muscle glycogenolysis with DEH appeared to be due to increased core and muscle temperature, secondary to less efficient movement of heat from the core to the periphery.

I just got some stuff from chain reaction and they sent me some samples of this stuff

don't know if they're any good but I don't think I'll use them, if anyone wants 4 sachets for the price of postage drop me a PM, otherwise they'll sit at the back of a cupboard fermenting.

I've been getting quite twitchy / crampy calves in the few days after a big ride since I've started riding longer and harder at the weekends.

Do you think this may be bacause I'm lacking some vitamins / electrolytes whatever? If I'm out training on my own I take some High Five Zero electrolyte drink, or if it's a sportive I get some energy drinks down...

any tips / advice appreciated

"started riding longer and harder"

As long as you are reasonably hydrated and eat ok these will go away.

I'm often doing long training rides hungover to all hell but don't cramp any more as I've adapted to the load.

yesterday i went for a long ride and didn't have any noun tablets or similar. i remembered from reading some old racers account that they used to have tea in their bidons - so i filled one bidon with tea (boiled water + tea bag + sugar - brew and add cold water to chill - nb no milk) and the other bidon with water and i have to say it was a bloody nice and good (i didn't dehydrate) combination.
no idea from a scientific point of view how it compares with modern refueling powders etc but i think i will continue with it.

Torq powder always good for me.

Surprised to see life in this thread since the Panorama documentary on sports nutrition and supplements.

The one that focused on the BMJ's report about sports product marketing to gym-going plebs that bares no relation to people who ride for longer than a couple of hours at a time?

Riding for a couple of hours doesn't make you an 'elite athlete' which is what was stated in the program. But I do agree that there is a middle ground that should be analysed.
I also think that we should, being generally intelligent folk, look up the citations and look at the studies ourselves, not taking the BBC babble as the gospel truth.