DIY sports drinks

[MessenJah]

Do you make your own drink for cycling?

I like to make a drink with the following:

• 2 spoons of Maltodextrin
  
• A spoon of glucose powder
  
• Two 50mg caffeine tabs (£1.99 for 30 tabs from Superdrug), crushed into powder
  
• 200ml of fruit juice of any kind (I like orange juice mixed with pineapple)
  
• An electrolyte plus tablet (I skip this if I'm going to eat food regularly during the ride)
  
• top up with water

Tis pretty good

 

[Blue]

I mix my drink from 1/3rd Innocent smoothie and 2/3rds tapwater. Quick, good and one of my daily fruit portions into the bargain!!

 

[Rhythm Thief]

I usually just have plain water. But occasionally I have a bottle of some sort of powdered banana energy drink.

 

[yello]

Water, pinch of salt, few tbs of sugar, drop of lime cordial.... or just water.

 

[beanzontoast]

Water.

Anything else starts to taste funny when it warms up after a few hours cycling.

 

[MessenJah]

So do you completely rely on actual food to keep you going on long rides? I couldn't ride for more than an hour without some sort of carb intake.

 

[RedBike]

Just water

I eat a bananna or two and the odd biscuit while riding.
On longer rides, 6hours+, I like to stop for a meal.

 

[yenrod]

Water: though if i was to use a drink it'd be Isostar: as I like the Lemon taste.

Wouldnt mind trying theses 'Gels' that Pro. riders use and see if they make a difference.

 

[MessenJah]

'course they make a difference - they replace carbs that you've used up, so they'll delay fatigue. Some contain electrolytes too. You still need to drink water though, obviously.

I'm quite surprised at how many people only use water... BTW I meant to ask "Do you make your own drink for long rides?" but for some reason I typed "...for cycling"... oops.

 

[Baggy]

One hour and I'm fine on water, or nothing if it's cool.
Two hours plus will take squash or water and snacky bars.
Four hours plus will mix up one bottle of Lucozade powder (orange - yum) and one water, plus snacky bars and maybe a sarnie.
If it's longer than that, will also take out some loose Lucozade powder to mix when refilling a bottle, snacky bars, sarnies, chocolate etc...and possibly top up with Coke, ice cream etc if its 9 hours or so.

 

[TheDoctor]

Depends on the weather, the distance, the hilliness and the pace. A gentle amble, like the evening CTC pub rides (3 hours, including about an hour in a pub, 20 - 25 miles) I won't bother. Harder or longer, anything from water or squash up to full on energy drinks, Eat Natural nutty bars and generally anything that'll get me through. On Ventoux I got through 1.5 liters of SIS drink, 1.5 l water, 3 bars, coffee with sugar and a can of Coke. Then I stopped for lunch on the way down. Mind you, I've been known to do a 12 mile ride and stop for tea and cakes. Twice...

 

[Baggy]

On Ventoux

He says, casually

Mind you, I've been known to do a 12 mile ride and stop for tea and cakes. Twice...[/

Yes, likewise

 

[TheDoctor]

I'd have got ice creams as well had the shop been open. And chips.

 

[4F]

Blackcurrent squash with salt

 

[Renard]

I normally use lucozade sport in my bottles but am looking for any DIY recipes out there so I can save a bit of cash. I Have heard of some who use diluting juice with salt and others who make up solutions of glucose and/or maltodextrin but I haven't a clue which and what quantities to use. Any tips would be appreciated.