Is water alone sufficient for hydration on rides?

[Milzy]

I normally start out with an energy drink but if I'm out all day I top it up as I go along and end up with a strange concoction of something like energy drink, coke, orange juice and water in my bottle.

And no, I've never done a long ride at threshold either. I don't even know what it means.

Where you push so hard you develop lactate and eventually get cramps. Keeping electrolytes replenished can avoid this and looks more impressive on Strava.

 

[midlife]

Where you push so hard you develop lactate and eventually get cramps. Keeping electrolytes replenished can avoid this and looks more impressive on Strava.

There's always the Cori Cycle

Shaun

 

[Milzy]

There's always the Cori Cycle

Shaun

Haha yes I run and ride so it's a never ending cycle.

 

[HLaB]

I have always just taken plenty of water on long rides, I've never bothered with sports drinks containing electrolytes and such like. Are such drinks necessary for hydration on long rides or is it more a case of them being an added bonus for performance? Is it worth considering these products? Personally I reckon plain old water does fine.

Depends how hard you are pushing; water alone isn't sufficient if you are pushing hard as you need to replace your body salts but if your not pushing hard enough to lose them its fine

 

[Drago]

Water is all I use, though I've carried salt tablets while touring in warmer climes. Water is also useful benefit for cleaning wounds.

 

[Saluki]

Water for me, all though I have been known to take weak lemon squash sometimes. I take a banana and some jelly babies. Haribo ones are perpetually on offer and are not dusted with icing sugar which goes sticky.

 

[ozboz]

Ive not done any real long rides as yet, but in summer I put a 2:1 sugar to salt in my bottle as I pedal around , sort of heaped teaspoon to a flat one,
That is how I kept hydrated when I was working in the Queensland summer heat ,

 

[GGJ]

Water for anything up to 60-70 miles and couple of High5 Zero electrolyte tabs for anything over that

 

[Racing roadkill]

If your electrolyte balance gets screwed up, you will tend to suffer cramps, on a long, hard one.
the electrolyte / sports drinks are not strictly necessary, but they are a good / easy way to help keep the bodies electrolyte concentration constant.

 

[si_c]

I tend to carry a bottle with 2 tabs of zero in, largely because it tastes nice and I find that if I go for a longer ride then I tend to get leg cramps after the ride.

 

[Shut Up Legs]

You need more than just water if you're sweating

Never used anything but water, I've crossed Spain in summer in temps ranging from 32c to 44c on water (one bottle) with no problems, so can't see any reason to use any "sports" drinks here.

One bottle per day, in those temperatures? That's impressive: most cyclists would be badly dehydrated if they did that.

 

[mjr]

Just water, but I'm riding for fun and not into sweating or masochism and have a deep suspicion of factory foods.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Just water here as well, most of my rides have a cafe stop, if I'm not stopping then I add some malt loaf.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Where you push so hard you develop lactate and eventually get cramps. Keeping electrolytes replenished can avoid this .

I can think of easier ways of avoiding it

 

[nickyboy]

Does Vimto cordial count as a sports drink?