Could Coke syrup be a more simple solution for race directors and those looking for race nutrition.
Soda dispensers have a CO2 source and a water source, which is then combined with the soda syrup.
Soda syrup comes in 5 gallon bags that are available at places like Costco for around $60. From what I looked up you can get about 3,680 finished oz from a single bag.
Technically an RD could buy the bags and dilute the syrup with ice/water in the morning and have perfectly chilled/flat coke by the time runners are on course.
You could also make up flasks of it for personal nutrition, although once you open the bag I’m not sure what the life of it would be.
“Cola” is more often than not free, does not need to be mixed, is understood at aid stations (“but it was all flat”) and usual and customary…I had the same idea.
I think logistically it would make more sense even if you did account having to mix it. A 5 gallon bag is a lot easier to move around than 50 2-liter bottles of soda. It’s impressive seeing the pallets of coke they move around at races.
Plus I’d rather have an under/over concentrated mix, than a fresh cup from a bottle with carbonation.
Please delete this thread. In my experience, any fluid served in a race which requires dilution with water will:
Be served from 12 year old orange “Gatorade” 10 gallon containers with brown muck and crap around the broken spout
It will be guaranteed to taste like the inside of a 15 year old garden hose…and such a hose was probably used to fill up the container.
The dilution factor will be off by a factor of at least 4…sometimes this is due to chintzy race directors, and sometimes somebody didn’t stir the mixture with a large enough boat paddle (or the proper drill attachment), or worse yet tried to shake a 10 gallon full container.
Could Coke syrup be a more simple solution for race directors and those looking for race nutrition.
Soda dispensers have a CO2 source and a water source, which is then combined with the soda syrup.
Soda syrup comes in 5 gallon bags that are available at places like Costco for around $60. From what I looked up you can get about 3,680 finished oz from a single bag.
Technically an RD could buy the bags and dilute the syrup with ice/water in the morning and have perfectly chilled/flat coke by the time runners are on course.
You could also make up flasks of it for personal nutrition, although once you open the bag I’m not sure what the life of it would be.
Here’s a thought that keeps it real simple.
Let the RD’s provide whatever nutrition is willing to pony up the cash and support the race. If you don’t like what’s there, mix/bring your own.
Sir, have you heard the stories of the Rockman Heed mixing parties in my lawn? ST’er on top of ST’er discovering that with a plug in blue Makita power drill and a cooler you could infact make a water spout of Heed…attracting wasps, ants and other nasties to your now sugar soaked body…all while consuming pre-race pasta?
All you need is a stirrer like this - and no common sense like me
You should be able to remove the carbonator from a soda fountain and have it serve flat pop. I think you need to have CO2 hooked up to run the syrup pump.
You should be able to remove the carbonator from a soda fountain and have it serve flat pop. I think you need to have CO2 hooked up to run the syrup pump.
Sure, then seal it, pack it, ship it and have the Dept. of Health not bitch about the handling of food items for human consumption. Or, shall we get a generator (are they electric) and a pop machine at every aid station (sans CO2)?
Devlin hit the nail on the head…if you dont like it and you demand the effects of Coke…
easily carried, water proof, caffeine and even better - not mixed with water as per Gu spec’s
Soda syrup comes in 5 gallon bags that are available at places like Costco for around $60. From what I looked up you can get about 3,680 finished oz from a single bag.
I consume large quantities of diet pop and people ask me why I don’t buy syrup boxes instead.
3,680 ozs is a little more than 54 2-liter bottles, which is equivalent to $1.10 per 2-liter.
Shopping well I can pay as little as $0.79 per 2 liter, but the maximum price I pay is $0.99.
With syrup I need a dispenser and larger refrigeration vs. just putting a couple of 2-liters in the fridge.
For HIMs, IMs and ultras I prefer flat coke(or generic) and bananas on the run. If you advertise it, please deliver. I have been to races where it is either not available, or if it is available it is nowhere near flat. For those people who say “bring your own” let me know that you are planning on not delivering as promised and I will bring my own. This is a considerable challenge as drop bags are unavailable at the rate of liquid nutrition consumption.
People are way too damn critical here. It was nothing more than a thought/suggestion that I hadn’t seen discussed before. Not a complaint at all. I’ve only been in one race where the coke wasn’t flat…I still drank it, but that was my choice.
But seriously, if a few of you stellar RDs couldn’t get this idea to work…then obviously no one else can either.
