Currently I am using accelerade in my bottles and was wondering if there is something better out there to better battle fatigue, cramping, gi distress etc…? Gu electrolyte brew, Hammer Heed, etc…?
there is no magic bullet.
gi distress - you have to figure out what doesn’t upset YOUR stomach, trial and error is the only way.
cramping - could be effort related, could be you need more salt, or more water, or less water, trial and error again
fatigue - are you eating enough calories? are you starting them early?
all that said, I chug a red bull sometimes in the middle of a long ride, works fine. caffeine is nice. I wouldn’t do it in a triathlon though until the run.
I put a Redbull tall-boy and a bag of chips in my IM special needs bag… other riders looked at me like I was the first person to ever think of it…lol…
If you’re experiencing gi distress, then the stuff’s not for you - change!
I put a Redbull tall-boy and a bag of chips in my IM special needs bag… other riders looked at me like I was the first person to ever think of it…lol…
If you’re experiencing gi distress, then the stuff’s not for you - change!
Got a picture of me pouring my RedBull into my aero bottle just before starting the climb to scenic (a ways past the resorts) inbound during last years wc race. label and all. Never thought of the bag of chips though. I really wish people wouldn’t gibe me ideas sometimes. 
I like a regular bottle with one 8oz Red Bull topped off with water as one of my two bottles in a half. Save it for the back half having drained the other (usually HEED) & taken hand-ups from aid stations.
Currently I am using accelerade in my bottles and was wondering if there is something better out there to better battle fatigue, cramping, gi distress etc…? Gu electrolyte brew, Hammer Heed, etc…?
Depends on the length of the race (for me).
Toward the end of almost any long race, consuming just about ANY energy drink almost always causes bloating and squirting.
Infinit…customize/experiment until you find the right combo that works for you. I know I can handle about 500 cals in one bottle but after that my stomach doesn’t like the excess concentration. Took me a few tries to get it right but it’s now dialed in. Being able to consume 1000 cals via two bottles is very convenient.
You may not like this, and many STers will probably laugh, but I make my own sports drink. In a 21oz Camelbak bottle combine 3/4c. 100% Cranberry juice, 4 tablespoons dextrose powder, and 1-2 pinches of kosher salt depending on how much you sweat, and fill the rest with water. This works great when I have long rides in hot weather. I never get cramps or gi distress, but that is me. contains ~60g of carbohydrates, 150-300mg sodium per bottle. I usually alternate with water. If you want more carbohydrates per bottle then you can add carbo-pro, but I try and stay away from maltodextrin
Currently I am using accelerade in my bottles and was wondering if there is something better out there to better battle fatigue, cramping, gi distress etc…? Gu electrolyte brew, Hammer Heed, etc…?
I’m old-school.
Water, gatorade, and gels on the bike.
Currently I am using accelerade in my bottles and was wondering if there is something better out there to better battle fatigue, cramping, gi distress etc…? Gu electrolyte brew, Hammer Heed, etc…?
I’m old-school.
Water, gatorade, and gels on the bike.
Cold coke or pepsi if you must
I usually add a Hammer Endurolyte fizz tablet to a bottle of water, and keep diluted gel in a separate flask.
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Currently I am using accelerade in my bottles and was wondering if there is something better out there to better battle fatigue, cramping, gi distress etc…? Gu electrolyte brew, Hammer Heed, etc…?
I’m old-school.
Water, gatorade, and gels on the bike.
Cold coke or pepsi if you must
The best rides are the long ones where you stop in the middle for a ice-cold can of Coke and a bag of salt and vinegar chips…
Currently I am using accelerade in my bottles and was wondering if there is something better out there to better battle fatigue, cramping, gi distress etc…? Gu electrolyte brew, Hammer Heed, etc…?
I’m old-school.
Water, gatorade, and gels on the bike.
Cold coke or pepsi if you must
The best rides are the long ones where you stop in the middle for a ice-cold can of Coke and a bag of salt and vinegar chips…
Boo ya!!!
I started using Skratch an really like it so far.
Still trying to figure out the best way to add in food/calorie.
I tried the calories only from fluid route and wound up spending LOTS of time in the porta-pottys
I did my first IM last year in Lousiville and was really worried about the heat. I used accelerade on my long rides and would stop around mile 60 for a red bull and water. I really liked it and used it in the IM, worked well for me,but, like many have said, its all trial and error.
I used uncrustables for a nice food break as well.
I drank a red bull during an ironman and didn’t feel a thing from it. All it did was give me red bull flavored burps.
Currently I am using accelerade in my bottles and was wondering if there is something better out there to better battle fatigue, cramping, gi distress etc…? Gu electrolyte brew, Hammer Heed, etc…?
I switched to a complete water protocol with EFS shots and other squeeze tubes.
This enables me to balance the water / calorie intake during the race and adapt. So far it has worked very well particularly on hot days when I need a lot more water and taking in too much electrolyte drink would be counterproductive.
The trick has also been to take in small amounts continuously from the beginning of the race to stay ahead of the curve.