"For a few seasons I’ve used the supplement SportLegs before hard rides, and been pleased with how it seems to let me ride a little harder a little longer - in a tricky way: Its blend of calcium and magnesium doesn’t let you blow right through the burning you get when you’re jamming hard, but it seems to both put off that moment, and let you feel fresher after multiple efforts. Now a new blend called Acid Zapper has arrived as serious competition (as well as a catchier name).
With a mix of - ta da! - calcium and magnesium, backed additionally by potassium, and what the maker, Tamer Laboratories, calls its “Alka-Plex” blend, Acid Zapper achieves the same effect as SportLegs: I feel slightly better, slightly longer, at slightly higher intensities than I do when I ride without it, and, most noticeably, I recover quicker during rides. Although I know that by saying this I’m about to be buried by studies proving each works better than the other, I find them nearly identical in helping my performance."
One of my co-workers has a connection to the company that makes acid zapper. For a couple years I’ve been dodging the hype, during a build phase for a marathon a bottle landed on my desk so I gave it a shot. Post workout soreness was definitely reduced & it seemed like I could put in more miles before fatigue.
Placebo, sugar pill, snake oil…all possible but even if that’s the case its an advantage…
I’ve been using it now for about three months, but should note I have yet to have to purchase it.
I also have training partners that use Sportslegs & like the results but I haven’t tried it.
I won a bottle of the acid zapper (well, not really “won” - I was dumb enough to do a brutal 100K hilly road race on Sat, followed by a hilly Cyclocross race on Sun they gave the 4 idiots who did the double a bottle)
Haven’t noticed anything yet! Sure is expensive. Some of the older studies I’ve read re: this issue years ago showed some slight improvement in sprint type athletics, but nothing more.
I’ve used both and have noticed less burn during long rides and recovery seems to be more thorough.
Have also used them during rides as well as before/after and noticed I didn’t get the burn as early. In better shape (well, I was in better shape before the silly cold got here!), possibly.
Will start using them again soon for my marathon build most likely… probably Acid Zapper.
I’ve used sportslegs a few times. Got it from one of my team mates. Didn’t really notice any difference during the race. Might have some placebo effect, but don’t see it doing much in the way of actually reducing lactic acid.
Hmmm…calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Sounds like the people who claim a benefit haven’t been keeping their electrolyte levels up
They’re the lactate variety of those elements, though, and the purported benefit of the products is through their manipulation of the lactate fuel system.
I am not vouching for the products or backing up the validity of the claims. Just pointing out that they’re not garden variety cal/mag/pot supplements.
I’ve been using Acid Zapper for 2 years now. I can say that it definitely works. It’s not that it eliminates the burn all together but it makes it so much more manageable and less painful. It has allowed me to push harder than I would normally push. I only use it for racing and I will continue to use it. It’s great.
I have used SportsLegs and Acid Zapper and found that they had some great effects. Definitely feeling less fatigued running more mileage. I saw that Base Performance Nutrition had similar claims for its Electrolyte Salt and it was 19.99 for a two months supply so I decided to give it ago and found similar effects even though it doesn’t have the same calcium and magnesium levels. My guess is that they are all snake oil and snake oil works.
Later in the Bicycling.com review, Executive Editor Bill Strickland concluded, “What it comes down to for me is price. Acid Zapper is $70 for 240 tablets; SportLegs is $54 for the same amount. And, if I continued to take Acid Zapper according to the manufacturer’s suggestion - 3-6 per day - the relative cost would be even higher.”
Hmmm…calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Sounds like the people who claim a benefit haven’t been keeping their electrolyte levels up
There are studies that show that muscle fatigue is most likely due to ‘calcium leakage’ rather than lactic acid buildup and that lactic acid is a fuel rather than a source of fatigue and this may be the reason Sportlegs work. To what extent do they work, I don’t know. I’ve had some good workouts with them but it’s hard to say how much of that can be attributed to Sportlegs.
We have professional and olympic level athletes using both religiously. Our own athletes have tried and continue to use both with the slight edge going to SportLegs. Acid Zapper tweaked the marketing so you get a comparable price/serving now. End of the day it comes down to preference and how an athlete needs to control or significantly reduce lactic acid. If untamed it can bury the best in the business.
I have been taking Extreme endurance for the last few weeks while training for a very hilly 50k race. i honestly think it helps with soreness and recovery time. I ran 21 miles friday and 8 today. That has never before been possible. http://xendurance.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=45
I have nothing to gain by recommending them. They also sponsor IM talk podcast, which is pretty good.
Hmmm…calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Sounds like the people who claim a benefit haven’t been keeping their electrolyte levels up
There are studies that show that muscle fatigue is most likely due to ‘calcium leakage’ rather than lactic acid buildup and that lactic acid is a fuel rather than a source of fatigue and this may be the reason Sportlegs work. To what extent do they work, I don’t know. I’ve had some good workouts with them but it’s hard to say how much of that can be attributed to Sportlegs.
Increased extracellular potassium and increased levels of intracellular inorganic phosphate (from ATP to ADP + inorganic phosphate) as well, but yeah the muscle fatigue and acidosis thing has been pretty much debunked.
I tried Sportlegs 3 times and was a skeptic. Gotta say, they either have the placebo effect down pat or it works. 2 observations. 1st was longer effort before fatigue and 2. was much better after effort. I have had horrible lactic burns and it was definitely less than I was used to. I also did the Gatorade sweat loss analysis and am off the charts so perhaps it is just the right mix of e’lytes that are deficient.
Recovery e21 seems to be giving my training partners and me the same benefits. Feel better while training/racing (go faster!) and then don’t feel so whipped/sore afterward. It’s an all natural micro-algae full of electrolytes and other minerals. Interesting product and I was surprised at how well it works, but it really seems to. www.recoverye21.com
