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On road rides ? I always use them, probably more habit than anything else, but before I order some, and having read somewhere that for the casual road rider, doing 40 -60 miles typically, they don't offer any benefit over water and something to eat in back pocket, wondered what opinion is....
They dont really go off, they are easy to transport, add a bit of flavour, if they help then that's a bonus.
I use them on mtb and road if its scorching hot....Particularly if slightly hungover. 😉
Yes to both of the above reasons. I think they also helped me with cramping.
they don't offer any benefit over water and something to eat in back pocket,
Most have none or negligible calories, don't make the mistake of relying on them for energy as they don't have any. They do have salts and potassium lost through sweat, so will help you with re-hydration and cramp. The fruit flavours are there to encourage you to drink.
work for me in cutting down actual amount of fluid intake.
Seem to stave off heat related wilting as well.
Easily transportable, too, for multi day or long rides - so take a couple extra wrapped up, that you can drop into water refills.
Convenient and taste better than water, as above, not a food substitute though.
Use in warm weather, anything over an hour. Stops the late night cramps feel better for longer. No replacment for food though but then they don't claim to be. That's what the 'fuel' type drinks are for, but then I had rather have some proper food then.
I use them as a safeguard when riding in warm weather - no calories, so not for energy, but they add flavour and I don't have a problem with cramping that a mate of mine who doesn't use them seems to get.
If it's not hot or only a short ride, and I don't need extra energy/calories, then I just use squash in my bottles.
Obviously, proper food and drink is what cafes and pubs are for!
Never bother myself. Long rides I'll use High 5 Source, for energy, otherwise I'll just use water.
I use em occasionally if the water is tasting a bit too plastically. But they don't appear to do anything useful either for electrolytes or cramping.
http://sportsscientists.com/2007/11/sports-drinks-sweat-and-electrolytes/
One advantage they have when running though is the contents of the tablet makes the water foam a little, and you get less sloshing noise from a bottle.
For me they most certainly work as I'm a very sweaty bugger once the weather warms slightly. Perhaps it the placebo effect. Having said that some minerals and various salts are not what I'd call a sports drink, given that sugary rubbish that you see advertised.
Electrolyte in my energy drink so don't tend to use them when riding, I do use them off the bike when I'm drinking lots of water the days before a ride/race.
Bit more interesting than water and probably helps top up levels to hopefully stave off the cramps.
I use them mixed quite weak, I was getting cramps before I stared using regularly. Plus taste is good
I don't use them regularly, but will have one if feeling dehydrated in hot weather (or after a night on the sauce).
Usually just pop one in a glass and drink before riding.
May be psychosomatic but I definitely feel better after the ride if I have electrolyte rather than just plain water.
Once I realised that I was only getting cramp in the winter and had nothing to do with hydration, I stopped using electrolyte tablets.
They have their uses, the sodium does help offset cramps but more importantly potassium, calcium and sodium are essential for the correct electrical signal across the heart....long ride, hot weather and no electrolytes?....no thanks, i dont fancy cramps, palpitations, arrythmias and (worse case scenario) cardiac arrest.
Ever wondered how/why those soldiers occasionally drop down dead on long marches?...in the summer heat stroke often plays a part but in colder climates it tends to be a massive depletion of electrolytes lost in their sweat and sudden cardiac problems leading to collapse.
We're talking extreme examples here but on anything over an hour (that includes the gym, squash, MTB, road riding, kick boxing etc) i'll drop an electrolyte tab into my bottle of water.
I'm unconvinced. Seems to be a lack of science to prove their worth. Much cramping is about not being fit/healthy.
long ride, hot weather and no electrolytes?....no thanks, i dont fancy cramps, palpitations, arrythmias and (worse case scenario) cardiac arrest.
That'll be how all those cyclists and othe athletes died before they were invented then?
That'll be how all those cyclists and othe athletes died before they were invented then?
You are aware that you dont actually need a high-5 electrolyte tab to get these essential nutrients...this convenient form is just a modern packaging solution.
The TdF (for example) has been running for over 100 years and riders have been consuming all manner of food stuffs and liquids during its long history....think of that as their electrolyte tabs but in an old fashioned/traditional form.
Sometimes my stomach cant take the 'unique' flavour of an electrolyte mix so i'll just take water and a cereal bar....does the same thing just not as convenient....athletes have been doing that kind of thing for as long as there have been endurance sports.
You are prone to cramping. You have been using them of late. Haven't seen you cramping for a while.....
Deviant, so which is it then? You are going to die without electrolyte tablets, or you get electrolytes from food and don't need to bother?
You are aware that you dont actually need a high-5 electrolyte tab to get these essential nutrients...this convenient form is just a modern packaging solution.
Precisely you don't need them.
Its bizarre given the amount of research that goes into sport science, that we actually are still unsure what causes cramping.Theory used to be dehydration and/or loss of Na/Ca/K but recent evidence would suggest these are not involved.Cynic-al is right in suggesting that basic lack of fitness or significantly increased training load is the main cause of cramping according to the most recent research.
Personally, I use zero tabs as a way of replacing electrolytes and the associated physiological effects. And because they taste better than plain water! They were never meant to replace energy sources, in fact the idea behind them was to increase fat utilization in long training sessions rather than the body using the sugars in sports drinks.
I'm a clinical biochemist by trade, so have always had an interest in this.
A High 5 tab in a pint of water is the best hangover cure in the world 😆
A High 5 tab in a pint of water is the best hangover cure in the world
Anything that will force water into the brain works - Lucozade, maltodextrin etc
Its called forced diuresis
What you don;t want to do is put too many in one bottle, create a solution which is no longer isotonic, and results in burning for the back of your throat. That would be a really stupid thing to do. Especially if it was purely becaue after having added the sample pack of super duper high caffeine no carb elecotrlyte, you found three more high caffeine content tablets in the box and decided to just throw them in as well.
I think they are definitely more palatable and effective than pure water, though I don't often bother with them. I find they are best at about 1/2 the recommended concentration. Too thick and not really thirst quenching at full strength.
Seems like most folk like them then !
downshep - Member
You are prone to cramping. You have been using them of late. Haven't seen you cramping for a while.....
Well I had them in today, one per bottle and 42 mile south Lanarkshire fig of 8 loop felt OK 😀
Anything that will force water into the brain works - Lucozade, maltodextrin etcIts called forced diuresis
That's interesting and provides an explanation as to why my favourite hangover cure as a yoot was a pasty and a bottle of orange lucozade.
I use them because (a) they taste better than plain water and (b) I sometimes get headaches particularly if it is warm or a hard ride and using electrolytes seems to help avoid this.
cynic-al - Member
I'm unconvinced. Seems to be a lack of science to prove their worth. Much cramping is about not being fit/healthy
Speakinmg as someone who is neither fit nor healthy, I definitely cramp less with them.
Now, if you suggested to me the reason is that I drink more flavoured water than i do plain, I'd agree that might be part (or even all) of it, but for whatever reason, they help.
I'm absolutely, totally convinced that they work for me. And ultimately, that's what counts. If they don't work for you, or you don't need them then that's fine, but they DO work for me and I DO need them.
Not necessarily for *every* ride though - I can regularly do a steady 40 miles over 2.5/3hrs and literally not even take a single sip from my bottle. However, if I'm pulling my tripe out on the turbo, a hard training ride, a long club run or in a race of over 45 mins, then I'm guaranteed to cramp without my nuun tablets. I rely on these to the extent that I just simply couldn't train/race without them.
Work for me. Less cramping, particularly off road. I can't tolerate energy drinks as they irritate my stomach.
Nunn green tea has been discontinued but I did stock up 🙂 . I use 1.5 tabs in a 750 ml bottle.
works here, if i don't use them, and only water, i get more cramp, none or little if i do ( hot weather rides )
might not be all the contents in the tablet, but something in the ingredients does help