Fuel for the body

[FuriouSly]

   Bananas, something with bread, water, water, and water.  Drink Gatorade and poweraides at 25% (16 ounces power drink to 48 ounces water ), but bananas are the key first thing before a ride.
   Cramps are from dehydration, but all the water you can drink cannot get where it is needed if the right chemical balance is not achieved to get it there.  Headaches are from dehydration as well. The blood vessels are dialated and there is not enough fluid for them, which causes headaches.  Sugar and caffeine Vaso Constrict ( decrease the vessels ) making the headaches go away, but do not solve the root problem.  Our bodies DO NOT LIKE HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP ! ! ! Just like Arigato said before, fruit like apples, nectarines, oranges, and watermelon are great.  Preparing and balancing out your body prior to these problems is the way to go.  "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure".
   I know most of you peeps here spend some time getting your bike ready to ride, right?  Clean the air filter, mixing fuel, extra spark plug, tire pressures, extra parts, repair tools, and even a little Armor All and aluminum polish ? ! ?    So, in order for our bodies to run at their best, without a failure, we need to look at it like we do our bikes.  Why do we get mad at our body when it bonks 3/4 through the race?  Because we think we can control our body with just our brains.....  wrong.  We are a machine just like our bikes.
   Think about this....   with all the technology we have today, why isn't there a little pill or a powder pack that we can consume instead of the food we do???  Because our bodies are more complicated than that.  So thinking that a pill, Red Bull, or a powder pack will do the trick is flawed.  You still need solid, good food.
   Get rest, power up with carbs and protein, and hydrate before the ride or race.  Stay away from Red Bull, soda, alcohol, and high sugars before the ride.

Bananas......... Sly

[KXcam22]

 :-DI second that. When I raced that's all I ate on race day. Super power. Cam.

[alan]

I use Ultra Fuel mixed 50/50 with water!    

Ultra Fuel Liquid 18oz (Blue Raspberry, Grape, Orange, Fruit Punch)

A high energy drink that offers a balanced ratio of simple and complex carbohydrates, in a unique formulation that synthesizes muscle and liver glycogen to drive short and long term energy, speed recovery and improve overall performance.that means more energy and recovery for the ultimate in overdrive! Charged with a balanced ratio of simple and complex carbohydrates, superior blend of glucose polymers, 100% pure crystalline fructose and essential electrolytes

[Spider]

Watermelon! It's sweet, wet, and will stay with you. If you eat some the night before it's almost like cheating. Other than that water or 50/50 gatoraid.

[Timbowe]

Down here a gargle off a bottle or two of "V". Guarana, Cafine, Sodiumbicarbonicacetate, you know all that good stuff.

 

[gowen]

I've never seriously taken anything for riding except maybe some Soda's and Gatorade. McDonalds is in the order usally as it is the closest place to the only track here within a few miles.

[hughes]

Everybody is different I guess. I have not worked out in over a month because of my thumb or even rode my bike. This past sunday like to have killed me. After about two hrs of riding I was dead tried. Before my injury to my thumb I could see a big difference in my riding with regular work outs at the gym. My body needs plenty of fluids during the ride of I feel like crap the whole ride home and that evening if I don't get enough fluids. I have found that propel fittness water has work better for me than any of the sports drinks. This monday am going to try and eat some bananas during the ride over the track and stay on propel fittnes water during the day. It's going to be in the 90's this weekend.

[alan]

I use Ultra Fuel mixed 50/50 with water!    

Ultra Fuel Liquid 18oz (Blue Raspberry, Grape, Orange, Fruit Punch)

A high energy drink that offers a balanced ratio of simple and complex carbohydrates, in a unique formulation that synthesizes muscle and liver glycogen to drive short and long term energy, speed recovery and improve overall performance.that means more energy and recovery for the ultimate in overdrive! Charged with a balanced ratio of simple and complex carbohydrates, superior blend of glucose polymers, 100% pure crystalline fructose and essential electrolytes

http://www.twinlab.com/spn-product.cfm?Product_ID=1028&Subcategory_ID=ENER

[raredesign]

I know this is an old post, but even though there was some good information, I feel the most important was missing.

As was stated, bananas is a key food to prevent cramping, but rather than just have the foods and liquids that are subject to personal opinion, I think one will be much more satisfied, if you select for yourself once you know what you are after.

The same thing that makes Gatorade a popular drink, is what people are trying to get out of bananas; electrolytes. Bananas have quite a few, and Gatorade claims 3 I believe. As far as I know, there are 7 total. In my opinion, Gatorade is very acidic, and in strenuous workouts, I get ill. I have found that Smart Water helps greatly, since it is just water, but with electrolytes (4 of them)...no flavor/acid = no upset stomach.

With that said, you want electrolytes. They are what keep your body balanced, and without them, or enough of them that is, you WILL go into a coma. It is common among runners.

Always look for a way to get the most electrolytes, whether it is your favorite drink or food, but do not forget to keep a good balance to prevent bowel disruption, and also keep your body hydrated to not only keep conscious, but also prevent fatigue.

[FuriouSly]

Hey MR. tally man, tally me bananas....   

Sly

[MadKaw]

the products you use is a matter of preference. the facts are these, at the cellular level the body works on whats called the sodium/pottasium pump. without getting too anatomy classish, water follows salt/you sweat, as sodium is excreted from the cells as a byproduct of increased work, pottasium takes its place(called the sodium/pottasium shift), the water and salt are used by the sweat glands to cool the body. the pottasium is used by the cells as fuel when combined with sugars(also the go go juice for the brain, heart, liver) your muscle cells hit the potassium hard, and when defficient, in combination with dehydration(lack of water to carry said minerals) CRAMPS, HEADACHE, DIZZINESS. and yes, the body likes natural sugars rather than processed ones, they are more readily used by the cells and take less energy to convert. these are the most primary ingredients in almost all the NRG drinks...water, sugar, salt, pottasium...and oh yes the banana has 2 of those in spades.

peace, love, and hippy chicks

[kx_rider53]

I drink lots of water or gatorade the day before riding, hot or cold; about 1-1.5 gallons. The day of, i drink water (no supplements) when i can, as long as its not 15 minutes or less before riding.

[mxwink509]

Speaking of camelbaks, here's an idea I devised for riding trails. I don't like the extra weight pulling on my chest protector so I made this up with the small CB.
Here's a front view, connected to the front number plate with mini- bungee straps, wrapped arounthe back of the fork connecting to the D-rings no the CB.



Side view:



another view of the bugee cord:

[Redrodent]

This is something I'll try in the summer. www.nuun.com. Their science sounds right. Ever drink drink drink water and by afternoon it just doesn't work anymore? A tad expensive, but at least a new approach.