SportLegs

[Starfish]

I did a search for this, but didn't find any real reports on how many of you use this product, and what you think of it?

I used it for the first time yesterday, before a multi-hour, heavy elevation gain, mountain ride. I don't know if it was just my training paying off, a placebo effect, or the product, but I really did have a good day climbing.

However, there were no super steep pitches (nothing above 12%, and mostly under 10%), and those are the ones that normally really toast me.

And, I did experience nausea...but not until about 2 hours after taking the SportLegs. I suspect I either ate breakfast too close before leaving, or I ate some Clif Shot Bloks too fast after the first hour of exertion.

I would love to hear your opinions and experiences with SportLegs (including performance & nausea reports). Thanks!

[Running Mommy]

I used them in my IM training and during the race and had no cramping issues at all. And I swear I ride stronger as well.
On my long stuff I drink a special formulation of INFINIT and take the sports legs and that's all I need. No solid food needed- tho I do like to take along clif bloks to munch on here and there.
But yes, I give them a big thumbs up.

[meridian]

Funny that this has been mentioned. I've been poking around the stores as of late to try and find someone that carries this product locally, but it looks like I'll just be ordering online.

I've used this product twice in the past; one ride was a climbing ride and the other was distance. I have to say I very definitely climbed and road well above average both times, and that had me convinced.

I didn't experience any side effects from use, other than kicking extra butt on the road =). Back then I had a riding partner and he noticed that I rode stronger both times as well.

[teigyr]

I'm in with it too! I use it before long rides and if the ride is extra long, I open a capsule and mix one in my water bottle.

It isn't perfect meaning most of the work has to be done by me but boy do I notice a different when I use it! I haven't been able to find it locally but order it through Performance.

[lauraelmore1033]

I tried Sportslegs at one time and did find it helpful in reducing cramping after a ride. But I noticed that it has the same ingredients as my calcium/magnesium suppliment which only costs 10 bucks for about 200 pills. If I remember correctly Sportslegs was $30 for 60 pills. Thats a bit pricy considering what it really is...

[Starfish]

I tried Sportslegs at one time and did find it helpful in reducing cramping after a ride. But I noticed that it has the same ingredients as my calcium/magnesium suppliment which only costs 10 bucks for about 200 pills. If I remember correctly Sportslegs was $30 for 60 pills. Thats a bit pricy considering what it really is...

Have you ever tried your Cal/Mag supplement right before riding, and noticed the same effect of less lactate build-up on hard efforts?

[Resi]

Well just an other supplement...
I take Cal/Mag/D and it does the job I think... I like Rainbow light "Everyday Calcium with Enzymes". I got it at www.iherb.com check out the prices they are great.

Resi

[lauraelmore1033]

Have you ever tried your Cal/Mag supplement right before riding, and noticed the same effect of less lactate build-up on hard efforts?

If I don't take the cal/mag supplement I notice a difference, but I don't notice a difference between the sportslegs and the cheaper supplement.

[Trek420]

If the calc/mag works just as well that's cool because it's something cyclists especially women need anyway.

[Starfish]

If I don't take the cal/mag supplement I notice a difference, but I don't notice a difference between the sportslegs and the cheaper supplement.

Well, this is great to know. On the SportLegs bottle, it is listed as the lactate forms of the Cal/Mag. I was curious if this was a real difference, or just marketing.

Thanks for your answer...that's what I was wondering! :)

[makbike]

Can one get too much Ca/Mg? The capsules I have 1000 mg of calcium, 500 mg of magnesium and 200 IU of vitamin D. According to the website for Sportsleg each capsule has 131 mg of calcium, 65 mg of magnesium and 65 IU of vitamin D. Should I reduce the number of recommended capsules per dose (3-6 capsules daily)? I've not tried taking this before a ride. In all honesty, I often forget to take this supplement on a daily basis so I can't say that it has helped or hindered my performance on my bike. However, I do know my legs are tired and in addition to several days of R & R I need to add a supplement to help them meet the demands I'm placing on them.

[Starfish]

Can one get too much Ca/Mg?

Should I reduce the number of recommended capsules per dose (3-6 capsules daily)?

I'm not remotely qualified to answer your questions. I will say, though, that I have now taken the Sportlegs twice. Once on Saturday before a prolonged, hard, climbing ride, and once today before a hard spinning class that really made my legs burn and hurt last time. Truly, I think the supplement is helping me work harder, longer, more comfortably. I'm thinking I will just take it two days/week as a training aid...for spinning, and for my long weekend ride.

[kelownagirl]

This is an interestign thread. I've been trying to remember to take my supplement on a regualr basis but I think I may try taking it an hour before my next hard ride and see if it helps.

Makbike - My tabs have 250mg each of C and M, and 200 of Vit D. I take 2, once a day. (500, 500, 400) No idea if that's good or bad. :rolleyes: :p

[SportLegs]

Starfish and others-

Our ingredients label has to adhere to meticulous FDA guidelines. A glance suggests SportLegs is just regular old cal/mag and vitamin D. As clever Starfish noticed, it's not: It's lactate forms of those minerals, and that's what makes the difference. See, "lactic acid" IS lactate. It's what your muscles exchange to handle short sprint-duration energy needs. And most sports are just sequences of sprint activity. The better your muscles exchange lactate, the faster, longer and more effortlessly you can go. The problem is that when you begin sports, your muscles start making way more than they can use constructively, which causes a technical domino effect which subsequently lowers your Lactate Threshold, the point where you run into the "burn" and accumulate the nasties which contribute to next-day soreness. Your muscles continue to make too much lactate until your blood lactate level rises. But taking SportLegs an hour before riding raises your blood lactate the same way. So you trick your muscles into not making too much in the first place- as Bicycling magazine wrote, "a sneaky way to raise your lactate threshold and boost performance." We think using something healthy to help sidestep the biggest turnoffs about riding isn't so much sneaky as just plain smart. And it sure works, doesn't it?

We're grateful to you all for helping spread the word about a good thing. Oddly, "team testosterone" members don't seem nearly as willing to tell anyone else about SportLegs.

[meridian]

SportLegs, shortly after my first reply post here I decided to dig around a little bit and do some more extensive research before ordering to see if there was a less expensive alternative to SportLegs which would be just as effective.

While I do believe the calcium/magnesium combo of ingredients aids in minimizing ‘the burn’, which in turn leads to performance gain, I have done my research and disagree with your stance on the lactate forms of these ingredients being vastly superior in effect to other forms of calcium and magnesium.

The difference between the lactate forms of these ingredients versus other forms isn’t all that vast. 1. Lactate form provides higher solubility and dissolution rates, which simply means it breaks down easier and faster during digestion than some other forms. 2. Lactate form is often contained at smaller density, which means you often must consume a higher dosage of lactate form versus another form to acquire the same amount of supplement.

I believe plain old calcium carbonate or calcium citrate + magnesium supplements taken at the right time and in the right dosage could exhibit the same results as your product, which some athletes have tried and attested toward. (Also, if someone wishes to use faster dissolving calcium lactate, this form of calcium can be found much cheaper elsewhere.)


As a side note, during my research on your product I have seen you post on several cycling forums attesting to somewhat peculiar claims about both the performance gains of your product and also how it works. Personally, I don’t believe all the hype you’ve posted on the other boards and forums I have come across, and from what I’ve read, neither did many other readers.

Ultimately, while your product has worked for me in the past, I'll be using alternative supplements of cal/mag/d for aiding performance and after-ride recovery. Why? 1. I believe this product is overpriced. 2. While I understand that your #1 goal is to market, push, and sell your product, I don't really agree with the marketing tactics and misinformation exhibited on the forums I have visited.

[Starfish]

And it sure works, doesn't it?

We're grateful to you all for helping spread the word about a good thing.


Maybe it works. I have tried it three times, and although I felt it helped the first two times, I don't believe it did on try number three. I will be giving some other more cost effective forms a try, too. Time will tell.

I didn't start the thread to spread the word. I started it to ask a question in a noncommercial setting, to get feedback from peers without the marketing spin your posts reflect.

[amymisk]

Meridian- thanks for your response. I like that in this day we can all do research to determine what is hype from evidence.

I don't appreciate the response from sportlegs, it is marketing. I don't want to read marketing info while on TE.

[Zen]

...I don't appreciate the response from sportlegs, it is marketing. I don't want to read marketing info while on TE.


I don't appreciate that response either and will NOT buy "that product" specifically for that reason.

[phoenity]

According to Mr. Holmes patent #6699906, the most preferred dosage of calcium lactate is 1500mg, but at least 100mg.

If you read his patent, none of the dosage claims are backed by a study.

I'm curious why the "preferable" dose is between 100mg-1500mg while the recommended serving of SportLegs only contains 131mg of calcium lactate and 65mg of magnesium lactate.

Personally, I'm very turned off by the way SportLegs attempts to market their product on various cycling forums I've visited. I don't see any reason why you would pay $30 for SportLegs when you can purchase Calcium/Magnesium/Vitamin D supplements in much larger quanities for a much lower price. The only difference between the two is that SportLegs comes in a "special" lactate form which is supposed to have better absorption. However, I could not find any information stating how much better the absorption rate of lactate over other forms.

Search Google for best prices on Ca/Mg/Vit.D supplements - they can be had cheap and in MUCH larger doses than SportLegs provides. Perhaps the larger dosage would offset the absorption.

[equus123]

to step away from the current topic of this particular product and switch gears (no pun intended :-p) to other remedies for similar results....

if you guys are looking for better results, less dead legs, and better recoveries after rides - do you know the power of carbohydrates? since i couldn't add anything to the SportsLegs discussion, i can add some here....

taking in the correct amount of grams of carbohydrates per day is crutial for endurance athletes. the coach that is helping me out says that he sees all too often that people feel they're overtrained or performing badly for various reasons but can be boiled down to not getting enough grams of carbohydrates per day. it's something that's very easy to overlook that results in major reprocussions. i mention this because it was my problem recently. i felt progressively tired/blah/unmotivated over a few weeks, brought this up to him, and he said i'm prob not eating correctly. he recommended adding an additional 1/2 scoop of mix into my bottles, have a recovery drink after every ride (i had just been doing the long or hard ones), eat on most rides whether it be a gel or clif bloks (i hadn't been eating anything really), and modify my meals - all of this to increase the grams of carbohydrates consumed per day. long story short after several days of doing this, i began to feel awesome on and off the bike. i had a lot more spunk while on the bike whereas before i was a little on the dead side. it was also nice because it eliminated the necessity to eat a large meal immediately after riding to replenish the energy stores and aid in recovery. with eating more appropriately, i'm already doing that without having to stuff my face after a ride.

so i'm wondering if you all are getting enough carbs in if you're serious riders? (i'm hopefully upgrading to a Cat 3 racer at the end of this season) since i am still relatively new at all this, i don't know the extent (re: intensity and volume of your training) to which consuming more carbohydrates greatly enhances your performance. for example i try to get a bear minimum of 6 hrs on the bike per week and aim for 7-10 (including 2 rest days). i generally do some form of structured "work" each time i get on the bike in the form of different kinds of intervals. on the weekend i'll try and get 3.5-5 hours of riding time in and my season is many weekends between Apr 1 - Aug 31. so that's what i do and consuming more (not necessarily calories but grams of carbohydrates) and having something while out on the bike helped me tremendously with improving my performance, feeling better, feeling more spunky, and having more energy throughout the day and after a ride.

that's my $.02. :)

[Starfish]

Equus, I think what you say makes a lot of sense. In my case, I believe the soreness and fatigue are the result mainly of too many, or too hard, efforts well up into my red zone for HR. But, I have been experimenting with really counting my grams of carb intake, especially on the bike. Oddly enough, I have been making sure I don't take in too many per hour. It was causing me intestinal distress. Now, I'm eating more often on the bike, but smaller amounts, and it seems to help regulate my energy and digestion.

But, I do support your point. Last year, during the winter, I was doing some dieting and training at the same time. I finally got quite run down, and realized that for me, hard training and too severely restricted calorie intake just don't mix. Duh. But, for awhile, it was fun to have some weight drop off!

[equus123]

:)


.

[Running Mommy]

This thread really took a hard left turn!! :confused:
Personally I have found that sports legs work for me. I suppose I could go buy a bottle of cal, a bottle of mag, and yet another bottle of D, but I know me- I wouldn't take them. I like having everything in one pill. So I guess I'm paying a premium for it. Whatever.
And as for sportslegs getting in on this thread, I have no problem with it. They simply posted what THEY think their product has to offer. Take it or leave it. I think we are all savy enough to see a marketing campaign coming at us, and know when to duck. :p
It seems lately that this forum has been a bit oversensitive when it comes to such things... SHEESH! Let's just get on our bikes and go for a ride. We'll ALL feel much better!! :D

[meridian]

++ to what Equus stated about getting enough carbs. Protein also!

I have to be very careful even when I'm not doing a lot of training about eating the right foods, consistantly, and enough of them or I experience massive headaches, vision problems, random stabbing pains, and feel very rundown and quickly fatigued when I fall off the wagon.

Thus, I've learned to be thrice as careful when I'm working towards a new fitness goal and pushing myself to extremes so I don't experience yucky-ness or burn out.

[smilingcat]

I hit the ignore button from marketting.

As for supplements, I guess i'm bit of an old school. Get it from fresh food, not in a pill form. A friend of mine in college had a notriously bad diet. Lived on junk food and vitamin/mineral supplement. He could run a 10k race well under 30 minutes. Placed 6th overall in Pepsi 10k challange at the invitational. Anyway, it was predictable to see him literally crash every 6 month because of his bad diet.

side note: is it just me but when I was in college, male athletes generally had really bad diet. And we tended to be tad more consciencious of what and how much we ate. We are really bad with equating less weight wih performance. Guys didn't give you know what when it came to their weight.

During enudrance event, its tad hard to be carrying banana/boiled potato or fresh orange so I do resort to Cytomax, Aceelerade, luna bars (lemon and oatmeal/cranberry) even gatorade... Gu I can't stand the taste/texture. After a ride, I'm still bit ambivalent about those after ride drinks. I prefer lightly steamed vegis, sauteed spinach, mushroom, boiled potato...

And as of late i'm feeling bonked in my riding but then again I'm trying to lose about 10-15lb so I can get back into it... Is there a way to lose weight without feeling bonked? I want to lose excess as quickly as possible so I can start my serious training (on bike min of 15 hours/week).

The trouble is my side business is gourmet cookies with sugar/butter... and my regular job have 'treats' on Tuesdays and Fridays. So hard to stay away...

a fat cat,
similingcat

[Veronica]

The owner of my LBS gave us some SportLegs for free yesterday. I'll be giving them a try tomorrow when we do Ebbetts and Pacific Grade, I think.

Of course I'm not planning on riding really hard, it's a smell the roses and take photos kind of ride. So it may not be a fair test.

V.

[Eden]

We got some freebies yesterday too - the hubby and I are going to give the stuff a try at next weekends race. He's hoping that it will keep the cramps away, since he seems to get them even though he uses electrolyte replacement as well as sports drink... I'm just going to see if it makes any difference since I don't tend to cramp.

[Veronica]

Which electrolytes does he use? E Caps make me nauseous.

I got some NUUN yesterday to try.

V.

[Eden]

He uses NUUN for his non-carb bottle and PowerBar for his food bottle. We both use 1/2 doses of NUUN in our every day water too - him to ward away the crampies (and he has been getting fewer cramps, later in the races, but they are still coming) and me to keep from getting headaches, which I do if I keep myself hydrated enough.
He's a heavy sweater - the kind of person who gets to the end of a race white with salt so we think he just has trouble getting and keeping enough electrolyte in.

[Starfish]

Nuun worked really well for me a couple years ago when I did a 6 day tour in really hot dry weather (3 days were 104+ degrees).

[Resi]

I am wondering... searching for the right thing is maybe impossible? When I read the ingredients of all the bars, pills, proteins, there is always something bad in it. What catches my eyes is the artificial sugars/sugaralcohols... no I don't want to put this in my body. Cycling and other sports should be healthy. Why spending all this money on the highly promoted products, which promise us to have more energy, go faster and more... I know I was a victim of the marketing and it did not work for me, I am back to my nuts/trail mix and this works perfect and is healthier. Hey it's just my opinion/expirience...I hope I am not alone...;)

Resi

[cslayton]

I am part of that testosterone brigade that seems to not be discussing the claims of SportLegs, and since I find a discussion here, and not much anywhere else, please allow me to chime in. My wrench swears to me that his wife was greatly helped by Sportlegs, and I examined the label and saw that I could buy the Calcium Lactate in powder form for about 10 bucks a bottle. This translates into MANY bottles of SportLegs. A teaspoon of this is close to the Sportlegs dose (1.462g @ each 50 lbs = 5.8g for me, I am 175 lbs, the teaspoon translates to about 4.6g). I have been adding this to any drink about an hour before any long ride (more than an hour).

I am also diabetic and have had humongous cramps while trying to examine my feet after a long ride, a routine which always requires me to bend down or lie down and pull upper legs toward my chest. I have found that in all long rides since starting this lactate addition (3 so far) I have had cramps only one time, and I attribute this to lying down with an ice pack on my knee instead of stretching after a 77-mile ride, as I was supposed to be doing. I have a century ride (I hope) this weekend and so another test of this is impending.

I do suspect that the calcium lactate made the difference; I stopped taking calcium citrate, potassium, or magnesium supplements during this period to help my test case. Lactate from magnesium would presumably be the same.
I make my own Sports Drink with Smart Water, Nuun tabs, and maltodextrine and fructose, and use this during my rides.
The Tums alternative did not work for me, but the lactate appears to have done so.

Just my two cents, but I agree with other posts that Sportlegs is horribly overpriced.

[violette]

Can anyone tell me the brand? I'm in Canada and have never seen this before.

[OakLeaf]

I am wondering... searching for the right thing is maybe impossible? When I read the ingredients of all the bars, pills, proteins, there is always something bad in it. What catches my eyes is the artificial sugars/sugaralcohols... no I don't want to put this in my body. Cycling and other sports should be healthy. Why spending all this money on the highly promoted products, which promise us to have more energy, go faster and more... I know I was a victim of the marketing and it did not work for me, I am back to my nuts/trail mix and this works perfect and is healthier. Hey it's just my opinion/expirience...I hope I am not alone...;)

Resi

Trail mix is hard to digest on a hard ride or run, and it's a lot of chewing on any run.

I just started bringing plain organic brown rice syrup on my long runs. It's high in maltodextrin and potassium, contains an adequate amount of sodium per calorie. Tastes kinda funky, but that's what you get with an unflavored malt syrup. :rolleyes:

But my "longest" run at this point is just over two hours. On a moderate length ride and when I start running longer, I definitely need to replenish calcium, magnesium and protein "in flight," not just before and after.

I was on this board several months ago looking for a minimally refined food or beverage that would be suitable for workouts that are both long and hard. Haven't found one yet. I'm reasonably satisfied with HEED for cycling, but as I said in the other thread, I'm still searching for something with a little non-soy non-dairy protein for the longer efforts.