PreLoading Electrolytes

[Miranda]

Have any of you ever had any ill effects from pre-loading electrolytes on a ride?

This link goes to an article on a website of a sports drink I use. E-lyte Sport. The article is about the practice of "pre-loading" a concentrated level of the drink, like a shot, before your ride, vs. diluting it. I have only used it diluted post ride so far....

http://www.crampnomore.com/sportshealth/preloading.html

The only negative I can see is if you have kidney issues etc. medically. Which far as I know, I do not.

I'm just curious is there is such a thing as "too much salt intake" on a hard ride? Like could it cause not the correct amount of perspiration etc.? Maybe like the *opposite* of bonking from lack of water and food etc.?

Here's the ride deal...

Tomorrow if I feel up to it, I plan to do my furthest ride I've done so far in prep for my century (& furthest miles ever thus far since riding). 40+mi w/climbing (out alone). The temp forecasted is 90 degrees F and 80-ish% humidity...

I just don't think plain H2O is going to cut it.

Btw, I do plan to try and leave earlier in the morning, vs dead heat of the day.

On the miles... I did part of the same route w/in the last couple weeks for 34mi. But, it was 70degreesF w/low humidity. I was tired, but not "spent" after the ride.

Following the article here on TE re: "...how to increase you miles for 1st century"... I don't think 40-ish is unreasonable.

It's just the weather... and I don't want a "good drink thing" to turn out to be a "bad thing".

TYIA.

[ny biker]

I don't know about this stuff. Nancy Clark does recommend in her Sports Nutrition Guide Book that you have extra sodium before a long ride (or run, etc.) on a hot day. But her recommendations are for when you will be exercising for more than 4 hours in the heat.

I would not rely on water alone - for me a 40-mile ride usually takes 2.5-3 hours, so I would plan on having at least one bottle of gatorade, maybe two, in addition to several packets of gu, over the course of the ride.

[Miranda]

I don't know about this stuff. Nancy Clark does recommend in her Sports Nutrition Guide Book that you have extra sodium before a long ride (or run, etc.) on a hot day. But her recommendations are for when you will be exercising for more than 4 hours in the heat.

I would not rely on water alone - for me a 40-mile ride usually takes 2.5-3 hours, so I would plan on having at least one bottle of gatorade, maybe two, in addition to several packets of gu, over the course of the ride.

Thanks for the input. I have never tried gu. I bought one pack. But yet to use. I've never been one for sweet stuff. I could only find one flavor. Thinking I need to look on-line. Very nice and compact packaging for the jersey pockets though. Know a lot of peeps use it.

That's about how long it would take me to complete the route I think. Based upon the slightly shorter course.

Well, besides the Elyte sport or not, thinking I'd better get more than H2O.

Btw, schedule wise didn't get to ride it thus far. Working on it.