Honestly? There is no one best drink. You can drink watered down juice or Gatorade during a ride, use chocolate milk or a pricier recovery drink after, and suck on Gu or Power Gels or eat a banana as you ride. You need to figure out what works for you -- and what you like the taste of!

Even Chris Carmichael, Lance Armstrong's trainer, says to experiment, see what you like, and then STICK WITH IT. (He uses the Power line of products, but he's heavily sponsored.)