Quote Originally Posted by Bklynmom View Post
Everyone has told me I should drink Gatoraide on long rides, but I worry about all those calories and sugar - do you have any info or ideas on that?
On rides shorter than an hour, just drink water, it's fine.

On rides longer than an hour, you need to start intaking some sugars because you brain needs them to function correctly (your brain can't work on the energy your body draws from fat), among other reasons. Not responding to that need will eventually cause you to bonk and to make really stupid decisions, which can be dangerous, especially if you're far from home and alone. Depending on your weight and the intensity of the exercise, you need something above 200 calories per hour, so probably the equivalent of one bar or gel and some sugar from a drink.