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.

[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.