Hi Michelem, thanks for the information. I am happy to know the drink is working for you. I will have to try your recipe and I will post to let you know how it goes on an upcoming longer ride.

What do you do on the even longer rides, when you have to stop and refill the water bottles?

I was using the commercial fitness drinks all summer, and I was happy with the results because my energy levels were high and I was able to increase my distances effectively. Then the water retention started to creep up on me. That is when I really looked at the labels on these products and realized that the sodium levels were too high for me, that I can't possibly sweat out that much sodium in one ride. Some of the products have over 200 mg per serving. Cytomax has a low sodium powder, but it is still around 30-40 mg per serving. I might use it for the refill problem on the longer rides.

When forum members post that they've gained weight, oh horrors, what can they do, and then members chime in with oh it is muscle gain or what not, nobody ever thinks that it might be water retention due to too much sodium in the commercial fitness products. Just 20 years ago, the recommended limit for sodium for an adult was 2000 mg per day. Then it was lowered to 1500 mg per day. I think it is down to 500 mg per day now. Well one large water bottle can hold 500 mg of sodium, then drink some more water bottles, plus the Cliff Bloks and other bike food, and you can see why cyclists can get into some water retention problems. I am certainly proof of it.

Anyway, thanks for the information. I will get this figured out, and trying your recipe will be one of the things I do.

Oh, I haven't been absent from this forum. I have merely been busy cycling.

Darcy