Sports Drinks alternative?

[MomOnBike]

I'll add my vote for Electro-Mix/-Lite/Whatever it's called. Small packets, easy and light to carry, not much taste, can be mixed with every liquid I've tried it with so far. Pretty close to perfect. So far the best combo is one packet in a really big glass of iced tea and, um, an amount of dumb old table sugar.

One recovery beverage that hasn't been mentioned here that I really like is a smallish glass of diluted orange juice mixed with a heaping teaspoon of brewer's yeast. (OK, I'm just an old hippy. It's cool.) I've use that for years to put some bounce back in my step. It's kind of a mess, though, so I just drink it at home.

[SimpleCycle]

I think E-caps is the name of all their supplement products. I know people who use the Endurolytes capsules for electrolyte replacement. They also sell it in powder form you can mix into your drink. You can order it directly from their website:

http://www.e-caps.com/

And click on "Buy Hammer Now"

Some bike stores carry their products too, I think. I haven't found the Endurolytes anywhere though.

[bikerINco]

try Elete. You add it to water, and it still takes like water. comes in a bottle and only a few drops are necessary. it totally helps with cramping and doesn't contain any sugar.

[DallasChic]

I have been drinking unflavored Pedialyte..... Children's hydration electrolyte drink.
It is expensive but you can also purchase the generic brand.
I learned of this from an interview I saw on TV with a Dallas Stars Hockey player.
This is what the players drink during the games to stay hydrated.
There is no flavor and it sits well on the stomach!
Check it out!!!

http://www.pedialyte.com/

[Grog]

I love the taste of yellow Gatorade but it'd way too sweet, way above the recommended carbs % anyway (which is 6%). I dilute it to half-strength and add a pinch of salt for the sodium. I chew on bars that contain more sodium with potassium and other minerals along the way or on rest stops.

I'm not a big fan of orangy-stuff but many of my riding friends have diluted (again, about to half) orange juice.

[Technotart]

I'll second the pedialyte - it is the only thing that is widely available that is physiologically correct in terms of what it pushes and pulls osmotically. The generic versions are the same, and you can buy it at any grocery, drug or discount store.

There are some things like elete that can be mixed with water to achieve the same thing, but I find that those are sometimes hard to come by. My LBS doesn't always have it. AND if they arent mixed with the right amount of fluid then you don't get the osmotic results you want.

Your rehydration solution needs to osmotically PUSH fluid into your body - not pull it out. Gatorade and other sweet drinks pull it out and actually dehydrate you. Pedialyte does exactly what it is supposed to do.

[Trekhawk]

How does the taste of Pedialyte rate? I bought it for my boys when they were sick and they told me it tasted pretty bad.

Not long after this I read an article by a Doctor which included a recipe for some home made mix as he said he had found it near impossible to get kids to drink Pedialyte.

I know kids taste buds are fresh not like our old ones so maybe for adults the taste is ok?????