I second the Elete. I crave salt on a ride and this helps.
I second the Elete. I crave salt on a ride and this helps.
I sweat big time on long rides and usually end up with a salt covered crust over everything. What works for me is Gleukos. It isn't sweet at all, just like light lemon flavored water and comes in a powder so you can add to your water when you feel you need it. I also use Endurolyte tabs.
Don't know about it being a female thing, I think it just depends on the person.
DH sweats, but doesn't get the salty crust. One of my other riding buddies sweats like I do and we compare salt markings at the end of our rides. He is an ironman with very very little body fat. Other riding buddy rarely sweats at all.
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I have a special extra salty formula, because I'm in the same boat. I love that I can customize my formula. And they guarantee it!
I sweat like crazy, but I'm not convinced that it's only salt I need to replace. (And my body fat isn't THAT high. I sweat way more than a lot of people I know who have much higher body fat.)
I'm being lazy right now (other things on my mind) - anyone want to point me in the direction of research on sweat loss of electrolytes? I know for sure I sweat out lots of magnesium, for one thing. And it troubles me to replace sodium and not potassium. So I'm a fan of Emergen-C too. I just wish it didn't have so much ascorbic acid (which can leach calcium). I tried the knock-off brand with Ester-C, but the packaging just wasn't completely moisture tight, so they were mostly cakey lumps. Yuk.
Speed comes from what you put behind you. - Judi Ketteler
Oak, when I'm in heavy training periods I have to suppliment both mag and potasium. It's a pain to have to time all of it, but if I don't I have big problems. My doctor did some blood work once and it was scary.
I seem to remember her saying something about women leeching magnesium.
I'm not sure of the salt content, but I use Cytomax. It's not overly sweet and good for energy on long rides.
"Well-behaved women seldom make history." --Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
'09 Trek WSD 2.1 with a Brooks B-68 saddle
'11 Trek WSD Madone 5.2 with Brooks B-17
I can't help but wonder if you aren't overhydrating. That will also dilute your blood to the point where your electrolyte levels can drop too low. 2 x 20 oz is a LOT to drink on a 20 mile ride when its only in the 70s. I would barely drink that much on a 40 mile ride if it were that cool out.
My husband gets cramps from low electrolytes. He drinks a V8 at the rest stop. We both also tried pickle juice once that was served on a group ride rest stop. Tasted better than it sounds and also high in electrolytes.