Really Salty Energy Drinks?

[smurfalicious]

The last few miles of my ride the other day I started to feel what I call my 30 mile headache. It was only 70ish and I was at a little over 20 miles. I had already gone through the vast majority of 2 20oz water bottles (one PowerBar Endurance and one Nuun) and I was good and started drinking early.

Admittedly I was "in the hole" a little fluids wise when I left but not bad. Anyway, I get this headache almost without fail regardless of temp or for that matter fluid consumption. I even got it on a ride where I refilled bottles twice thanks to a kindly farmer and local restaurant.

I am also part radiant heater, I do believe. I rode yesterday in just shorts and jersey. My boss rode today in just a hair cooler weather and came back with his arm warmers and vest still on. I was a big red bucket of sweat, he was cool as a cucumber.

The only thing that has ever subdued 30 mile headache is Shot Blox in margarita with the extra salt. So I think as a result of my "uber hotness" and propensity towards sweat (don't worry, not trying to quit, I LOVE SWEATING!!!!) that I need a super salty drink. I have a think of Power Bar Endurance and at first at seemed salty but not any more. I <3 Nuun tabs but they don't seem to do much good for me beyond being flavor to at least make me drink.

I could add salt or something, but I'd rather just have it be right from the get go. Any ideas? Or alternate theories?

[Eden]

How about Elete? It's drops, that I believe are tasteless. You can add them to plain water, but you could also add them to your NUUN and/or Endurance for a little extra punch.

[Miranda]

Hi Smurf...

I have just the thing for you in this link below (E-Lyte Sport)...

http://www.crampnomore.com/

I can not stand the taste of sweet drinks. This stuff doesn't have that, or the sugary calories. Just the salty good stuff. You can pre-load shots, dilute it and mix your own bottles, etc. Plus, if you wanted extra on the ride, you could technically carry some in a small travel size container. Maybe something like those tiny screw cap bottles peeps use for the airplane for shampoo etc. in a jersey pocket. Re-mix a bottle on re-fill, shot, etc.

If you don't like the salty taste so much I think maybe adding a lemon wedge to the bottle, or squeezing some juice in might be a way to add flavor you like. I just do it salty straight up as is.

As far as the guy riding pal... women in general have more body fat (we need it to protect us for bearing babies etc. genetically). The more fat insulation you have on your body, the more you need to sweat to cool yourself off. Our hormones at different times of the month can sometimes play into how hot or cold we feel too (& if retaining H2O, or shedding it in your cycle)--something men don't have to deal with.

Hope this helps some!

[Andrea]

Add an 1/8th tsp of salt to a bottle of powerbar endurance.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I just use some Emergen-C powder in my water for long rides (over 30 miles). It's got plenty of electrolytes and sodium. For shorter rides, just water. Plus, I never ride on an empty stomach.

[Brandy]

Historically, I don't do well in the heat. Last year I was able to manage it much better and I believe it was being pro-active about my electrolyte consumption.

My vote is for Motortabs. I always carry some in my pockets, particularly when I'm training in the mountains. When I was training for Everest Challenge last year, I spent alot of time in the San Gabriel Mountains. There aren't a whole lot of options as far as refilling and on a hot day, I can blow through two bottles on the first climb and still be left with a 12 mile climb ahead of me before I can refill.

I started pre-hydrating on the drive there with 24 oz of water and two Motor Tabs. I can't tell you what a HUGE difference this made in my training out there. I also use them anytime that I don't feel a big need for calories, but need to hydrate instead. I don't go out to the mountains without them now and any longer ride, they are in my jersey pocket.

[sundial]

I second the Elete. I crave salt on a ride and this helps.

[ttaylor508]

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.

[Running Mommy]

Check out Infinit.com
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!

[OakLeaf]

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.

[Running Mommy]

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.

[TrekTheKaty]

I'm not sure of the salt content, but I use Cytomax. It's not overly sweet and good for energy on long rides.

[Triskeliongirl]

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.

[Andrea]

Oh yeah- I also forgot to mention Pickle Juice Sport- either you'll love it or you'll gag on it!

[OakLeaf]

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.

I'll easily sweat out a liter an hour when it's in the 70s, especially depending on the humidity. I'm also of the school that says that if you're not peeing, you're not drinking enough. I'm very susceptible to hyponatremia, but not replacing fluids isn't the solution to that - replacing electrolytes is!

But if anyone wonders about that, the old stand-by of weighing yourself naked before and after exertion is an easy way to tell whether you've replaced all your fluids or whether you've possibly drank too much. ("A pint's a pound the world around," or less lyrically one kilogram equals one liter.) Of course that doesn't say whether you were properly hydrated to begin with, but it's a starting point.