If the ride is under 2 hours, plain water is sufficient under most conditions...especially if I've planned ahead and have eaten a small carbo rich snack about an hour before the ride.

For rides over 2 hours I have a strategy similar to what Lise describes: One bottle of Accelerade and one bottle of water. I usually dilute the Accelerade more than the product calls for.

There are other products that I've found that taste better than Accelerade but none of them have worked as well for me in terms of hydration and sustained energy. I would experiment with several products and find the one that works for you.

Gatorade for example is a great product for a lot of people but it gives me cramps when I drink it -even diluted!

-traveller