Heat injuries and food

[Crankin]

I also will use my Camelbak along with bottles, if I am doing a very long, very hot ride.

[westtexas]

If you are going no-sugar, you might try coconut water. Actually, to be honest, I don't know it's sugar content, but it's natural and supposedly is chock full of electrolytes. I have considered getting some of this to keep in my bottles for long rides - but my problem is I just never know when I'm going to be on a long ride and never plan accordingly (I ride until I don't want to anymore, which could be 10 miles or 50).

If you are going low-sugar are you also going low-carb? I found when I first when low carb, having Luna bars on hand all the time was great. Now however (6 months in) I can have a cup of coffee, set off for a 50 mile ride with just water, and be fine when I get home. I often don't get hungry again for many many hours (6+ usually) and have not yet suffered any ill health effects. It just takes a little patience to reset the way your body fuels itself - I took it easy on my rides until I was sure my body was good enough at burning fat and not dependent on sugar to keep me going.

[Melalvai]

Not really low carb, mainly just watching my GI. If I do have sugar, I try to have it with fruit or something to lower the GI. I'll try coconut water. I'm training for Bike Across Kansas and I'm just going to guess that coconut water might be a little hard to find out there.

I looked at the label on the V8, and it has sodium, potassium, and calcium. The only thing missing is magnesium, and almonds have that. Looks like bananas have all of those too, not sure how much.

[Savra]

If you are staying away from sugar and don't want to do Gatorade - Try Propel Zero. It says it replenishes and is zero calories, although it doesn't list potassium and that is one of the key things you need - especially in heat. I would end up throwing up if I tried riding in heat without my Gatorade. I mix half Gatorade and half water.

[Owlie]

If you are going no-sugar, you might try coconut water. Actually, to be honest, I don't know it's sugar content, but it's natural and supposedly is chock full of electrolytes. I have considered getting some of this to keep in my bottles for long rides - but my problem is I just never know when I'm going to be on a long ride and never plan accordingly (I ride until I don't want to anymore, which could be 10 miles or 50).

If you are going low-sugar are you also going low-carb? I found when I first when low carb, having Luna bars on hand all the time was great. Now however (6 months in) I can have a cup of coffee, set off for a 50 mile ride with just water, and be fine when I get home. I often don't get hungry again for many many hours (6+ usually) and have not yet suffered any ill health effects. It just takes a little patience to reset the way your body fuels itself - I took it easy on my rides until I was sure my body was good enough at burning fat and not dependent on sugar to keep me going.

Interesting!

As much as I love coconut water (I have a coconut problem!), if it gets warmer than "cold", I'd think it would make me queasy, but tepid liquids of all stripes do the same.

[OakLeaf]

Too little sodium gives me nausea, intestinal distress, lightheadedness. Too little calcium and magnesium give me cramps. I like Zenergize Hydrate - lightly sweetened with stevia, but just enough to offset the acid of the citrus flavor, not nearly as sweet as HEED.

I prefer to drink my calories in the form of HEED on shorter, harder rides, but when I'm out for more than four hours or so I need protein, and if I'm sweating much I need a lot more electrolytes than HEED provides.

[Melalvai]

I did a little comparison and found that per volume, V8 has almost 10 times the sodium and potassium as Gatorade. Plus it has calcium, iron, vitamins A & C, fiber & protein in addition to the carbs. I like V8 even better now!

[Sky King]

I am a "nuuner" but also like Ultima, no sugar, gluten free, vegan yada, yada, 10 calories per 12 oz.

just a note of caution on coconut water - I am allergic to coconut so make sure you don't have that issue

My go to food for a 40 mile ride is flour tortilla with peanut butter and honey. slips into your pocket in a baggie, isn't bulky and for the hard cores can be eaten while riding

Hate heat stroke, glad you recovered okay

[ehirsch83]

Stepping in here on a nutrition point.

Even if you cut out sugars throughout your daily life- don't cut them out on the bike.

When you are on the bike, the calories you take in(via liquid, gels,etc) and transferred into energy almost ASAP (granted you are riding for over 1.5 hours, longer ride or harder,etc.- does not count for an easy recovery ride)

There is a reason that energy gels, drink mixes, etc. are what they are- your body turns it into fuel asap.

When you hit the point of bonking, you have gone to far- it is your body telling you it needs energy to keep going.

I eat almost no sugar in real life- I use agave or honey in coffee and that is it, I eat pretty paleo(with the exception of some ezekial bread a few times a week) but on the bike I feed my body what it needs to perform at it's best.

That might mean gels, blocks, home made bars, drink mixes, just this past Sunday on a slow 5 hour ride(75 super slow miles) I had to stop at about hour 3.5 due to me bonking at a gas station and I had a Dr. Pepper and a Snickers.

Sometimes I just need some fig newtons or vitamin water at the gas station.

Also if you are riding over 3 hours, you should be taking in protein also(I get eggs at a gas station if I have a chance to stop, since protein mix doesn't sit well in the Florida heat in a bottle and bars tend to melt).

If you want to keep it so you know what the ingredients are- check out www.nomeatathlete.com

There are some great recipes on there for home made gels and bars(I eat meat, but on the bike you don't usually want meat- so great ideas on here).

Or, if you want real food- you could take a small baguette with you, some butter, honey and ham in it and snack along the way(sodium, sugar, carbs, protein).

Just please please please realize that taking your body off of all sugar while riding is detrimental to your improvement.