Longer rides and "bonking"

[Melalvai]

I have had similar experiences and Nuun or Endurolyte tablets made all the difference in the world. I don't like artificial sweeteners, which unfortunately they have, but they work so well that I just accept it. But there is something else that does really well that doesn't have artificial anything-- V8! It has more sodium & potassium than Gatorade, but no added sugars-- if you get the original. The low sodium has sugar-- but you don't want the low sodium anyway. I don't remember if the spicy one has sugar. Probably!

The only thing V8 doesn't have is magnesium and I have found that magnesium during the bike ride prevents charley horses at night. I think you can get magnesium separately, I don't know. I haven't tried that yet, I just use V8 and Nuun. The other downside to V8 is it's heavy compared to a pack of Nuun tablets.

[OakLeaf]

Nuun U Naturals don't have artificial sweeteners or sugar alcohols. Neither does Skratch Labs, but to me it's much easier to carry tablets. Both of those have magnesium.

For me, supplementing magnesium off the bike prevents the nighttime cramps.

[colorisnt]

Good to know (about the Mg).

I like the Skratch stuff. I am going to have to keep trying that. The V8 would probably make me sick as a dog on the bike because of the citric acid in it. I would be itchy all over in very private places most likely. Citric acid intolerances and V8 don't mix, unfortunately.

That's what I'm having issues avoiding with liquid stuff. It's CHOCKED full of citric acid if it's a smoothie. I just can't do that regularly without feeling it.