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Quote: AndrewBQ

for me in losing 20kg over the space of a year

Geez, well done AndrewBQ. Race weight!

I reckon electrolytes do help. Unfortunately a lot of electrolyte replacement drinks have a lot of added energy. Staminade being one.

A friend went to Thailand recently and was unable to get any commercial electrolyte + sugar drinks. So they bought the electrolyte replacement stuff which was sold to victims of Bangkok Belly. That made a lot of sense to me. Not sure of details but I'd guess it would do a pretty good job after hammering yourself on the bike.

I stopped using Staminade when it was getting too hard to get the liquid concentrate as the supermarket. If I need minerals, I get them through diet, if I feel I need more, then salt and magnesium tablets are the go, though I usually only require that sort of supplement at a big race or on a particularly long/hard ride. Now I just use lime cordial for a couple of reasons, it gives the water a nicer flavour, it has some energy value to it and if I freeze the bladder, it helps to crystallise the fluid better than straight water which just forms a solid block. Crystallising the fluid means it becomes a slushy in the bladder which can be very refreshing on a hot ride, though you do have to be careful not to cause stomach cramping.

even when using Staminade I used to water it down. the only real issue I see here is does the change in formula affect the bodies ability to covert to energy more or less efficiently? I always understood that some form of sugar was required to help the body more efficiently/faster absorb replacement fluids. will the change affect this absorption rate?

Quote: AndrewBQ

Actually according to Gillespie, and those sport science dudes from South Africa that Stumeister pointed to in a thread about cramps about six months ago, sports drinks (even Staminade) are probably a waste of your money anyway.

Drink water. Eat food. Train and race at the same intensity and you'll minimise cramps.

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As a side note, I'm pretty convinced that one of the big factors for me in losing 20kg over the space of a year was deciding to drink just water (and the occasional skinny flat white). Your mileage may vary.

Agree for most riding. But for a high intensity sustained event like an enduro, there is a place for high energy content drinks.

But sucrose messes with my digestion, gives me energy spikes, and eventually cramps and tiredness.

Maltodextrin has the highest energy concentration when dissolved and allows fluids to be absorbed faster than water alone.

Infinit?

Quote: OzCableguy

The new staminade with sucrose listed as the first ingredient is now on the shelves at the local Coles.

Endura has fructose as an ingredient so it's out (at least while I'm trying to lose weight).

I'll try a magnesium supplement and see how I go just with water for a while.

Bbanger mentioned Zep was taking a protein shake as a mid ride refueller. Anyone else tried that? I know they work well for me post ride, both in recovery time and stopping extreme hunger setting in 30-60 mins after.

Only issue with too much protein mid ride is the slowing of gastric emptying. Protein and fat take longer to digest and can slow the release of carbs. After ride, general rule is around 1.5g of carbs per kg of bodyweight. Protein, 10 - 20g. There are lots of opinions on it. Endura Opti is a good one post ride.

Quote: X

the only real issue I see here is does the change in formula affect the bodies ability to covert to energy more or less efficiently? I always understood that some form of sugar was required to help the body more efficiently/faster absorb replacement fluids. will the change affect this absorption rate?

Glucose is the only form of sugar the body can actually use so it's the quickest into the blood stream, but in the refined form in Staminade I would say all of them - fructose, sucrose, dextrose - would process within 30min. It's only when it's in food that it processes over hours.

Quote: Ozcableguy
The new staminade with sucrose listed as the first ingredient is now on the shelves at the local Coles.
Wow, the ingredients have to be listed in order of concentration, so that means sucrose is the main one. May as well drink red cordial.