Thursday, May 10, 2012

Boom SCIENCE

So glad I kept that one post in Draft status.

'cause those guys who do it for a living (selling shit that makes sense) wrote up essentially what I was going to say.  They probably used a few more words, definitely spent more time crafting it, compared to my shooting from the hip on Full Automatic...

http://www.skratchlabs.com/blogs/news/6018756-hydration-science-and-practice

Read it.  Shit is spot. on.

Yes individual tolerance varies, you can do things differently and still be effective.  I'm waiting for the time when i can find something wrong with their products - philosophy or science...  don't want to be wrong but it will probably  happen.  Maybe.


written (if you can call it that) by before

9 comments:

Hill Junkie said...

Hammer Nutrition has been saying similar things for a long time. The only problem with Hammer's products is they use maltodextrin as the carb. Corn starch. It completely tears my insides up.

Skratch Labs uses simple sugars with a much higher sodium content than Gatorade. Gatorade also list Sucrose as first ingredient, but is pretty low in sodium. I add extra electrolytes to my Gatorade mix. After reading this article, I have more reason and understanding to keep doing this.

I buy Gatorade mix dirt cheap at the local Sam's Club in big cans. I can mix it any strength or any ratio with electrolytes I what. It is a very economical approach that has worked well for me for 15 years. I've tried many wiz-bang sports drinks over the years but have always come back to Gatorade.

6:14 PM
gewilli said...

agreed that you don't need to spend the bank on the Skratch labs stuff... but I do like how their stuff has no dye (unlike gatorade) and the flavoring is freeze dried fruit, not chemical flavoring.

Gatorade powder is pretty damn cost effective and easy to dose up to the right concentration. Adding salt is a great way to go.

Lately I keep coming back to Cliff shot lemonade and just under mixing it a bit and adding a touch of salt.

The article is great because it explains why in a very good way and has primary research to back it up.

Doesn't matter that people are buying his stuff, what will make a difference is listen to his explaintions.

In addition to the Maltodextrin in the hammer stuff they load it up with Xylitol and Stevia to make it taste sweeter (Malto doesn't have much sweetness) and personally I don't like the 'mouth feel' of the Hammer stuff.

Same problem with Nuun. I tried a tablet of that and was nearly gagging, couldn't drink it....

8:07 PM
Mamil said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
9:36 PM
gewilli said...

good recipe but not quite Skratch labs.

SDM

it avoids Chlorine and also has K and Mg (all citrates, Na included).

hard to get mixing/making yourself.

11:00 PM
Mamil said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
8:21 PM
cp said...

Why is there always an anti-establishment junior chemist in every hydration discussion.

2:21 PM
gewilli said...

yeah - it is what it is plumm, and that's cool.

There is no real secret to the secret drink mix, science.

Lim did a nice job putting all the (dated yes) science together, and explaining it clearly so everyone can easily understand.

What I found works for me and if you look back at the origins of gels and what not...

If i'm taking just water in the bottles I will be fine with gels. If I take Gatorade (or Trial #_) then I don't use gels.

Blocks, are great, but I use the margarita ones because they have a shit ton of sodium and help when the cramps start. They don't help as much as tomato juice does but they help and are easier as emergency food.

Long time readers will remember all the trial drink mixes I made...

I'm not a stranger to making home-batches of the stuff.

And on my long rides I actually just bring cold black coffee in the water bottles and eat my breakfast sandwich for food/fuel. Seems to be ideal long ride stuff. Crits and Cross I'll pound an extra double caffeine gel because that's what works with me and hasn't had an issue, probably because I drink enough black coffee to start the day.

I've been playing around with this whole thing for a long time. Reading lots of stuff.

Back in the dark ages I remember when Cytomax first came out. They changed stuff up but I don't discount their 3 pathway for fuel, I used it w/o any problems. But then gels hadn't been 'invented.'

Bottom line, you don't need Rapha clothing. You don't need a $6,000 custom ti commuter bike. You don't need to spend $20/lb on hydration drink mix.

But if it works and more importantly works for you, why not?

2:38 PM
Mamil said...

Comments deleted. Enjoy your magic powder ;-)

6:46 PM
gewilli said...

why would you delete the comments? you're totally right in the suggestions, nothing wrong with your POV

they were all good, helpful and worthwhile.

i guess i will have to pull up the comments out of the archives/cache

6:52 PM

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