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Home / MTB Tips / Survey

What do you Drink on MTB Rides?

It's gettin' hot in here. So what's in your water bottle?

By Jeff Barber
May 22, 2022

15 comments

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It’s gettin’ hot in here. So what’s in your water bottle? Many of us like to switch things up, or carry different drinks in different bottles (or cans, or reservoirs), so answer with the go-to drink you bring for those one-bottle rides.

Bonus question for the comments: What’s one things you NEVER drink during a ride?

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15 Comments

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TK34 Minnesota // 2018
May 23, 2022

Chewable electrolyte tablets have made a big difference for me in avoiding post ride cramping.

1 reply

Hap Proctor Florida // 2014
May 22, 2022

I buy canisters of powdered Gatorade and mix it to my liking. In warmer months, I’ll add a few salt stick fast chews along the ride. Heat has arrived to central Florida….. it’s time for a PNW adventure!

1 reply

Called2RideMTB Maryland // 2017
May 22, 2022

Two bottles: 1 with water; 1 with electrolyte, though sometimes it is 2 bottles of water with chewable electrolyte / salt tablets

1 reply

linsterj North Carolina // 2007
May 22, 2022

Coconut water

0 reply

Sean Gordon Maine // 2017
May 23, 2022

I won't put this in my bottles but I'll 100% drink these at a rest stop/gas station at the end or if I'm transitioning between trail systems.

0 reply

Shad Holland 2019
May 23, 2022

Depends on the length of the ride. Most rides I do are 25 or less miles, so I usually just drink water and have a couple of Gel Packets on hand. For longer rides I will have water in my hydration pack and a bottle with Nuun mix in it on my frame as well as some Gel Packs and maybe even a Kind bar or two with me.

0 reply

marvinmartian 2009
May 23, 2022

For general MTB rides I just use water. If I do a race then I use water and Heed or Nuun. Back when I first got into the sport back in the 90's a lot of the fast racers would drink flat Coke during races, but there were not very many good hydration options back then

0 reply

jsrides Utah // 2018
May 23, 2022

Help me out - I’m still trying to better understand the nutrition side of things. What is the benefit of the salt tablets/chews? Is it similar to the sodium and electrolyte benefits from Gatorade?

I ask because lately, I get a pretty bad headache after a ride. I usually just drink water so I’ve tried things like drinking more water, Gatorade instead of water, eating something small like a banana before the ride or eating it immediately after, protein shake right after, etc., but nothing has helped so far.

0 reply

Sean Gordon Maine // 2017
May 23, 2022

I need to add that Gatorade is basically soda without carbonation: it's full of sugar / formulated for mass market appeal to children. It's ok when diluted for 1 hour activities but if you are doing anything bigger than that you want a scratch labs or science in sport preduct. These come in powder form only.

1 reply

Sean Gordon Maine // 2017
May 23, 2022

The reason you need salt and other electrolytes is that you need to maintain conductivity in your body for nerve and muscle function. Pure water (purer than you can find in nature) does not conduct electrical current. (That's why they are called "electrolytes."

As you lose salt through sweat you need to replace it. Salt also helps you to absorb and retain more water.

I use scratch labs green tea mix in both bottles (one packet divided between the two). The extra carbs help to maintain my energy level in races/rides, but the main benefit is for prevention of cramps. This particular formula is only mildly sweet so it does not make my stomach churn.

When I get home I do NOT want to consume more simple sugars (even though the mix I use is low sugar... I've had enough.) I will just have water with lime juice and sea salt. This will get rid of that dehydration/headache/insomnia after big rides. (You ever feel you need to drink so much water it keeps you up all night to pee, yet you never feel recovered? More salt.)

2 reply

jsrides Utah // 2018
May 24, 2022

Thanks, Sean! I appreciate the responses. I'll look into Scratch Labs.

0 reply

Ihappydirt Wisconsin // 2018
May 18, 2023

Tailwind.

0 reply

prov144252 California // 2016
Jun 2, 2022

I never drink energy drinks. Energy drinks generally can dehydrate as well as it shrinks capillaries which inhibits oxygen getting to the cells.

I always use 2 bottles one H2O and the other electrolytes. But I try to drink water and electrolytes a lot day before I know I am doing 10 or more miles. Hydrate well morning of.

0 reply

Jacque37line Texas // 2021
May 23, 2022

I’ve started to make my own mix for my hydration bladder. Water, sea salt, orange or lemon juice, and agave. Saves some money. Also a bottle of plain water.

0 reply

Mark Obsniuk 2018
May 22, 2022

Nothing on most rides.

-1 reply

Tagged: drinks, hydration, survey, tips

First published May 22, 2022 @ 2:44:00