New Camelbak, what drink to put in it?

[Samcat]

As the titles says really, I usually ride (MTB) with a water bottle filled with Lucazade Sport, this weekend I purchased myself a nice Camelbak, and took it for it's first ride. I filled it with water and was disappointed with: 1) the taste & 2) the level of hydration/energy boost from just water alone. I don't want to put Lucazade into it as this would probably make a sticky mess, what do you put in them to give good hydration, better taste, and an energy boost?

[STURBO]

I'd just go for water & Jellybabies for the sugar hit.

[randlemarcus]

Water, with sugar and salt to taste. I used to do 2 teaspoons sugar, 1 salt to 1 litre of water on exercise in the summer. You will need to wash the camelback thoroughly with anything but plain water.

[Cookie172]

I put water in the Camelbak, then the drinks bottles in their cages have Lucozade Sport. If it's a particularly long ride, I'll shove another one in one of the pockets.

[XG332]

Considered powder lucozade that you at to water. We used it in water bottles at the rugby team. Its a lot less sticky than the bottled stuff.

[Dunclane]

I use half water and half pure apple juice in mine you could add a little salt if you feel it's necessary.

[anonymous-user]

i only ever use water now, i have ruined too many with various other dirnks. just stick some flapjack or a bag of haribo in your pocket for the sugar buzz. they need cleaning regularly at least every other ride, even if you just use water. also some of the chlorine and neutralising tablets you get from camping shops are quite good at taking the plastic taste away.

[y2blade]

I only use water in mine.

[CoolC]

I'm planning on treating myself to a camelback this year so. I'm reading this thread with interest.

A trick I was told to stop them getting all manky is to put the bladder in the freezer between uses.

[XG332]

I've had mine for 4 years now. I just rinse it through with boiling water before hand. No signs of mould yet.

[P-Jay]

Squash, energy powder stuff, juice, isotonic sports drinks - I chuck the lot in mine, I'm not a fan of plain water. Just give it a rinse when you get home.

I tend to give mine a good clean out with the CB cleaning tabs and brushes 1-2 times a year.

[sjg]

Water only - anything else and when you (inevitably) forget to clean it out, you'll come back to a lumpy mess of green/black mouldy nastiness.

Take food with you for the sugar hit. Or if you must (especially on a longer ride) one of the more powerful energy drinks in a bottle, which can complement the water in your CB.

[SkinnyBoy]

Gatorade in mine always. After every ride rinse out and shove the bladder in the freezer till the next ride. Probably once a month I'll throw in a Milton tablet to sterilise it then rinse out and back in the freezer. Never had problems with mine and been using them for nigh on 20 years.

[scubadude]

Water only or Water with a tablet or two of "High5 Zero Salts" for long or hot rides, tastes of virtually nothing but seems to make a real difference to how far you can get before stiffening up (so to speak ;-) I'm sure other drinks are available thats do the same thing but they are all I've used.

I was under the impression you are advised against putting fruit juice in camelbaks as it gets into the material and you then can't get the taste out, they are a PITA to clean even if you just want to rinse and dry out a load of water!

If I take flavoured drink, its usually a cartoon of Ribena or similar in my backpac.

[P-Jay]

swerni said:

Full fat coke.

It gives you all the sugar you need without the need for stopping and eating.


Works really well!!!!

Hmmmmmm.


I can see a problem with that, 15km into a bumpy XC ride, bite valve in mouth, open tap and PPPFFFFFTTTTTTT a stream of coke foam spraying out of each nostril

[Rolls]

As above - keep it in the freezer between rides!

[Gwagon111]

Red Bull, it gives you wings you know. As an added bonus, you can throw it at any pesky motorists who dare get in your way.

[Fourmotion]

swerni said:

P-Jay said:

swerni said:

Full fat coke.

It gives you all the sugar you need without the need for stopping and eating.


Works really well!!!!

Hmmmmmm.


I can see a problem with that, 15km into a bumpy XC ride, bite valve in mouth, open tap and PPPFFFFFTTTTTTT a stream of coke foam spraying out of each nostril

Noooo don't be daft
It works really well, I do it all the time

I really can't work out if that's serious, so I'm prepared for a parrot! Flat coke is given out at most ironman / marathon events. It's easily digestible, full of energy, and is more hydrating than water if you're that dehydrated (as is beer incidentally).

I'd use just Nuun electrolyte tablets in my Camelbak, and carry a flapjack for energy.

[Gizmo!]

Lemon squash. Proper stuff, not no-added-sugar. Plus a pinch of salt per litre.

[Samcat]

Thanks to you all for your input, I'm going to give one of the hydrating drink tablet things a go, my legs are really stiff today after yesterdays ride, and they wouldn't normally be. I worked out I only drunk half a litre of water on the whole 2.5 hour ride, which although I'm not a big drinker, is not very much. I notice you can get some that have caffine added, would that be like drinking Red Bull for two hours, I wouldn't want to get home twitching about like the Duracell Bunny!!
I think I'll also invest in some Jelly Babies, it was the sugary rush I was missing.