There’s an old adage that sounds like this « On the bike you drink water, on the land you drink beer ».
So to check it out, I asked my community on Insta @veracycling.What do you drink on your bike? Then little variations like « same summer as winter? », « rather energy drink or own mixture? ».
Well… adages don’t come out of nowhere 😋 (I’m talking about water, of course)
Disclaimer, I am NOT an expert in nutrition or hydration.
What follows is simply a summary of the loose ideas that good people who pedal and follow me shared with me in a little survey..
To echo the article « What bike snacks should you eat to avoid hunger pangs ? » I wanted to start with… What makes a good bike drink for when you’re riding?
- Obviously, the basis is to quench your thirst… or rehydrate, to put it more accurately.
- A refreshing or warming drink, depending on the season
- Sometimes to provide a mini-dose of sugar
- To compensate for the loss of mineral salts due to perspiration
- It’s also a drink that won’t make you thirstier than thirsty (you’re not in a bistro, you won’t be able to order your little sister).
And without further ado, here’s a rundown of the different drinks you consume ON the bike 😉
So obviously, unsurprisingly, the basic is water. 💦
We find it in all the answers but with different variations:
→ Some like it pure out of the tap.
(A little tip: keep the empty can in the fridge to prevent the plastic from smelling and giving the water a bad taste).
→ Others add ice cubes to keep it cooler for longer.
→ Or take it lukewarm so it doesn’t feel icy after a few kilometers in the cold.
In all cases, you should opt for room-temperature drinks so as not to shock the body and tire it further.
Then there are the « enhanced » waters.
For some, this means adding isotonic powders to recharge the body with electrolytes, vitamins and mineral salts lost during exercise.
→ Basic Aptonia from Decathlon for classic outings (less than 2 hours).
→ For sports training or longer outings, I’ve been told that more specialized brands such as Science and Sport and Herbalife have suitable products.
« Homemade » drinks.
For the vast majority, home-made is the name of the game (as with snacks, it’s the general trend).
→ These range from classic mint tea to ginger-lemon infusions that can be drunk hot or cold.
→ We also find mint and lemon but in the form of syrups
→ Others have invented syrups in pod form. So we can take them with us for the refill at the cemetery.
→ Grenadine is popular too, and some people literally add few grains of salt to it to compensate for the loss of mineral salts.
I was also treated to some simple little recipes. 🍋
→ Tea + honey + salt
→ Water + maple syrup + lemon juice
→ 1 L water + 1 g salt + juice of one lemon
→ 2/3 water + 1/3 grape juice + the juice of one lemon + 1g salt.
Always count 1g of salt (about 2 pinches) for 1 liter of water. The aim is to avoid the salty taste in your mouth.
In fact, as you’ve already realized, the basic recipe is always the same and quite simple.
We always have:
→ HYDRATION: liquid in the form of water, diluted juice, infusion tea, coconut water.
→ SUGAR: a carbohydrate intake via honey, maple syrup, sugar.
→ MINERALS: a pinch of minerals with salt or bicarbonate.
And here are a few mistakes not to make:
⚠️ Put sparkling water in your can. Even though sparkling water is richer in minerals than still water, be careful when opening the can. With all the shaking on the bike, it’s always a nasty surprise. Keep this option in recovery mode AFTER your ride. It will also help you avoid belching or stomach pains. Gas gets shaken just as much in your « bidou » tank as in your plastic one 😉
⚠️ Drink soda. Same disadvantages as soda water, but it sticks to your fingers when it blows up in your face! And for the non-bubbly soda option, watch out for the sweetness that will ultimately make you even thirstier.
⚠️ For juices, be careful not to use pulp. It could clog up your can.
And finally, it wouldn’t be cycling talk if it didn’t say GEAR!
→ classic bike bottles, take 750ml or the biggest that will fit in your bottle cage
→ there are also isothermal bottles to keep your drink at the perfect temperature
→ for tea aficionados and purists there’s also the good old isothermal gourd in camper mode with its built-in mini-cup.
→ and last but not least, if you don’t want the water to freeze in your canisters, carry them with you, with a Camel Back for example.
Well, I think that’s all there is to it. This story has made me thirsty… It’s 5pm, it’s tea time! I’m going to go and brew myself a little Roïboos.
Don’t hesitate to let me know if you have any other cycling drink ideas or habits for longer or shorter rides.
Just send me a message. I’ll be happy to add them !
Share these bike drink ideas with your buddy who thinks he’s a camel but taxes your water bottle after 45 minutes of riding.
