We are "particularly gullible" about nutrition:

[Au575]

Support for those who abhor "power" or "energy" food products:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/05/he...a4&oref=slogin

I admit to still believing that electrolyte replacement is an important part of intra- and post-ride recovery.

[mfoga]

Whats funny is on a ride a few weeks ago a few of were talking about if all this stuff really works. Up until now I never really used any of the drinks, bars, etc.. I did drink Gatoraid but more because I liked the taste then because of what it did. The advantage is that they are convenient.

[dirtvert]

please. how could humans have evolved and flourished for millions of years on "water and real food". preposterous...

what will they tell us next- that we can lose weight by eating less and exercising more?

[Solo]

Originally Posted by Au575

I admit to still believing that electrolyte replacement is an important part of intra- and post-ride recovery.

I think the article supports this as well, it just suggests that you can get it from "real" foods versus expensive supplements.

I wish they would have elaborated more on replenishment DURING exercise versus recovery. This is where I prefer supplements over real food due to convenience and ease of digestion.

[evdog]

I was expecting something about no/low carb diets or any of the other fads out there right now

[Impy]

I applaud this article. There are a lot of quasi-scientific claims out there that get a lot of otherwise smart people forking out big bucks for a perceived difference, but the scientific evidence is really flimsy.

However the convenience of certain supplements, especially the liquid ones during exercise can't be beat, and I wouldn't give them up for the world.

Shoot - even yesterday I went for a run and a swim too soon (couple hours) after eating a moderate lunch. I had friggin' reflux all night and this morning. Some cytomax woudl have been a lot better on my system.

[mp3]

Originally Posted by mechmann

i tell you what...

we should test this stuff. 50+ mile suffer fest. i get my cytomax and gels and stuff. competitor gets water and whatever "real food" they can figure out. race for time.

i know that my trail nutrition is a delicate balance. i use what works, not what has the best advertising. i know the difference between a horrible bonk and a good ride. i have screwed up my nutrition before and felt the powerful smackdown of my body running out of whatever it needed. "OMFG my ARM is cramping!" LOL

Watermelon chunks and pickle juice is all I need.
ITT to the peak a few times?

[allison]

Originally Posted by mechmann

i have screwed up my nutrition before and felt the powerful smackdown of my body running out of whatever it needed. "OMFG my ARM is cramping!" LOL

First things first.. should I just start the bashing before someone else does? Or, should I just lead with this...

"OMG my abs! It hurts!"

Originally Posted by mp3

Watermelon chunks and pickle juice is all I need.
ITT to the peak a few times?

Not arguing that you wouldn't beat anyone on this site in that challenge (uh, or in any other speed/race challenge for that matter), but for your ultra endurance races do you use any products, or just fruit and juice?

Or, for anyone that does stuff like BC Bike Race, Trans-x, La Ruta... do you guys sustain yourself for hundreds of miles a day on real food and water alone?

[m210]

what works for a 61 yr old who used to be a competitive swimmer and for modern day serious endurance athletes are two totally different things.
i've always doubted the magic carb/protein ratios, but some basic electro drinks and protein recovery drinks are helpful... absolutely.

[dirtvert]

i paced a friend through a 50-mile ultra run a few years back that was a qualifier for the western 100 (okay, i dropped out after 26). almost to a runner, they only ate real food: sandwiches, fruit, and-kinda strange-a lot of chocolate.

[Mondo]

This is the next big thing...


O'doyle-tene is a protein supplement packed with "huge" power for action sports athletes.

Are you looking for that extra edge on your competition? O'doyle-tene may be the answer.

"The last thing riders need to be during the season is weak. Adding O'doyle-tene to your program will help you get those "big" results." Says O'doyle-tene CEO, Don Bufbe.

For more information about O'doyle-tene, visit O'doyle-tene.com

Mark Jordan has been working with the makers of O'doyle-tene on a product for endurance athletes called O'doyle-lean. For information on its targeted release date visit O'doyle-lean.com.

[mfoga]

I think a few people missed the point of the article. They were mostly talking about pre-training and post training nutrition. I don't think they are saying to go eat some chicken or eggs during a ride but as a protein for post ride this is just as good as some engineered post training bar,drink, etc... People today seem to rely on these engineered items and don't understand that the same results can be achieved with regular food.

I mean even 15 years ago you didn't really have hardly any of the stuff people rely today. Were people not doing endurance events?

[FoShizzle]

Originally Posted by Impy

There are a lot of quasi-scientific claims out there that get a lot of otherwise smart people forking out big bucks for a perceived difference, but the scientific evidence is really flimsy.

and in regards to the people who spend more money (in magnitudes compared to so called supplements) on supposed better bike parts to have no tangible gains are really smart of course...

[mntbiker12]

I for one find it hard to believe that the NY Times (or any mainstream pub) would be the definitive authority on anything nutrition related. I suppose, without the benefit of fact checking (because newspapers always get their facts right ), that you have to assume that the guys they quote are respectable. Still, I think this is just one article.

Having worked in the sports supplement industry for years earlier in my career, I can tell you that for every study there is another right behind it supposedly proving the opposite.

I've seen top athletes swear up and down that something works, while others crap on the same stuff. A lot of it is psychological I'm sure. But the one thing that we should remember is that everyone's body is different and often, what 'works' for one person doesn't for another.

In the end, each individual needs to try for him or herself and determine which, if any products, meet their needs.

[Impy]

Originally Posted by FoShizzle

and in regards to the people who spend more money (in magnitudes compared to so called supplements) on supposed better bike parts to have no tangible gains are really smart of course...

that's silly, you LOOK better with better bike parts, everyone knows that.

[BoingBoing]

Here's my take:

1) The article says that a lot of "performance products" are hype with little or no basis in science.
2) It reminds me that I am not an "elite athlete" who needs to fine tune my diet in order to compete better.
3) It points out that masses of people less athletic than myself are buying into the hype, buying those "performance products."
4) Since they are "particularly gullible," they drive the prices down on products I don't need, but find convenient.

I'd suggest that we engage in some kind of cover-up, so that the average Joes and Janes continue to buy the stuff that neither they nor I need. But I think they'll continue regardless...

BTW it is a good, thought provoking article.

[FoShizzle]

Originally Posted by Impy

that's silly, you LOOK better with better bike parts, everyone knows that.

point well taken

[RidetheRAAM4]

post/pre ride i never use any supplments or energy drinks or gels or bars or gus or whatever you want to call them. Sometimes before a race I will have some cliff blocks, but this is like 20 minutes before race time so I don't get any stomach cramps.

I'm not positive, but I am sure that there is scientific data that suggests that different foods are absorbed quicker or longer than others and your stomach requires different amounts of blood for certain digestive procedures and that is the whole point of gus/gels and such.

The whole point of eating foods/gels/whatever while racing/riding/whatever is so that your body doesnt need to take blood away from muscles to digest it. I ahven't done any research so I don't know what I am talking about, but that is what I always thought the whole point of it was.

I don't use any bars. Only gels/clif blocks, and energy drinks while in action

[Burner]

Originally Posted by FoShizzle

point well taken

I see you have a Big Dick on every one of your posts now... you're wife says that's ironic, I'm sending her home soon.