Energy Drinks
For short rides I typically drink powdered Gatorade mixed a little weak. Either orange or lemon lime. I generally avoid water because I am cycling enough that if I don’t maintain my electrolyte balance from day to day I start to feel it.
For longer rides I’ll supplement the Gatorade with CytoMax. CytoMax has a unique flavor that I have grown to like. It has more sustainable nutrition than Gatorade (less of the sugar / sodium overdose side affects). Usually this means about 1/3 Cytomax and 2/3 Gatorade. Sometimes towards the end of the ride I will switch to water and use Gels to for nutrition. I have tried Cytomax Fruit Punch and Apple Berry, both taste fine.
Hammer makes some great energy drinks, but I can get myself to like them. I have tried Perpetum and ughhhh, it just isn’t appealing, it tastes (in my opinion) like a cliff bar in a blender with warm milk. Some people like it, but try it before you buy it, this one isn’t for everyone. Hammer Heed is a little easier to stomach, but the flavor isn’t appealing enough to keep me drinking and staying adequately hydrated.
When you pick a sports drink, pick something you like, if you are riding hard the general advice is 24-32 oz an hour and if it doesn’t taste good, you won’t drink enough.