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Anyone know anything about the huge variety out there ?

Its a common fact that on any xc style ride after about 6mins i'm flagging and by 10mins i'm done (you get the pic) and its not entirely down to boredom and longing for drops and jumps...

seriously i do get knackered about the 10mile mark and it only gets worse from there on so i've been looking at energy drinks and the like, trouble is i'm diabetic so have to be reasonably careful about what i shove down my throat, some energy drinks are caffine based and some are glucose, i'd prefer caffine i guess i have heard about just one called ACT ? but never seen it anywhere in the packet, there is a guy selling them on ebay - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-Drink-ACT-Healthy-Energy-Drinks-Caffiene-Sugar-free-All-Natural-Awesome-/110904781554?pt=UK_Health_Beauty_Vitamins_Supplements&hash=item19d270aaf2

but i'm still a little warey, its a bit of a gamble, so if anyone has any good info on this type of fuel please comment !

Dude, you shouldn't need energy bars and the like... I find just eating the right stuff on the day (and maybe the day before) makes a good difference.
As a result, sometimes having done 18 miles or so, I'm actually feeling like I could head out again and do another 10 or so.. And probably how we managed to do the 32 miles on Father's day.

A simple example for me was for lunch yesterday I actually had a bowl of Weetabix Mini's, followed by a normal dinner, then a banana about 15 mins before I headed out.

I just use the freebies (food/drink) that arrive in CRC pacakages..and of course the Haribos from Superstar

In the new issue of IMB they do a test of various nibbles > http://www.imbikemag.com/issue18/

I got this on the recommendation of Chatman: http://www.discount-supplements.co.uk/s ... -triathlon Plus they're just around the corner from where I work so collected the same day.

Energy drinks good for psychological keep on riding.

Made you own favorites soft drink none fizzy. Vinto Orange so on pinch of salt teaspoonof sugar.

Recipe one BR
8/9 table spoons of sugar heaped one flat teaspoon salt juice water then drink should taste the salt

High5 found good but I got alot of headaches as need to drink water as well.

And also Elete water found good to.
eletewater.co.uk

Hello..... in my original post i said i was Diabetic?

I dont relish the idea of shoving teaspoons of sugar into a drink with lots of natural sugar already in it !! LOL

My body burns carbs a little differently to a 'normal' person SurferEV is right in saying eat properly before but when i get knackered i need a quick hit to bring me back up followed by slow release carbs to keep me going. My sugar levels stay up resonably well during a ride ( i carry a few mini mars bars for emergency) but i'm looking for a drink i can carry instead of a sugary fruit juice (even those with no added sugar - contain sugar !) or the like, which is why i was look ing at caffine and guana style drinks

Jon,

Another point... Do you drink plenty (of whatever you take along) whilst on a ride? Dehydration can really sap energy levels and can sometimes be the hidden factor to lack of power / stamina. I try to drink at least a litre when out on our regular rides but can easily drink more if I use the camelbak filled with 2 litres as no stopping to get bottle out of cage, etc..

I normally wait until i'm knackered to grab some drink, i seriously lack any sort of stamina when riding which is odd as i seem to do ok with manual work give me shovel and i can dig all morning without a break ?

By then it's too late... I'm sure it takes a while for the body to actually absorb the fluids you drink..

I try to drink plenty during the day if I'm heading out later that day and also then regularly take small drinks as we're riding to keep topped up. I wouldn't be surprised if this really helped.

Sorry I didn't read all your post I got board.

Look at eletewater.co.uk then its 100% natural

Re-hydrate never De-hydrate, little and often is the key. don't wait for the pain in your head to think you need to drink.

I find the High5 range does me good and the link Eccles placed up is where I get them from. good range of drinks and gels..

Also the pound shop are doing big bags of jelly babies so that also helps

Bananas and flapjacks with mixed fruit in are ideal to pack if you're on a long ride, everyone else here is right, hydration is key and helps you keep working, you definitely want to be hydrated before you start and drink little and often as you go.

Might want to drink something that you drop a tablet into which will help keep the right balance for you.

Some suggestions here Jon: http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic ... eplacement
It's going to be trial and error to get the energy thing right, it's different for everyone. But get the fluid intake wrong and that's the same for all, you'll start flagging.

^^ thanks for the link Eccles, that thread was very informative, lets see if i can put some of it into action and make a difference!

I use these.
http://www.parkersofbolton.co.uk/p-2542-high-5-zero-hydration-tablets-1-tube-x20-xtreme-berry.aspx
But just by keeping cool (not having loads of layers on)
Getting proper hydrated (peeing clear pee) before the ride and taking on lots of fluid during your ride stops any cramps and stops me flagging.

Oh and one last thing.

Make sure you organise rides where theres a bacon stop half way.