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As you probably guessed this is a controversial subject. I am by no means claiming to be an expert on the subject, but I just wanted to start dialog on the subject to hear other people’s perspective on the matter. Conventional wisdom tells you stuff like coffee helping endurance performance and hydration/ glycogen level requirements being essential for a 100%. .These and other similar elements are important elements of nutrition. I consider nutrition to be gels, bars, recovery drinks, and electrolyte replenishments. More important that the food itself is the sequence and timing that you take them in. I once had a coach that insisted that I went directly from the finish line to the car to get to the recovery drink. No chatting on how the race went—directly to the recovery drink. After, reading various other claims from multiple sources it began to sink in that the time between exercise (125HR and above) and your glycogen replacement was crucial. Another important principle of nutrition is not de-hydrating your body with too many gels or power bars during a race. Sometimes it is better not to have that last gel (it beats cramping in the last sprint). Another good trick, for those starting out, is plain Coca-Cola for an emergency recovery drink (it can be found nearly anywhere on a long ride). Although there is volumes you could write about on nutrition I am more interested in discussing sports supplements vs. good nutrition. Products like Sportlegs, Acid Zapper, N.O. Explode, Race Caps, Endurolytes, and the all famous Optygen.The reviews I give are nothing more than that a review of a product for myself---that is it! My hope is start dialog on the subject and to inform entry level cyclist as they come in to the cycling world. Sportlegs: I have had good results with this product. It does appear to take the edge off the lactic acid burn. I have not used it consistently, more like once a year or so. When I do use it probably helps most with recovery ( a couple of pills after a hard workout. Acid Zapper: I have mixed feeling on this product. I used it only once and I was doing some great training at the time and some stage racing. My perception was that it was some wicked good stuff, but then again it could have been the training andracing. The product is suppose to balance you PH levels. So if you are a rider that has a high HR and produces tons of lactic acid, this is a good product for you. N.O. Explode: I tried it two times in my life (once just one serving and the next time I actually purchased a container) after having buddies swear by it. I DO NOT recommend it unless you want to explode your heart wide open. RaceCaps: Never tried them. I always heard that they were supposed to be the counterpart to Optygen in the Hammer line. Endurolytes: If you cramp on long road races this is a must!!!! Optygen: Again, I only tried this product once. I did not see any large results, so I never used it again. Other people swear by it! I look forward to hearing the many opinions on these products and principles.
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