Cycling Hydration

Does Anaconda sell cycling hydration products?

Yes, Anaconda offers a wide range of cycling hydration aids, including single specially insulated bottles to clamp to your bike, right up to full hydration backpacks. As well as water bottles and packs, you can find sports nutrition items such as energy gels, energy chews, and hydration drink tablets here to assist with keeping your body energised during your trip or to assist in recovery afterwards.

Which drink is best for me?

There are many different products on the market - here are some facts about the main types of sports drinks on offer and their benefits.

Carbohydrate drinks: These drinks are a blend of carbohydrate, water and electrolytes. Most commercially available sports drinks contain a mix of carbohydrates from different sources (e.g. sucrose, glucose, fructose). As the body's primary source of fuel during prolonged and high intensity exercise, depletion of muscle carbohydrate is one of the foremost causes of fatigue, and can severely limit your ability to perform on longer rides.

Electrolyte drinks: Electrolyte drinks are a mix of water and electrolytes (such as sodium and potassium) with little or no added carbohydrate, designed to replace the fluid and salts lost during exercise. As core temperature rises during exercise, the body compensates by sweating, creating a loss of water and electrolytes, Large sweat losses can lead to dehydration, which results in impaired performance, increased heart rate, reduced heat tolerance and lower reaction times.

Recovery drinks: Recovery drinks normally contain either a single source or a blend of proteins (whey, casein, soy) with or without added carbohydrate. The immediate period after exercise is thought to be the ideal time for maximising muscle recovery and replenishing carbohydrate stores. Consuming a protein supplement alongside carbohydrate can stimulate muscle synthesis, repair muscle damage and enhance glycogen storage, all of which improve recovery.

What about timing and quantities?

These are very personal things and your only way to find out how much fluid you need to replace and when is by trial and error. A leisurely ride may not require as much fluid, but may take longer. Luckily, there are many different products for sale at Anaconda to help you find your ideal hydration method.

Experts also recommend drinking before your trip, four hours and two hours before setting off, for improved performance, as well as replacing lost fluids immediately after your trip. If you are not going for strenuous activity, drinking water is perfectly OK too.

Can Anaconda's cycling hydration be used for other events too?

Yes, many of the products on offer are great for taking along to sports event, visits to the gym, or even for trips to work or school. The specially designed hydration back packs are also very popular with hikers and tourists who are expecting to be spending a long time out in hot weather, such as during walking tours and excursions.