If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best carbohydrate drink for cyclists is, then we recommend Performance Lab® SPORT Carb as the best one.
When people exercised in the past, it used to be that all one could drink is water. H2O is natural, vital to our health, and it keeps us hydrated, but is it the best for energy?
In the 21st-century, some tools can keep us replenished and energized before, during, and after our cycling endeavors.
One of them is carbohydrate drinks. This article will explain what a carbohydrate is and what carbohydrate drinks are for cyclists.
I’ll also answer some questions, review five of the best carbohydrate drink products for cyclists, and choose a winner from the list.
Here are the top carbohydrate drinks we’ll be reviewing:
- Genius Carbohydrate Powder
- Post JYM Fast-Digesting Carb
- Vitargo Carbohydrate Powder
- NOW Sports Nutrition, Carbo Gain
- Performance Lab® SPORT Carb
What Is a Carbohydrate?
Macronutrients are chemical substances that the body needs to survive. They fall under three categories – proteins, fats, and carbohydrates.
What are carbohydrates? They are sugars, starches, and fibers found in grains, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products.
You can’t survive without fat and protein. You can survive without carbohydrates.
However, carbs are an essential part of a healthy diet.
They regulate protein and fat metabolism and help to grow and repair our tissues. Therefore, it’s not advised to avoid them altogether.
It’s important to keep in mind that there are “good” carbs and “bad” carbs. Let’s break them down:
Good carbs are low in calories, high in nutrients, do not contain refined sugars, are low in sodium, are low in saturated fat, etc.
Examples of good carbs are healthy carbohydrate drinks, oats, potatoes, cherries, etc.
Bad carbs are high in calories, contain refined sugar (such as white sugar), are low in nutrients, are low in fiber, are high in sodium, are high in saturated fat, are high in cholesterol, etc.
Examples of bad carbs include cakes, cookies, donuts, etc.
What Is a Carbohydrate Drink for Cyclists?
You’re a cyclist, and you want to train efficiently. You can do it by taking advantage of carbohydrates because they give you energy.
As already mentioned, there are bad carbs, but there are also good carbs. In the 21st-century, it’s become popular for people to think negatively about carbohydrates.
However, the whole world of carbs should not get a bad rap, just the ones that deserve it.
When we’re cycling, we lose water when we sweat.
Our sweat contains sodium or electrolytes that we need to replace to return ourselves to optimum health. It takes energy to cycle, even if we’re not training hard.
Therefore, nourishing our body during and after cycling, as well as before, is extremely important.
For short rides, you should hydrate with just water. This is because you’re not biking long enough to use a carbohydrate drink effectively.
However, for medium rides and longer rides, a carbohydrate drink is a good thing to consume because of its effect on energy and mental clarity. I will explain this more later.
How Do You Choose the Best Carbohydrate Drink?
The best of these drinks will not contain ingredients that are bad for your body, such as sugar, gluten, etc.
Most importantly, they won’t include elements that are not only bad for your body but dangerous for your body.
One of the best ways to determine if a product is drug-free is if they are BSCG Drug-Free certified to let you know they don’t include dangerous ingredients.
The BSCG Certified Drug Free program is designed to give manufacturing facilities a way to ensure their consumers that their products are free of drug contamination.
How Do You Use Carbohydrate Drinks?
If you’re just a regular exerciser, water is all you’ll probably need.
A regular exerciser exercises approximately 20 minutes to a half-hour and doesn’t expend excessive energy.
Therefore, this kind of exerciser doesn’t burn enough energy to lose enough electrolytes that need to be replaced.
However, if you exercise hard and for extended amounts, you’ll sweat a lot and lose many calories. Here is where a carbohydrate drink can help.
You should choose a carbohydrate drink if you are exercising one hour to one and a half hours, exercising in humid and hot conditions, wear protective sports equipment that makes you work harder (such as football equipment), etc.
Follow These Instructions For Best Practices
Two to three hours before you exercise, drink a 12-to-24-ounce carbohydrate drink.
During the exercise, drink a 6-to-12-ounce carbohydrate drink every 15 to 30 minutes. I find the best way to do this while cycling is to carry a large bottle on the bike.
For example, I bike with a 24-ounce bottle and drink from it throughout my bike ride.
Thirty to 45 minutes after exercise, consume a 12-to-24-ounce carbohydrate drink.
Five of the Best Carbohydrate Drinks Cyclists
There are lots of these kinds of drinks on the market. Therefore, it helps to know where to start.
Here are five of the best carbohydrate drink for cyclists products:
Genius Carbohydrate Powder
Genius Carbohydrate Powder is a low-glycemic energy source that offers both an 82 percent lower insulin response and a 27 percent lower blood-sugar response which is an improvement over the uncomfortable spikes in blood sugar caused by maltodextrin.
The formula is fast-acting, mixes easily, and has an unflavored taste. Genius Carb is non-allergenic, prebiotic, gluten-free, vegan, and non-GMO.
This carbohydrate drink is not only good for cycling, but it’s also good for hiking, running, and other endurance sports.
Pros:
- The Genius Brand is an American company.
- The product doesn’t contain maltodextrin.
- The carbohydrate drink has an 82 percent lower insulin response.
- The carbohydrate drink has a 27 percent lower blood-sugar response.
- Genius Carb is fast acting.
- Genius Carb mixes easily.
- The formula has an unflavored taste.
- Genius Carb is non-allergenic, prebiotic, gluten-free, vegan, and non-GMO.
Cons:
- The product is a bit pricey.
Post JYM Fast-Digesting Carb
Post JYM Fast-Digesting Carb contains eight ingredients, including BCAAs, beta-alanine, creatine, and betaine.
Mix one scoop with water, preferably with a shaker bottle, to provide 30 grams of carbohydrates from dextrose, a fast-absorbing carb.
Fast-Digesting Carb is best designed for post-workout recovery.
Pros:
- JYM Supplement Science is an American company.
- The carbohydrate drink is fast-digesting.
- The carbohydrate drink has eight essential ingredients, including creatine, betaine, beta-alanine, etc.
- Simple to create with just water and preferably a mixer bottle.
- The product provides 30 grams of carbohydrates from dextrose.
Cons:
- The product contains 29 grams of sugar.
- The product is best for replenishing after a workout.
Vitargo Carbohydrate Powder
Vitargo Carbohydrate Powder is a unique carbohydrate composed of raw starch primarily from Sweden.
The peer-reviewed ingredient is considered a “secret” among professional athletes and Olympians.
The formula, packaged in the United States, is sugar-free, non-GMO, vegan, gluten-free, and BSCG drug-free certified (certification and testing for banned drugs.)
Premier Carbohydrate is suitable for a pre, during, and post-workout drink, and it is safe to stack without ingredients, such as caffeine.
Pros:
- Vitargo is an American company.
- Premier Carbohydrate is suitable for pre, during, and post-workout replenishment.
- The product is composed of the unique Vitargo.
- The drink is sugar-free, non-GMO, vegan, and gluten-free.
- Vitargo is BSCG drug-free certified.
- Users can safely stack the product with other ingredients such as caffeine or creatine.
Cons:
- The product is expensive.
NOW Sports Nutrition, Carbo Gain
The ingredients in NOW Sports Nutrition, Carbo Gain are maltodextrin, a complex carbohydrate that is chains of glucose molecules easier for digestion and assimilation.
The product contains no wheat, yeast, gluten, soy, eggs, milk, fish, shellfish, or tree nuts.
Now Sports is a GMP Quality Assured company that has tested its product for over 220 banned substances.
Pros:
- Now Sports is an American company.
- Carbo Gain comprises maltodextrin, which is easier for digestion and assimilation.
- Now Sports is GMP Quality Assured.
- The product has been tested for over 220 banned substances.
Cons:
- Some users complained of a poor taste.
- Some users prefer not to use a product that is composed primarily of maltodextrin
Performance Lab® SPORT Carb
Performance Lab® SPORT Carb is vegan-friendly, non-GMO, synthetic-addictive free, soy-free, gluten-free, and non-irritated.
The formula contains Himalaya Pink Salt and Organic Coconut Sugar, which are pure in their content.
Easy to mix in a shaker bottle, the carbohydrate drink is produced in a GMP Certified lab and has been tested for banned substances.
Carb is ideal for pre, during, and post-workout replenishment.
Pros:
- Performance Lab is a vegan-friendly, non-GMO, synthetic-addictive free, soy-free, and gluten-free.
- The product is flavored with Himalaya Pink Salt, organic coconut sugar, organic cocoa, vanilla bean, cinnamon, coconut palm sugar, monk fruit, yacon root, and stevia.
- The product is produced in a GMP Certified lab.
- Carb has been tested for banned substances.
Cons:
- The product is expensive.
- Performance Lab is not an American company.
The Winner
The winner of the best carbohydrate drink for cyclists is Performance Lab® SPORT Carb.
It is a product that is good for replenishing before cycling, during cycling, and after cycling.
This is a non-GMO product, and it doesn’t contain sugars or gluten. Therefore, it can be considered a gluten-free product good for those with adverse gluten issues.
Of course, the product is expensive. However, as a person who has taken supplements for a large part of my adult life, I find that often I need to pay a bit more for quality and reliability.
