mechBgon

I use chocolate milk. I've also mixed Recoverite into my chocolate milk, but at $50 per container, I'm questioning the value proposition. At this point, I've ridden an average of over 70 miles a day for two weeks with just one rest day, including a 120-mile solo day followed by two 73-mile days in a row, and chocolate milk is doing well enough that I think I'll save the $50 for a new tire.

island rider

The responses here are all over the map.

The first question here is what do you mean by recovery drink. Are you talking about replenishing fluids and electrolytes, or are you talking about aiding in muscle recovery and development? The two are addressed in very different ways.

The advocacy of chocolate milk stems from the mixture of protein, carbohydrates and fat that it contains. Supposedly the amounts and proportions are good post-workout recovery. The reason it is advocated, however, is not because it is "better" than a specialized post-workout recovery drink, but because it rivals them at a much lower cost. The incremental benefit of the "scientifically" (some marketing guy on the 8th floor in some cases) developed product is, they (the chocolate milk advocates) say, not worth the extra cost.

IthaDan 

Used to do this, then I realized I have a pretty serious milk allergy. Bolthouse it is for me.

bored117 

Recoverite for ride over 3 hours or hard ride.
Maybe Whey protein stuff before going to sleep at night on really hard day on top.
Anything less, just eat what I feel like really. I eat enough protein every day (low carb diet) to be honest.

saratoga

Probably if you could bring yourself to swallow the nasty tasting stuff.

c0lnago

Ultragen...something with glutamine & vitamins as well.

LesterOfPuppets

This. Use to wash down a cheeseburger for best effect.

sdgrannygear

I've used muscle milk chocolate milk, seems to work fine. Last weekend, I did a hard ride saturday, much harder than I expected with more pulling than usual. Felt dehydrated and weak afterwards and so I drank a carrot and beet juice mix from the supermarket. My legs felt awesome the next day and was able to uncork a huge sprint at my race in the morning.

LVRider

I do that sometimes as well. My other after ride preferred recovery drink would be chocolate milk.

Gharp23

Most days milk with a scoop of ON double chocolate whey protein. Taste just like chocolate milk. mixes easy.

Some days a pint with a burger

therhodeo

Whole milk with 2 scoops of ovaltine. Add in whey protein if its been a long hard ride.

Chickenstrip

spaten optimator! The beer you chew, Mmmmmm!!!!

Seriously though, whole milk, 2%, or skim? I drink a lot of skim. I can handle 2%, but whole milk feels like Elmer's glue going down.

mwandaw

Non-fat chocolate milk after a hard ride is the main reason that I'm into bicycles. Oh yeah... my wife digs my sexy spandex shorts, too!

denvertrout

Ummm, Water and some food.

BillyD

After a tough ride it's whey protein with banana and strawberry or blueberry in milk. Heavenly.

therhodeo

Whole milk + ovaltine is like a slightly melted chocolate shake. Trust me I hate milk plain and I love this stuff.

ilovecycling

I personally enjoy a solid meal of meat, carbs, and fats as a "recovery" meal. As for hydration I stick to water + nuun electrolyte tabs or just water. I also really like this brand of coconut water called VitaCoco. I'll drink that and some orange juice during breakfast the day of a ride. I'm not a big fan of spending crazy money on lab created, artificially flavored food supplements either. The nuun tablets are already pushing it for me and I only buy them when I find them on sale and I use them sparingly, usually on long rides in hot weather. Nature provides all the fuel the body needs!

jesspal

Recoverite on hard rides, beer or diet coke after a easier ride.

rangerdavid

Muscle Milk, or low fat chocolate milk or chocolate soy milk.

LesterOfPuppets

These guys used to have the best choco milk on the planet. Sadly no longer available

https://www.norisdairy.com/

blueride2

Chocolate milk, scoop of chocolate ice cream, package of instant breakfast, thrown in a blender. Delicious, but heavy on the calories. Do I care? No.

IcySmooth52

I have to put my vote towards nuun (https://www.nuun.com/) as well as milk. nuun tastes so much better on a hot day. I do milk with protein powder instead of chocolate though.

Fox Farm

I was just about to say that is what I use.
To those folks advocating chocolate milk, good for you, but if you are at all lactose intolerant, forget it.

Fox Farm

Endurox 4X

Fox Farm

Endurox 4X is what I meant to say