tarsi 

I've recently been filling my water battles with a dilution of coconut water and am really enjoying it. It has a "meaty" taste to it and seems to be providing the needed electrolytes without all the sugar of the sports drinks. Was just wondering if anybody else has tried this or thoughts on it's effectiveness. Also interested in hearing what other fluids people are using to keep hydrated.

markwesti

I'll stick to the Gator .

SpeedofLite 

I usually go for it in the middle of a long ride on a hot day in the desert for the same reasons.
No stomach upset with it and it's a nice healthful diversion from Gatorade or other carbohydrate/electrolyte drink.
It seems to perform well for me. Energy, electrolytes, water, pleasant taste, and no funky aftertaste.

USAZorro

I am curious. What is the source for the coconut water you are using? In my experience (Uncle Sam forced me to live in Hawaii for 30 months), there are coconuts that can be excellent, and those that can be thoroughly disgusting. The variability, and the low percentage of good nuts in my grocery store experiences, curtailed my experimentation many years ago.

bwilli88 

Living in Cambodia I have easy access to coconut water and to fresh squeezed sugar cane, that mix will keep you going for quite a while. Whenever I feel close to bonking I find a coconut seller and get some fresh juice.

late

If you're new to coconut water, or don't like it, Trader Joes sparkling coconut water with Yuzu is kinda awesome.
https://www.eatthis.com/trader-joes-...ut-water-yuzu/

You can get the same electrolytes from celery juice. Wash half a package (preferably organic), chop it roughly, and blend it was a few ounces of water or juice. For the max metabolic impact, use beet juice.

seedsbelize 

This. Substitute Yucatan for Cambodia

Classtime 

This is my ride drink. And I can tie extras in a baggie for all day rides. 1T sugar, 2T maltodextrin, pinch of salt, squeeze of 1/4 lime or lemon on first bottles from home or one pack of true lemon. This stuff is not too sweet so you don't feel like one of your bottles needs to be water for a chaser. Coconut water is great. And a cold one on the way home after a race is delicious

Slightspeed

I love coconut, and I love water, but the coconut water I got as a sample on a charity ride was terrible ... may be an acquired taste? 😣

SpeedofLite 

I think some taste better than others.
I like Vita Coco. Zico is also good. Both are common at convenience stores in my area.
There are often different flavors (e,g, lime, orange, pineapple) added to some brands, but I like it straight-up.
A buddy goes with the brand he gets at Costco. Saves money and likes it. I haven't tried it yet.
If you like it, great. It's just another way to get your hydration and electrolytes.
If you don't like it, don't sweat it. Get yours the way you like 'em.

Salamandrine 

I like coconut water. Tastes good to me, and it does have good potassium content. It's pretty expensive though, and I consider it a luxury post ride treat. I can burn through 3 or 4 liters of fluids in the summertime pretty easily. I mostly use good old ERG/Gookinaid/Vitalyte on the ride. I make it fairly weak. If I bring two bottles typically one is plain water and one is electrolyte. Sometimes I do diluted orange juice. It has nearly as much potassium as coconut water, and I usually have some in my fridge. It has more sugar, but diluted less than 50% seems to bring it down to a digestible level.

ThermionicScott 

I didn't like it either. Strikes me as mostly hype.

Edited to add: Some C&V content to make this thread kosher!

bwilli88 

Probably the bottles are mostly hype but fresh from the nut it is really good for you. WWII medics were running out of plasma and substituted juice right from the nut and it worked, it is sterile until tapped and has plenty of good nutrients.

I normally do not like it but when bonking or cramping it does the job.

randyjawa 

I know little or nothing about coconut water, but a Jamaician friend, years and years ago, turned me on to fresh coconut milk, taken directly from the nut itself. I focus on young or baby coconuts, snap the top off with a machett and four fifths fill my water bottle, which goes into the freezer the night before a ride. While riding the frozen coconut milk will have melted enough by the time I reach my first water break, which, incidentally usually coincides with my first urination break. Go figure?

Anyway, for me, there is nothing better to drink when riding. And, for what it is worth, apparently it has medicinal qualities also, qualities which are favorable to one's good health. Sorry, no pictures of me drinking coconut water - never figured that I would need one.

nomadmax 

I spent some time on an island called Diego Garcia and had to augment food and water supplies with what was indigenous. I'll never drink anything from a coconut again unless I'm certain death is upon me. Let's just say that the distress it caused had a "dehydrating effect".

bobwysiwyg

Being a born skeptic (see Sig line ) I had to research the WWII claim. I found zero factual support for the claim using many sources, references to the same claim but no proof. I tend to think the coconut juice thing is also likely faddish

cb400bill

Thread moved from C&V to General Cycling.

Bianchi84

I found these Coconut Energy Bars.

bruce19

This is an interesting take on coconut water. (https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/f...oconut-water#2) I've taken to 3 hr. or less rides so I just drink water. Before a ride I drink a concoction of 100% beet juice, creatine, protein powder and collagen.

canklecat

I love coconut everything, but there's nothing magical about coconut water. You can get the same benefits from your favorite electrolyte supplements (I like DripDrop). And coconut varies tremendously in quality and price. Too many variables to rely on it for serious hydration needs.

But anything that encourages us to drink enough while exercising is a good thing. Plain water makes me feel bloated so on a long hot ride if I had to choose between plain water and coconut water, I'd go for the voodoo juice and a Mounds bar.

one4smoke

What brand are you using?

wolfchild

Here are 4 of my favourite drinks which I bring with me on my rides:

- Black tea
- Plain water
- A drink made from sweetened vanilla yogurt, blended with protein powder, instant coffee and water
- Chocolate milk

Gconan

I love coconut water and take it on almost all rides. After just drinking water you need something else and coconut water hydrates you very, very well. Contains electrolytes and potassium and manganese . Some brands are better than others. Harmless Harvest is the best but must always be refrigerated or kept cold seeing that it has not been pasteurized.

Nachoman

warm coconut water is gross. And that's what you'll be drinking after an hour or two on the bike.

Gconan

How To Buy The Healthiest Coconut Water And Avoid The Worst!