Riding a bicycle is demanding on the body: you sweat lots, use up your body’s store of fuel and generally tire the body, so staying properly hydrated is critical. Drinking Gatorade can help to keep you hydrated, keep cramp at bay and your energy levels topped up.

It’s no secret that the body needs fluids to perform at its optimum level, especially if you’re cycling hard. In 1965 University of Florida first developed Gatorade for the football team to perform better. Now, the Gatorade Sports Science Institute can boast 40 years of research in rehydrating and replenishing the body’s energy stores. So they know exactly what and how much you should be drinking during exercise.

The primary cause of dehydration is sweat loss, and when these lost fluids aren’t replaced, the body’s heat management system is compromised. Even if the body’s fluid level falls below that of 98%, impaired performance can be expected. Gatorade has been formulated to be quickly and easily absorbed by the body. Additionally, to prevent the chance that a bad tasting drink will put you off drinking when you most need it, Gatorade tastes great when you’re exercising.

Additional to rehydrating the body, Gatorade contains 6% carbohydrate (and Gatorade’s research backs up the claim that no more than 6% is required for effective absorption) to fuel the muscles and prevent the onset of fatigue as you continue to exercise.

The Gatorade website (http://www.gatorade.co.uk) is worth a visit to find out more about its products and how they can help you perform better. The “Fluid Loss Calculator” helps you calculate how much fluid you need during any type of exercise.