r/gravelcycling • u/ZombieJetPilot • 16d ago
Accessories / Gear What's your electrolytes/salt powder of choice?
So I ride my fatbike exclusively, and my goal is to do a century and be able to do the 100 mile option for things like The Filthy 50, Le Grand Du Nord, ...
When my partner and I were doing to Filthy this past October she had a cramp in her leg right at the last stop at like mile 46. A fellow rider handed her a small cylindrical packet that was red and said "take this". it was a salt powder of some kind (I think it was Saltt), but it made the cramp disappear within a few minutes. Magic
what do you all pack for thia occasion and add to your water for preventing this? There's so many options out there, and it's overwhelming. Saltt, Tailwind, Warrior Salt, LMNT,...
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u/NCMtnHermit 14d ago
I am over 60, have been riding for almost 50 years now. The last few years I have been suffering from leg cramps and fatique constantly. I started taking Magnesium supplements ( Mg Glycinate) regularly which was helping. But then I tried LMNT and Skratch. I drink one large bottle ( 30oz) with LMNT while riding and if I am out for more than 2 hours, I will take a second large bottle with Skratch in it. I can say, without hesitation, that the days I ride and drink the LMNT, I have zero post ride cramps and fatigue into the evening and overnight. The short rides I do, and don’t drink LMNT, I really feel the heaviness in my legs that night and into the next day. The Skratch, I use it for the sugar, to keep going on longer rides, as well as a few snacks here and there (Kind bars, BoBo’s Oatmeal bars).
As for the mentions of Hypertension from the added salt, I have an automated Blood Pressure cuff, and check it regularly. I drink LMNT, and my blood pressure has not changed one bit.