Tailwind...

It has a shelf life of “about 2 years” per the company and if mixed you should treat it like juice and drink within a day or up to a week if in the fridge. I bought some last winter and since I don’t use it on my shorter rides I have he same bag and it seems perfectly fine still.

 

I dunno....mine doesn't last long enough to worry.

 

I actually do take hits of Coca Cola when racing ultra...

Seriously

 

As do I on really long rides... But not as a primary fuel source.

After climbing back up to elevation at mile 25 in the Wrightwood 50, a Coke tasted so good... Along with the orange Kit Kat that was in the cooler.

 

Yesterday after my ride I pulled into the nearest Circle K, loaded up a large cup with as much ice as it could take, and filled it with Mountain Dew. However I know it is basically sugar and caffeine, so I was careful to sip it on my way home. But man, I love my DEW!

 

I gave up sodas about 7 years ago...but occasionally on a long ride/race a quick sip of a soda hits the spot. Mmmmmm.....Fanta Orange.

 

B.TW. (Before TailWind), there was a 96 mile road ride I used to do near Mammoth which was remote and didn't have any food or beverage ops. So I'd drive the course beforehand and stash water and gatorade behind logs or rocks. I had pocketfuls of Gu and Clif Bars, and would throw in a bottle Starbucks mocha frappe at the 80 mile point for an extra boost on the home stretch.

That ride turned into the High Sierra Fall Century and is now the Mammoth Gran Fondo. I liked helping with the event, but riding the course alone. Did it once with the Glass Mountains on fire and a wall of smoke to ride through, and another time in the eye of a storm with a black cloud of hail chasing me down the final straightaway from Brown's Campground to the Green Church.

Would've been nice to have some Tailwind out there, but there was the occasional tailwind.

 

A well-stashed trail side Coke is pretty sweet!

 

The only time I will drink a regular Mtn Dew is after a ride... and even then it has to be a grueling one - long and hot. During cold weather, it just isn't the same, and I'm fine with water or Gatorade.

 

My primary fuel source in an ultra is....everything!

 

The last time I did PioneerTown 50 I wasn't feeling all that great....decided to have a a quarter of a PBJ sandwich at the turn around point.....it wasn't 20 mins before it really wasn't sitting well with me. That was the last time I mixed any food with my Tailwind on a ride.

 

My first mountain bike race (when I was new to dirt) was the 12 hour, powered by water and dark chocolate peanut butter sandwiches (I made a sandwich in the pits every lap). I think I had 80 miles before dropping out with a broken chain

Maybe it was 60.

70. Dam Climb 7 times on a 40 pound, 26" hardtail!

 

From their Facebook page.

 

Ummmm.....none of those flavors sound appealing when it's 95* out and you have been on the bike for hours.

 

Thinking that same thing, but presume they know what they're doing. May be better than first appears.

How's the naked BTW? Pretty neutral? I have the mandarin orange that I just bought a second bag of.

 

Helmet mounted I V bag with a dedicated port in your neck. You don't even need to drink the kool aid anymore.

 

I think the Naked flavor is actually seeeter than the Orange. Not by much, but the flavor is very mellow. I'll drink it by itself, and mix it into the other flavors.

 

I took it to mean another formula as opposed to different flavors.

On a side note I have noticed Tailwinded has upped my production at work. I went from 30 stops an hour to 30.093 per hour.

 

Glad I asked. I was presuming it would be a little less so. Might try sometime, but I like the orange a lot, so no need to change it up.

 

I use it so much, that I have to mix it up. I'll order 2-3 different flavors at a time. Then mix and match, even on the same ride.

 

Makes sense to me!

 

I was thinking this would be Tailwind Ice Cream, so it wouldn't be suitable for an Epic Santa Ana ride anyway.

 

Adding caffeine worked out well so they are experimenting on a cocaine blend.

 

Though if you snort it you may have to call it Headwind.

 

Can't get cramps if your whole body is numb

 

So I actually went on the interwebs and ordered me some Tailwind, rather than drive past the place in HB that carries it. Ordered the 50 serving bag AND a 12-pack of 200 calorie sticks. I'll gladly pay the premium for those as convenient as they are. And they even included a free lemon stick!!

They even included a cute little temporary tattoo...not sure which market segment that's aimed at...that I will not be using. And a sticker for the car (I assume) which I will also not be using. But the note and name on the bag were cool.

A question to the addicts: I had been storing the other stuff in the garage, which tends to get pretty freakin' hot. Should I store the Tailwind indoors where the ambient temp won't exceed 80 degrees? I won't be using it up quite as fast as J or Steve...

 

Store it wherever you want.

The tattoo is more for the tri-atheletes.

I have made requests when I placed an order for a specific sample pack. They seem to send you the same as what you ordered. I like it when I get a different flavor.

 

Get that espresso machine out of the picture, that's for another thread!!!

 

I ordered naked, since my initial test last weekend on naked went well. The lemon was a gimme.

 

Ooooops....guess I should have looked closer. Saw the yellow and just jumped to the conclusion.