As a bit of a fan, well a big fan of Brownes Ice Coffee product, Chill Light, this article published in the Canadian journal, Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism caught my eye. The abstract of the article follows:
This study examined the effects of 3 recovery drinks on endurance performance following glycogen-depleting exercise. Nine trained male cyclists performed 3 experimental trials, in a randomized counter-balanced order, consisting of a glycogen-depleting trial, a 4-h recovery period, and a cycle to exhaustion at 70% power at maximal oxygen uptake. At 0 and 2 h into the recovery period, participants consumed chocolate milk (CM), a carbohydrate replacement drink (CR), or a fluid replacement drink (FR). Participants cycled 51% and 43% longer after ingesting CM (32 ± 11 min) than after ingesting CR (21 ± 8 min) or FR (23 ± 8 min). CM is an effective recovery aid after prolonged endurance exercise for subsequent exercise at low-moderate intensities.
The full citation for the article is:
Thomas, K., Morris, P. & Stevenson, E. (2009). Improved endurance capacity following chocolate milk consumption compared with 2 commercially available sport drinks. Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism, 34(1), 78-82.
The PDF copy of the article is available here and a HTML copy here. Reprints and permissions can be obtained here.
I agree. On my last 200km ride, I arrived at Pinjarra hot and exhausted. I downed a litre of choc milk, followed by an unmeasured amount of water. I recovered well with a rest and some time to cool off and I was able to finish the final legs with my energy building the further I rode. I finished with a lot of energy to spare. The upside of choc milk over isotonic drinks or water is it slows the excretion of fluids so even though I had drunk quite a lot of fluid quickly, I didn’t have to stop to pee all the time, which can become tiresome on a long ride.
I agree. On my last 200km ride, I arrived at Pinjarra hot and exhausted. I downed a litre of choc milk, followed by an unmeasured amount of water. I recovered well with a rest and some time to cool off and I was able to finish the final legs with my energy building the further I rode. I finished with a lot of energy to spare. The upside of choc milk over isotonic drinks or water is it slows the excretion of fluids so even though I had drunk quite a lot of fluid quickly, I didn’t have to stop to pee all the time, which can become tiresome on a long ride.