Hammer Nutrition at The Cycling House
by Andy Schultz
When staying at The Cycling House one thing you will encounter is a “fueling station” jam-packed with Hammer Nutrition Products. These products are there for you to use both on and off the bike. The array of supplements and fuels can be overwhelming at first glance so I’ve written this article to let you know which products I use as a starting place for you.
I’ve been sponsored by Hammer Nutrition from almost the beginning of my racing career. They’ve attained a level very few sponsored products have with me: I would seek them out and buy them on my own if I wasn’t sponsored by them. I’ve used almost all the products they offer at one time or another and they all have benefits. The product array is so vast however that I think it would be really hard and slightly impractical to take them all, so each individual has to find the products they value the most and use those. Here is a list of the one’s I use:
On the Bike
Heed- Most mountain bike events that I do are under two hours so I don’t need a lot of fuel. That’s why I use Heed. It’s quick to enter the bloodstream and easy to digest. I don’t like a lot of flavor when I’m racing so I use Plain Heed. Except for a slight after taste my bottles taste like water but I’m actually getting fuel and electrolytes.
Endurolytes- These are a key product if you are going to be riding hard and you are susceptible to cramping. When I’m training I’ll throw a few in my jersey and take two an hour. When I’m racing I’ll open a few capsules up and put them in my water bottles so I don’t have to worry about taking pills but I’ll keep a few in my back pocket just in case I feel a cramp coming on.
Endurolytes Fizz– These are a relatively new product from Hammer but they have become part of my daily routine. Just pop one in your bottle to get a little flavor in your water and your electrolytes. Grapefruit is my favorite. It is a pretty subtle flavor. If you want a bolder flavor try Grape or Lemon-Lime.
Hammer Bars- When I’m training I like to eat solid food so I bring Chocolate Chip Hammer Bars and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. While you are at The Cycling House though, you should definitely give Perpetum or Sustained Energy a chance. Put a scoop in your bottle for each hour.
Hammer Gel- If my races are longer than the typical two hours or I have a long intense day of training I bring Hammer Gel. Just like Heed it gets to work quickly and is easy to digest. Give Montana Huckleberry a try for starters.
Hammer Purist Bottles- These are quite a bit more expensive than the traditional bottle but they are so much better. For starters I have yet to see one leak. That alone is enough for me but they use a special construction so the bottle won’t absorb any flavors, color, or allow mold to stick. No more scrubbing bottles. Simply just rinse them out with a little dish soap and they are good to go.
Recovery
Recoverite– I always try to eat a lunch right after my ride with a lot of quality carbs and protein for recovery but when that isn’t possible I turn to Recoverite. Our TCH Mallorca support riders couldn’t get enough of this stuff! You should definitely give this product a try. I think you’ll definitely notice an enhanced recovery the day after using it.
Endurance Amino- I take a few of these after a hard ride and a few more several hours later. Amino Acids are the building blocks of our muscles and supplementing with them really helps with recovery. You should try to supplement with them during your ride as well.
Hammer Whey- During a hard training block I try to finish my dinner three hours before going to bed and drinking a glass of water with a scoop of Hammer Whey in it right before bedding down. Studies have shown that drinking whey protein before going to bed helps stimulate natural HGH production which speeds recovery. I also notice that I wake up hungrier in the morning so I think it also helps to boost my metabolism while I sleep.
Daily Supplements
Premium Insurance Caps- These are Hammer’s multi-vitamin. I take five of them every day; three after my ride and two with dinner. Warning: They’ll turn your pee bright yellow but they’ll also help you ward-off illness and help you get the nutrients you need.
Salmon Oil- Most Americans need more Omega 3’s, me included so I take two of these every day
Specialty
Phytomax- You will have plenty of vegetables to eat when you are staying at The Cycling House but if you are like me, when you’re on the road you have a tough time eating enough of them. So I bring Phytomax with me to help supplement my vegetable intake
REM Caps- I don’t take these very often but if I’m having a tough time sleeping or want to ensure a good night’s sleep I’ll take one or two. I haven’t found that they help me fall asleep but I definitely sleep deeper and have much more vivid dreams.
Race Day Boost- I hesitated to write about this one because it is my secret weapon. I take this about twice a year ahead of my most important events. I think it improves my performance and there is a lot of scientific data to back that up. Give it a try this year.
If you have any questions about any of Hammer’s products they have an enormous amount of literature on their website. Also, pick the brains of any of The Cycling House staff. They have all used the products for years and can answer any of your questions. Also, don’t hesitate to call Hammer directly. All their client advisors are well versed in the products and can get you answers for any of your questions.