TORQ energy ~ Endurance Fuel

I've been using TORQ products since 2004 when I needed something to help me get through the gruelling UCI Golden Bike Series

I needed something that was going to work in the freezing cold and wind of March's Tour of Flanders and the 30 degrees heat of Italy's Felice Gimondi and Spain's Quebrantahuesos.

I've been around for a long time and, believe me, I've drunk and eaten my way through nearly all the products out there. 

Some are great in the cold, others are good in the heat.  Some products are really tasty when you first throw them down your throat in the winter.  But after seven hours in the saddle and eating them climbing mountains in hot, humid conditions, they lose their appeal.  And that is probably the most dangerous, self-inflicted thing you can have happen to you as a cyclist.

If you're approaching the descent (or the climb) of the Galibier, the Portalet, the Tourmalet or the Izoard, then you don't want to have low blood sugar, through lack of appetite and enter a full-on descent without your full-on concentration.  I've seen so many people tumble on final descents, it's not funny.  Especially when it's self inflicted and can easily be prevented.

So nutrition, taste and composition are very, very, very important.  It's as important as your training, because without it, your training counts for nothing.  Okay, pre-amble over, here's the info on a product that has many surprises and has to be worth a look.

What is it?
TORQ energy is a naturally flavoured, high carb, energy powder, that you mix with water to deliver sustained energy to your muscles during your training and competition. 

It's composed of a research-proven mix of 2:1 maltodextrin-fructose formulation that has been shown to increase carbohydrate delivery by 40%. (Wallis et al 2005).

Maltodextrin is often referred to as a glucose polymer. A glucose polymer's molecular profile optimises the long-term energy properties of complex carbohydrates, without the need to consume bulky starch-rich foods.  Which is good for people like us who have to eat and exercise on the go.  There's no half-time in a bike race!

Bulky foods take longer to digest because they contain fibre, important, but useless as a sport-enhancing nutrient.  They also fill and bloat your stomach making movement and sport in particular more difficult.  No bulk equals easier digestion; you don't need to be a sports scientist to work that one out.

TORQ energy, when diluted with the correct amount of water, delivers a sustained supply of glucose to the working muscle.  It contains no colouring, artificial sweeteners, flavouring or preservatives.  It's lightly flavoured, refreshing and more importantly these days, natural.  It comes in Natural flavour (nothing) or Grapefruit, Lime & Lemon, Orange and now Vanilla.

As mentioned earlier, there are no artificial sweeteners (so no aspartame (check your labels)) only natural flavourings, and no  colourings added.  These products are as natural as you can get.

The "flavoured" versions contain electrolytes to preserve muscle function and replace minerals lost through sweating.  These help maintain your performance at the top end of your physical limits for as long as possible. 

The "natural" and "organic"  versions do not contain electrolytes, so can be used to top up carb levels (when carbo loading) without overdoing the sodium, potassium magnesium intake.  Again, always check your food labelling.

When should I use TORQ energy?
Use it as a supplement to your regular nutrition during heavy training/racing periods.  Sometimes it is just impossible to get enough calories from a regular diet to fuel your performance. 4 level scoops of TORQ energy dissolved in 750ml of water is equivalent in energy to a medium sized bowl of pasta.

TORQ energy can also be added to all sorts of regular food; preferably the natural flavour!  Sprinkle it onto your breakfast cereal, or add to your favourite sweet or savoury recipes. 

You are unlikely to notice that it has been added, yet it will enhance significantly the carbohydrate content of the food.  If you do use it in this way, ensure that you drink plenty of extra water as this is necessary for effective glycogen storage.

Recovery Supplement
The optimal "window of opportunity" for maximising nutrition recovery is the twenty minutes immediately upon ceasing exercise.  Enzyme activity is elevated, and this is the best time to get carbohydrate into your system. 

This is why you see pro's eating in the last 10-20k of a stage race.  It's not for the finishing sprint, it's to load the stomach ready to digest upon completion of the stage and start the recovery for tomorrow's onslaught.

Solid  food isn't always appealing at this time so it's possible to use a dedicated recovery supplement or use TORQ energy. 

For optimal recovery, aim to consume 1gram of TORQ energy per kilogram body weight, immediately after exercise and repeat this procedure every 2 hours for the next 4-6 hours. 

However, after the initial recovery period, and you've had your shower, in my opinion solid food may be a more palatable and cheaper alternative. 

Use TORQ to kick start your recovery.  Prepare the bottle before you leave home and get it down your throat as quickly as possible post exercise.  Then start the recovery process running while you're in the shower washing your bits.

Carbo Loading
Research has shown that if you elevate your carbohydrate intake for the days leading up to an event, you will super-charge your muscles with glycogen.  Obviously, if you've done everything else right you will enhance your performance and extend your time to exhaustion.

There are a variety of carbohydrate loading methods, but as a guide, aim to consume 8-10g of carbohydrate per kg bodyweight per day for the 3 days leading up to your key event.  During this time, every effort should be made to keep fat intake as low as possible and exercise volume should be light.  

Please note that these figures represent the recommended amount of total carbohydrate, so use supplements such as TORQ to help you achieve these levels.  And don't do it for every event every weekend!

Nutritional Info
Ingredients:

Maltodextrin (60%),
Fructose (30%)
Electrolytes ~ Sodium, Calcium, Potassium, Magnesium

Nutritional Information (per 100grams):

Energy (Kcal) 384
Energy (Kj) 1605
Carbohydrate 96g
Fat 0g
Protein 0g

Dairy free, wheat free and nut free.  And obviously independently tested against all substance lists to ISO 17025 standards.

Where can I get some?
See the boys at Big Maggy's by clicking the link on the right, visiting the shop, or calling them on 01534 729 900

I've been using the Pink Grapefruit version and I think that at last I've found a product that I can drink all day that doesn't leave me wishing it wasn't sweet and sickly.  Because it's neither.  It's really refreshing, different and it works, for me at least. 

Having said that, as part of this test, the Vanilla's my new favourite!