Interbike Ambush: Hammer Nutrition!

by Chris Fontecchio on Oct 19, 2011 1:46 AM EDT in Techs-Mechs & Gear

Last of the series... And it's a favorite topic of mine, nutrition. Unlike all the fancy steel bikes and carbon wheels, Hammer Nutrition makes products cyclists and other endurance athletes actually need!

Hammer Nutrition, out of Whitefish, Montana, has been around the cycling scene for a decade or so, and their products are pretty ubiquitous in the Northwest cycling scene -- and presumably out your way as well. Hammer are one of the many exhibitors at Interbike who cut across the athletic spectrum -- athletes of all stripes need nutritional help. But Hammer got their name from cycling. Every product I've seen has a chainring on it. They aren't just selling a general product to the cycling world at Interbike -- they're selling a message that their product is dialed in for Cycling.

I got a chance to talk with Steve Born, a multiple Race Across AMerica finisher and one of the head honchos at Hammer these days about one of my favorite topics: cycling nutrition that is actually something you might want to put in your body on a regular basis!

Sorry about the abrupt finish, camera battery malfunction. We actually talked quite a bit more about the purity of their whey protein, which is 100% whey protein isolate -- tough to top that. And we talked about the company's rejection of refined sugar, a complete departure from the bad old days of Gatorade and an important thing for me as a parent whose kids see sugared drinks all over the place and are curious about that stuff I put in my bottle. Their aversion to sugar is, um, a work in progress, which has the curious effect of increasing my aversion to it. Thankfully, while plenty of sports drinks still take the easy way out, Hammer and others are offering cyclists plenty of good-tasting alternatives to sugary drinks. I've been a Hammer Nutrition user for about five years, with excellent results (well, except for the part where I don't train enough), and I've never gotten sick of any of the flavors. That's more than enough to keep me going.

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I’m a long-time fan and user of Hammer products as well,good to see them recognized.

Didn’t watch the video yet as I’m on my mobile, but I’ve always been curious why Hammer doesn’t sponsor any pro cycling teams. They seem to have a stronger presence in tri and endurance events.

by Lupecita on Oct 19, 2011 3:43 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Out here

they sponsor oodles of small clubs. Including a former one of mine. Lots of small-dollar stuff, I think.

De cross gaat out that door.

by Chris Fontecchio on Oct 19, 2011 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions

T-Mobile

They sponsored the T-Mobile women’s team some years ago, they were the predecessor to what was HTC-Highroad this year.

by John Verheul on Oct 20, 2011 7:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Welcome, Gianni

"Beer helps." -- Ant1.

by tedvdw on Oct 20, 2011 9:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Of all

the vodoo cycling products that may or may not help, I faithfully use Recoverite after hard rides. I have no idea of the science, but it seems to help me. I’ve gone to drinking more water and using mix in my bottles less and less, but I still think feel like Recoverite helps after a hard ride.

by John.. on Oct 19, 2011 8:03 AM EDT reply actions

Agree on the Recoverite.

Hammer was at nationals this summer handing out full-sized samples – per the rep that was there ‘regulations have changed so we aren’t selling anything, we’re just giving it all away until what we’ve brought is gone.’ I got turned onto the recoverite there – even the chocolate flavor I found pleasing – expecting a chalky taste and there was none to be found.

by WaterGirl on Oct 19, 2011 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions

The performance of Recoverite

is really noticeable. I’m not enough of a nutrition guy to tell the difference with every substance, but you can totally feel the effects of Recoverite. Next day, no pain. I started Mrs. PdC on it while she was prepping for a half-marathon, and she (normally skeptical) was blown away.

De cross gaat out that door.

by Chris Fontecchio on Oct 19, 2011 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions

Hm, may have to try that

I’ve been a big fan of the Hammer gels (particularly raspberry & huckleberry flavors) and use those during bike rides, but have normally gone the chocolate milk route on post-rides. Recoverite actually makes that big a difference?

by Le Comte on Oct 19, 2011 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Well

I don’t drink milk so I can’t compare, but if I don’t take Recoverite I feel stiff and tired, and if I do use it I don’t feel stiff at all, and generally feel less tired, depending on what exactly I’m recovering from.

De cross gaat out that door.

by Chris Fontecchio on Oct 19, 2011 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Try it

For me, the recoverite makes a difference after a hard ride. My experience is that I feel much better the next day like Chris said. Please understand, I did not do any scientific or pseudo-scientific analysis where I did a hard ride and tried chocolate milk and then did the same ride with recoverite. Simply, this is something that appears to work for me and I would recommend it. I use the subtle citrus flavor (although the last time I bought some it just said citrus).

by John.. on Oct 19, 2011 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions

echoing the give it a shot sentiment

I had 3 straight days of competition, and I’m usually really stiff the morning after and need an extra long warm-up to just start to get the kinks out, nor would I feel as sharp during my races – I didn’t have that this time, felt pretty fresh and ready to go. To top it off, my last event was probably my best out of the lot – no residual tiredness from the previous 2 days.

by WaterGirl on Oct 19, 2011 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Y'all have convinced me

I’ll give it a shot.

by Le Comte on Oct 19, 2011 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions

They sell

single serving packets, for you samplers out there.

De cross gaat out that door.

by Chris Fontecchio on Oct 19, 2011 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm surprised

you didn’t ask about the Neben lawsuit (alleged contaminated supplements resulted in a positive test and a year suspension). How did that one turn out anyway, did they eventually settle?

by John Verheul on Oct 20, 2011 7:10 PM EDT reply actions

Kind of disappeared

I don’t see anything about what happened. And the suit and the incidents go back a ways. I wouldn’t presume Hammer to have done anything wrong, though the facts of that matter seem pretty unavailable without a PACER account.

De cross gaat out that door.

by Chris Fontecchio on Oct 21, 2011 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Not that long a ways

2008.

http://survey.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=features/2008/neben_court_case08

Merits of the case aside, Brian Frank’s public statements (lumping Amber Neben in with Tyler Hamilton) seemed a bit much.

by John Verheul on Oct 22, 2011 3:42 PM EDT reply actions

OK

this is an Interbike experience piece with a bit of product review and an enjoyable interview. I can’t really go from there to talking about how some of their public statements about an old lawsuit might not have been OK. And it is old if it was filed three years ago and disappeared.

De cross gaat out that door.

by Chris Fontecchio on Oct 24, 2011 1:20 AM EDT up reply actions