NO CARBS, NO GLORY! Sports drinks in review

27.09.25 09:56 812025-09-27T09:56:00+02:00Text: Rennfrosch123, Joe Ambrosch (translated by AI)Photos: Erwin Haiden, Developed in Austria, tested by Rennfrosch123: The NCNG Race Blends impress with their optimally balanced sugar ratio of 1:0.8 according to O'Brian 2019 - complemented by a mild flavor and thoughtful packaging.27.09.25 09:56 4162025-09-27T09:56:00+02:00

NO CARBS, NO GLORY! Sports drinks in review

27.09.25 09:56 4162025-09-27T09:56:00+02:00 Rennfrosch123, Joe Ambrosch (translated by AI) Erwin Haiden,

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Developed in Austria, tested by Rennfrosch123: The NCNG Race Blends impress with their optimally balanced sugar ratio of 1:0.8 according to O'Brian 2019 - complemented by a mild flavor and thoughtful packaging.27.09.25 09:56 4162025-09-27T09:56:00+02:00

There are many sports drinks. The selection is large, and the approaches vary – depending on taste, strategy, and stomach tolerance. However, anyone who has ever endured 4,800 kilometers across the USA while focusing less on taste and more on effectiveness knows: in the end, what matters is what works.

NO CARBS, NO GLORY! comes from Austria. It was developed by nutritionist Axel Dinse and Philipp Kaider, the man who, in 2005, won the Race Across America during his very first attempt. In 8 days, 22 hours, and 32 minutes. An achievement that still garners respect in the ultra-cycling scene today and simultaneously served as the ultimate endorsement for the drink powder Race Blend.

NO CARBS, NO GLORY! Race Blend

The NCNG concept is based on a balanced sugar ratio of 1:0.8 (maltodextrin/dextrose : fructose) according to O’Brian 2019 – not just any random mixture, but a targeted measure for better absorption in the intestines, even at high dosages. With some training, it is said that up to 120 grams of carbohydrates per hour can be consumed without upsetting the stomach.

Additionally, it features a pleasantly mild taste, available in mango or citrus flavors, which doesn’t become annoying even during longer rides, as well as a high sodium content to stabilize water and electrolyte balance. BCAAs are also included – providing support against muscular fatigue, especially for those longer sessions.

For those who want to dive deeper into the topic, check out the NO CARBS, NO GLORY! podcast on Apple or Spotify, where Axel and Philipp share their nutrition knowledge with you for free.

Packaging with brains

The kilo pack is equipped with a practical Velcro closure. It is easy to close and seals tightly without any annoying fiddling. The packaging material is made of PET/PE and is 100 percent recyclable in the yellow bin.

For on the go, there are 60 g sachets in the size of a smartphone. Pre-portioned, simply pour into the bottle, add water, shake - Rock'n'Roll.

Test series No. 2025/09 - Test protocol: Christopher, Codename "Rennfrosch123"

From Rockstar (Baits) to mechanic - from mechanic to ultra-cyclist. Today: more watts than decibels, chain oil instead of hair gel.

Since 2018, our protagonist has been regularly placed on a high-performance sports machine (category: road bike). Initial observations: a pronounced tendency for long rides, often to the point of complete exhaustion—voluntarily, of course. Rennfrosch123 has already participated several times in "extreme" field tests: Race Across Austria, Two Volcano Sprint, Race Around Austria 24h Challenge, Istraland, Gravallo, and the still mysterious Unknown Race, which to this day has left the archivists of sports history puzzled.

Not all deployments went smoothly. The last attempt had to be abandoned due to a total failure of the nutrition department. Protein collapse, accompanied by stomach rebellion and acute energy loss. The frog feed failed across the board, and the consequence was inevitable: DNF.

To prevent a repeat of this disaster, NO CARBS, NO GLORY! (product line Race Blend) was recruited for the next phase of testing.

The central question: Is this preparation capable of providing our Rennfrosch with stable energy levels throughout training and, above all, safely to the finish line?

The conditions: borderline
Load: high to beyond the pain threshold
Fluid loss: in liters
Psyche: increasingly fragile after km 200
Digestive system: nervous
Goal: maximum performance without system crash

Test location: Istria 300
300 km on heated asphalt, plenty of elevation gain, and the sun in solarium mode. A route that knows neither mercy nor room for mistakes. The perfect environment to find out if Rennfrosch123 can not only jump but also finish this time. Or if he will once again be sabotaged by his stomach, explode, and end up as frog legs in his own juice.

Interim conclusion:
Rennfrosch123 is ready. His legs full of drive. His mind focused. His stomach skeptical. The experiment begins.

Goal: maximum performance without system crash