Creatine

Fact. This is why cargo-loading is way more beneficial. With carb loading you store 3 grams of water per gram of carbohydrate you take in. So as you start to carb load, you are hydrating your body as well, and your body can use these fluids when need be. 

Doesn't sound very aero though.

Yes indeed while all of your articles do make the claims that carb loading isn't the best way, they are all secondary articles. i.e. anyone can write anything and claim they are right, and maybe they are for that person. But if you look into more articles, that of primary research and look into in-depth studies the results will overwhelming point to carb loading as the main way to go. 

This is my one grip about people going to articles for training. If you are, go into the articles that are backed up with many studies and are scholarly articles. Any article in "xyz" magazine will say whatever they want about whatever claim they want to make. 

Here are some good links to do further research on the topic

Performance Training Journal (NSCA)

Medicine and Science in Sport and Exercise (ASCM)

International Journal of Sports Nutrition 

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

FWIW, I am currently studying a minor in sport nutrition and doing a semester long research project on carb-loading versus fat-loading, along with some of the myths and why fat-loading just does not work. I would love to gladly add more on this thread and answer any questions you may have. 

http://jap.physiology.org/content/95/2/584.short

http://jap.physiology.org/content/88/4/1284.short

I would say that the research seems to be conflicting at best.  These are just two of several that I found via Google Scholar.  

so we have a research study done with 8 women, and then 7 tt cyclists...what really does this prove?

"Although we cannot completely discount the possibility that CHO loading has a worthwhile effect on the performance of competitive cyclists under conditions similar to our trial, our data suggest that this effect is small and, at best, only likely to rearrange the finishing order of the top cyclists in the field"

this is all i need to know that this study really wouldn't gear me away from carb-loading.

from a science point of view all signs point to yes that increasing your carb intake before exercise will delay the onset of fatigue, increase in performance, well that is a whole new issue really.

Not trying to gear anyone away from anything.  Just saying that research is showing mixed results.  I've seen some studies that show a 2-3% increase in performance.  Some things I took away from the plethera of information out there:

1. Proper Carb loading is difficult to do.

2. Requires a 1-4 day taper.

3.  More difficult for wormen.

4.  It doesn't always work.

Plus it has been recommended to use simple sugars as the source of carbs.  One can argue about the merits, or lack thereof of this kind of diet.  

Like I said, I don't have a horse in this race.  I eat plenty of carbs leading into a race.  It helps my mind, just as much as my body.  Just pointing out that research is showing some mixed results.  

Be careful of various packaged supplement mixes if you aren't sure of the safety and efficacy of the various ingredients in them.  Also, be aware that some products may contain ingredients that are banned by WADA for competitive athletes.  I bring this up, because Jacked is a perfect example. It contains methylhexanamine, which is a stimulant on the banned substance list.

The creatine in there isn't doing jack for you. As stated elsewhere in the thread, you have to load and then keep on a maintenance dose.

I haven't read up on this in a while, but my recollection is consistent with yours that Beta-Alanine is effective for endurance.  In addition to the handful of comments that creatine won't help with endurance, I also recall that in at least some studies creatine was shown not only to be ineffective for endurance, but also potentially dangerous to the kidneys or liver.

Hyper hydration isn't new. A number of pros/elites in various sports do this in some form or fashion. I try and do it before any of my hot races, although sometimes I fall short with travel/kids etc getting me off schedul. While you do gain some weight from fluid, it more than compensates for itself since the fluid in sitting in the muscles ready to be used versus in your throat/stomach/intestines waiting to get processed. (Glycerol was a big product a few years back for this very reason. It helped the body retain water. I don't remember if they banned it or not, but I want to say it got classified as a performance enhancer for this reason. ) In conditions like Kona, staying hydrated is one of the biggest factors for anyone on the course, and for someone like macca, it's the difference between winning and not. And weight on the run is of little consequence there too as a net loss in water starts right way, so by the run most have lost weight.

The creatine angle has been along for a long time as well. Usually for what we do it just ends up with cramping of some sort. creatine is part of the immediate energy that is stored right in the muscle. For those who are about to bust out their biology books, ATP-CP is Adenosine Tri Phosphate - Creatine Phosphate. It's the energy system that lasts for about 5 seconds or so, used for explosive or emergency energy. (Throwing a punch, sprinting out of a burning building or exploding on benchpress). Your body doesn't have time to break down sugar through glycolysis and get it to the muscle in time, so this is immediate energy. In our zone 1/2/3 exercise it's pretty much never used or trained for. It helps grow muscle size, but its the wrong kind of muscle so it's not useful for what we do. That's more of a Usain Bolt type of energy system.

Would I recommend a prerace hydration strategy? Heck yes. Would I use creatine? nope.

my 2 cents