Discussion
I dont use gels apart form when I am riding W2 and half way through I am bushed. Generally they make me want to throw up for 10 mins.
I was wondering, are gels worth it? Should I just get a few Mars bars and some jelly babies? Then at least I would enjoy my snack!
Will it give me the energy to finish the Wall?
I was wondering, are gels worth it? Should I just get a few Mars bars and some jelly babies? Then at least I would enjoy my snack!
Will it give me the energy to finish the Wall?
As I don't normally eat enough before a ride, I have started to use gels and energy bar from Zip Vit. I eat the bars during the ride and when things get tough after a few hours I used the gels which are extremely effective - seem to work within minutes and keep endurance up for quite a long time. I also find I'm not totally wrecked for the rest of the day afterwards.
Zip Vit do an excellent starter pack which has samples of its gels, bars, drinks and vitamins and also contains a 750ml bottle and some other stuff. It's free, but with £4.99 p&p. Well worth it though.
http://www.zipvitsport.co.uk/success/
or
http://www.zipvitsport.co.uk/sportsnutrition/suppl...
Zip Vit do an excellent starter pack which has samples of its gels, bars, drinks and vitamins and also contains a 750ml bottle and some other stuff. It's free, but with £4.99 p&p. Well worth it though.
http://www.zipvitsport.co.uk/success/
or
http://www.zipvitsport.co.uk/sportsnutrition/suppl...
Edited by Ghisallo on Friday 11th June 12:59
ks to strangers for hours and make your knob shrink. Top one. Nice one. Get sorted.
Rich_W said:
Like the bed in Goldilocks. These are "just right" for me. Plus I like the Banoffee one 
Oooh, a sensible post!I've tried Powerbar (too sweet & sickly) and SiS (not bad, but quite thin & watery like you say) so thanks for the tip, I'll give them a try.
Overall, my experience of gels is that they are incredibly fast acting when your blood sugar takes a nosedive but don't overdo it unless you like sitting on the bog pissing through your arse.
dubbs said:
Stuart said:
I also hate gels. My LBS recommended shot blocks - basically like jelly sweets with amphetamines in. Easy to eat, don't make you feel sick, work. Sorted.
Except they don't actually have amphetamines in....right??? 
http://www.sporttek.co.uk/Endurance_Nutrition/Clif...
I'll be using High5 gels tomorrow, find them the most palatable and seem to work quickly.
For the race I have:
1 x isogel
2 x energy+ (has cafeine added)
2 x energy
Doubt I'll use them all but the iso is more runny and easier to take down for the run and as I'm feeling rough as a dog with this cold I'm taking some extra caffeine one's as hopefully they'll perk me up enough to get round.
In addition to these I'll have 2x energysource drinks, one "Xtreme" which again has caffeine and taurine in, the other a standard energysource.
Nutrition-wise to whoever said they don't eat prior - always eat about 2h before and have something like porridge to get a slow-release going, it really helps. On race day I'll always try and get 750ml of the Xtreme drink down me as well (prior to the start) as that gives a good instant energy boost to get you going.
For the race I have:
1 x isogel
2 x energy+ (has cafeine added)
2 x energy
Doubt I'll use them all but the iso is more runny and easier to take down for the run and as I'm feeling rough as a dog with this cold I'm taking some extra caffeine one's as hopefully they'll perk me up enough to get round.
In addition to these I'll have 2x energysource drinks, one "Xtreme" which again has caffeine and taurine in, the other a standard energysource.
Nutrition-wise to whoever said they don't eat prior - always eat about 2h before and have something like porridge to get a slow-release going, it really helps. On race day I'll always try and get 750ml of the Xtreme drink down me as well (prior to the start) as that gives a good instant energy boost to get you going.
Edited by dubbs on Saturday 12th June 10:03
The thing with gels is to try a whole bunch until you find one you like.
Until recently I've used the Cytomax "Gulp 'n Go" gel, which is palatable.
Now I'm a convert to Gu, but only vanilla or choc flavour. The choc flavour is made with Belgian chocolate, and tastes sinfully good. Vanilla is pleasant. Plain though is utterly vile!
Until recently I've used the Cytomax "Gulp 'n Go" gel, which is palatable.
Now I'm a convert to Gu, but only vanilla or choc flavour. The choc flavour is made with Belgian chocolate, and tastes sinfully good. Vanilla is pleasant. Plain though is utterly vile!
bikemonster said:
Now I'm a convert to Gu, but only vanilla or choc flavour. The choc flavour is made with Belgian chocolate, and tastes sinfully good. Vanilla is pleasant. Plain though is utterly vile!
Sigma are raving about these at the moment. Might have to pop over later and pick some up.i use them when i am racing and you have to learn how best to use them for your body. its like most fuel, if it gets to the point where you are really bonking, you are probably too late to really feel the benefits of whatever you consume... tape some to you top tube on a long ride and its a handy albeit odd looking reminder that you need to refuel. have a look at the sort of consumption an elite triathlete gets through and read where and when they use the gels and it might help, the idea is to stay topped up rather than run down the reserves to zero.
SiS stuff works well for me and i tend to stick with it even if watered down to 500ml its probably the lowest carb content. the sis caffeine ones really do provide a noticeable boost.
I didnt like much of the zipvit range, torq stuff was ok.
lucozade gels are just like the orange flavour isotonic drink and as most of us are familiar with that, its a good place to start. its a good gel and goes down well.
SiS stuff works well for me and i tend to stick with it even if watered down to 500ml its probably the lowest carb content. the sis caffeine ones really do provide a noticeable boost.
I didnt like much of the zipvit range, torq stuff was ok.
lucozade gels are just like the orange flavour isotonic drink and as most of us are familiar with that, its a good place to start. its a good gel and goes down well.
A little caution,
I was sold "Powerbar Ride Shots". They are a jelly sweet a little like big randoms. I was warned that hey have a lot of caffine. I was munching a couple when we stopped but by half a packet I was suffering quite badly. I felt like my head was splitting and my eyes were burning.
The one thing that has kept me going through having a baby is coffee, I like coffee, strong coffee but the caffine in these things is enormous and hard to take.
I was sold "Powerbar Ride Shots". They are a jelly sweet a little like big randoms. I was warned that hey have a lot of caffine. I was munching a couple when we stopped but by half a packet I was suffering quite badly. I felt like my head was splitting and my eyes were burning.
The one thing that has kept me going through having a baby is coffee, I like coffee, strong coffee but the caffine in these things is enormous and hard to take.
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