2 Gel or not 2 Gel ??

[SteCenturion]

I ate 2 dozen deep filled mince pies over Christmas - should keep me 'fuelled' 'till Easter.
And so the cycle goes on.

 

[Dusty Bin]

Maltodextrin...
Something that is used as a thickening agent , found in sweets , fizzy pop , artificial sweeteners ,beer and crisps has got to be good for you ..right
See the 2 lists of ingrediants above
Both rubbish

Not sure if you've fully understood that....

 

[VamP]

Something that is used in sweets , fizzy pop , beer and crisps has got to be good for you ..
See the 2 lists of ingrediants above
Both rubbish , but one cheaper than the other

Forget the lists. Jelly babies are sugar and tiny amounts of other stuff. Gels are maltodextrin and tiny amounts of other stuff.
Sugar = simple carbohydrate + sugar spike
Maltodextrin = complex carbohydrate + usable fuel without sugar spike.

Neither is any good from long term nutritional perspective. One is great at filling an immediate fuel need. The other is great at rotting your teeth.

 

[Cuchilo]

A Team Bassett cycling top would be cool though .
"Powered by Jelly babies" on the back

 

[harly]

you are what you eat as the saying goes
i like porridge bars when im out on the bike , something more solid than gels , jellybabies or haribos

 

[cyberknight]

Isnt that what cake stops are for?
Seriously though , without knowing the terrain and pace of the club runs and what you personally need its hard to say what you will need .
For a "medium" pace club run of around 100 k i would have a good breakfast of probably porridge and take a bottle or 2 or water with no cal tabs , i would also carry a gel or two as back up energy but i would rarely need them as the mid ride coffee and cake stop would be enough for me.
Remember on a club run you probably will not be on the front all the time so you will use a lot less energy in the slipstream of those taking a pull at the front
On a fast club ride over a similar distance i would use the gels as well as they go faster , personally i dont like gels and prefer a cereal/energy bars and the kellogs nutrigrain (one with the jam inside ) i like and i have seen them on offer at the cannock sportive.

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

http://www.energygelcentral.com/energy-gel-basics

 

[Veganpower]

I'm a newb so there is plenty of time to be proved wrong but I intend to carry high quality Dates for long rides.

 

[vickster]

I'm a newb so there is plenty of time to be proved wrong but I intend to carry high quality Dates for long rides.

 

[Veganpower]

they're not for everyone but I love em. Have you tried organic medjool dates?

 

[vickster]

I can't bear dates yeuch. Rather calorific for something so horrid too

 

[Veganpower]

I can't bear dates yeuch. Rather calorific for something so horrid too

I thought that was the point! you gotta smash in the carbs to get the job done.

 

[vickster]

How far are you riding? I don't need more carbs when I have the obligatory cake stop

 

[Veganpower]

How far are you riding? I don't need more carbs when I have the obligatory cake stop

I see your point. No cakes for me though, I've had enough to keep me going for a long time.

 

[vickster]

It is obligatory to eat cake if you cycle