energy gels?

[Scilly Suffolk]

Gels are convenient because they are small, nothing magic about them.

Your body can metabolise 67g of carbohydrates in an hour so bearing that in mind you just need to balance the cost/convenience ratio to suit your needs/wallet.

Ideally you want protein too, in a 4:1 ratio with the carbs.

I posted a DIY energy gel recipe on here if you're skint.

 

[CopperCyclist]

Jelly babies,you can munch on them as you ride. Imho though it is as important to fuel correctly before a long ride. My personal preference is porridge oats soaked in skimmed milk overnight with honey, that will see you 30 to 40 hilly miles. Make sure you hydrate though while riding. Water, squash or similar.

Jelly Tots for me

I'm planning an eighty miler soon, which is way farther than I've ever been before. Or that one I've been thinking of taking a packed lunch as well for a midway stop, and perhaps taking lucosade style drinks rather than plain water.

 

[Hip Priest]

I take loads of food with me. Flapjacks, bananas, sweets. I never eat it all, but as my old man used to say: "You're better looking at it than looking for it."

 

[JamieRegan]

I've used gels when running my first marathon, last year and I think they got me through it. I took one every half hour or so.

I've tried on a few long runs, also, but to be honest, I don't know whether they really helped or not. I ran 17 miles about a month ago and I ended up using about 6 gels. At a £1 a pop, I'd have been cheaper getting the train.

You can make your own isotonic drink with half water and half fruit juice, if you wish. And I would echo the calls for cereal bars, flapjacks etc.

One thing that did help me on the marathon run, and I would consider this if I was doing an equivalent effort on the bike, is salt. Little sachets of normal salt. it tastes vile, of course, but you lose a lot of salt through sweat and of course just drinking water doesn't replace that.

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

You can make your own isotonic drink with half water and half fruit juice, if you wish. And I would echo the calls for cereal bars, flapjacks etc.

One thing that did help me on the marathon run, and I would consider this if I was doing an equivalent effort on the bike, is salt. Little sachets of normal salt. it tastes vile, of course, but you lose a lot of salt through sweat and of course just drinking water doesn't replace that.

If using fruit juice I suggest you avoid the stuff with bits in: it clogs-up the nozzle. Squash works well too; dilute it more than usual.

Good call on the salt: add slightly less than half a teaspoon to a 500ml drinks bottle; you don't taste it and you receive it in a measured way.

 

[Fiona N]

Couldn't agree more about the pre-ride fuel. Mine's porridge oats, chopped banana, dried fruit and skimmed milk.This sees me through 3/4 hour hilly rides, while my mates are downing power bars, gel etc at the halfway stage...

For a 3/4 of an hour ride, I wouldn't bother with anything apart from water

For 3 to 4 hours, I'd stop for a coffee + cake

 

[smokeysmoo]

"You're better looking at it than looking for it."

Never heard that before, I like it

 

[boydj]

A gel can be a great reviver if you start to run out of fuel towards the end of a long ride. But gel is no substitute for fuelling properly before the ride and drinking plenty and eating sensibly during the ride. Gels can be very sickly.

 

[runner]

I adore these
http://www.soreen.com/our-products/go-bar.html

I can't see the point of buying foul tasting gels when there are great susbtitutes like soreen bars for sale...I just luv....the taste of these beautiful bars

 

[cjb]

For a 3/4 of an hour ride, I wouldn't bother with anything apart from water

For 3 to 4 hours, I'd stop for a coffee + cake

My original post was meant to be read as 3 to 4 hours, and not 3/4 hour ! I wouldn't get the bike out of the garage for that short a distance, but I'll try to be clearer in future.

 

[Radman]

I always take a couple of ceareal bars,a bannana and good old" jelly babies" , tried a few of the energy gels but the ones ive tried have always been like a thick syrup and ive had to drink a lot of liquid to get it down. you just want to replace what your using.

 

[DCLane]

I carry cereal bars whenever I'm out, although I usually don't use them. It's always that 'just in case' like Hip Priest says.

Toast, coffee and banana before a long ride though works well. Havnt' tried porridge but will do.

And the bottle's only got water in it. I had a go with the salts thingammybobs, but it didn't seem to make any difference. Except that I felt warmer.

 

[madpensioner]

to be honest with you - ive tried all the expensive energy bars and gels - i now find that cereal bars and natural honey are just as good - one tenth the cost