Upset stomache after long ride...

[BigonaBianchi]

I had 5 energy gels in 7 hours on my recent 109 miler in cyprus. Today (day after) ive had the worst upset stomache in years....could this be because of the gels? Its not happened like this before.

If it is then i wonder what alternative food /energy i can carry thta isnt a gel......vey few jelly beans out here lol!

 

[Deleted member 35268]

What was the temperature during your ride, and how did the temperature compare to what you are used to at home (UK??)

Reason I ask - A few years back I cycled quite a distance in a drier, hotter climate. I thought nothing of it at the time but when I returned from the ride I got heatstroke - Vomiting, fever, headache, the shoots.

It was nothing to do with food in my case (I thought it was!)

Just a thought.

 

[vickster]

People have certainly said that gels disagree with them. How about trying dried fruit, must be plenty of that. Sugary drink? Proper food? Haribo are available globally no?

 

[Rob3rt]

I'd have thought if it was due to the gels the upset stomach would have occured during the ride or very shortly afterwards, not the next day.

 

[Big Nick]

Bloody hate gels and they taste awful so no wonder you got the threpenny bits after 7 !!!!

Nowt wrong with a couple of jam sarnies and a banana!!

 

[cyberknight]

Could be too much raw sugar as others have said , maybe try eating cereal bars, flapjacks or even jam sandwiches then use gels only as a get me home boost at the end .
Article in cyclist magazine about rice cakes with your preferred taste in them as a good energy source on long rides.I remember from somewhere saying pros sometimes have the above and bread rolls filled with cream cheese in their musettes .

 

[BigonaBianchi]

it was actually a bit cooler here that day....high 20's rather than 30's .......havig just spent a day on the kazi im keen to avoid this again lol...........im blaming a dodgy salad i ate after the ride......havent seen flapjacks or rice cakes anywhere in stores here....im in the northern sector....things are less 'western' here.......back to intravenous peanut butter and nutella then i guess lol

 

[cyberknight]

it was actually a bit cooler here that day....high 20's rather than 30's .......havig just spent a day on the kazi im keen to avoid this again lol...........im blaming a dodgy salad i ate after the ride......havent seen flapjacks or rice cakes anywhere in stores here....im in the northern sector....things are less 'western' here.......back to intravenous peanut butter and nutella then i guess lol

Homemade ftw

 

[albion]

So it comes out like it goes in.

No solid evidence, but there is no surprise in that surely.

 

[Butty1972]

Cycling Plus have a review this month of non-gel cycling foods.... might give you some ideas?

 

[GrumpyGregry]

What were you drinking? And from what?

 

[w00hoo_kent]

I've heard similar stories, but yours sounds more like other food/drink you weren't used to rather than the gels. Most anecdotal I've heard on gels the effect is a lot quicker than you've suffered and presuming they were spread out 7 over 107 miles isn't ridiculous. Still, if it's going to make you worry then the best bet would be to go for more natural stuff. If nothing suitable is for sale google some recipes and knock up a batch yourself.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

This site suggests another possibilty could be incorrect pedalling technique; something to do with your psoas muscle.

GC