on the bike food

[socalcyclist]

Anyone know where can you get the best price on gels, gu's and othe on the bike fuel???

[Mr. Beanz]

I get 'em cheap once in a while but I think it's a matter of timing. Well Gina gets 'em cause I don't shop!

I don't mind Powerbars, though some do. Gina's picked 'em up at Costco beofre for $19. BUT, she gets a hold of a coupon, buy one box, get one freeeeee!:D

Other times, I go to GNC at the Montclair Plaza. Sometimes they will sell the gels for 49 cents. When the gel gets close to expiration, they sell at a must go price. I stock up on 'em at that price, even if it means passing them out to fellow riders. But usually with 3 months left before expiration, no problem. Never had an issue with them.:)

[big john]

You can get bars from Trader Joe's pretty cheap. I like Odwalla bars but they have a huge variety. Watch Performance Bike on-line for sales on gels, too.

[Grumpy Pig]

Target and Walmart have Powerbars, Clif Bars and Powerbar gels.

[Psydotek]

Clif bars can be had at Savon (or i guess now CVS) for $10 for 10 usually.

[Mo'Phat]

I'm still trying to find something that doesn't give me the runs at mile 30 of a century. Haven't found it yet, and I'm tired of the cramping.

TMI, I know, but any advice on good-for-the-colon-on-long-rides food is appreciated.

[big john]

I'm still trying to find something that doesn't give me the runs at mile 30 of a century. Haven't found it yet, and I'm tired of the cramping.

TMI, I know, but any advice on good-for-the-colon-on-long-rides food is appreciated.
What have you tried? My stomach is the source of many problems on long climbing rides. I have had good luck with regular food like sandwiches, bananas, PB&J, Fig Newtons, etc. I can't tolerate gels and too much Cytomax or too many Clif/Powerbars gives me nausea. A grilled chicken sandwich and I feel great.

[VanceMac]

It's hard to beat Performance's occasional "$20 off a $50 purchase" sale. I load up on boxes of GU gels during those.

[merider1]

Anyone know where can you get the best price on gels, gu's and othe on the bike fuel???

I love Crank Egel. The company ships directly and I buy the packs of 32 different flavored gels online. Also, every time I buy or refer them (which, let me state, I've NEVER referred using my account number, so NO, this isn't a way for me to get $ off on my next order), you get "bank credit" which means they discount your next order slightly. Here is a link:http://www.cranksports.com/products/eGel/

You HAVE to drink water with their gel (they explain why online), but it sits okay with me (i.e. I can suck them down without gagging and they have less sugar than most and no caffeine). By ordering oline, I can't beat the price. Don't pay for expedited service, either, as they usually ship within a day or two in CA. The only downer is, so far, I don't think they sell in large containers like Hammer does, so using a flask with their gel isn't feasible.

Otherwise, I'm with Big John, Trader Joe's has the cheapest and widest assortment of bars. Cliff bars make me ill on rides, so I'm one to go for PB&J sandwiches, organic nut bars or Luna bars. Or my all time favorite and it's cheap is PayDay bar Kingsize cut in half. The peanuts, caramel and salt do the trick.

[Psydotek]

REI usually gives discounts on most of the energy bars/gels they carry if you purchase 12 or more.

I like to get Honey Stingers (which are usually a little cheaper than Clif Shots and GUs to begin with).

[Indolent58]

I'm still trying to find something that doesn't give me the runs at mile 30 of a century. Haven't found it yet, and I'm tired of the cramping.

TMI, I know, but any advice on good-for-the-colon-on-long-rides food is appreciated.

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r143/Indolent58/colonblow.jpg

[ronjon10]

Costco carries some brands of bars. I don't know about the gel/gu stuff. I don't much like the gu's anyway. I'm come down pretty hard after the sugar rush. I do pretty well with balance bars, well, any type of bar really.

Have you tried fig newtons and/or bananas? "Bananas are natures Power Bar."

[geraldatwork]

I usually eat Cliff bars and their gels. For potassium I usually carry a small box of raisins as they have about the same amount as a banana but easier to carry. Lately I have been going away from gels and been eating dates. The sugar as in gels turns into instant energy. But unlike gels they not only have 3X the potassium they also have good amounts of calcium and magnesium which gels dont. They don't have any sodium, but I consider that easier to get if I need it. Do a Google search on "dates nutrition" and you will be amazed.

[ronsmithjunior]

I like to get Honey Stingers (which are usually a little cheaper than Clif Shots and GUs to begin with).

Although I LOVE honey, Honey Stinger is just too sweet for me. They do have good product, if you like it sweet. Me, if I am going to do gels, which is rare, I will simply use Hammer Gel.

My energy bar of choice is either Clif or some sort of candy bar. I can eat both all day long. You can get regular sized Snickers bars from Costco for 37 cents per bar, 48 bars per box. One box will last me a long, long time.

[Mo'Phat]

What have you tried? My stomach is the source of many problems on long climbing rides. I have had good luck with regular food like sandwiches, bananas, PB&J, Fig Newtons, etc. I can't tolerate gels and too much Cytomax or too many Clif/Powerbars gives me nausea. A grilled chicken sandwich and I feel great.


Since I'm new to the long-distance thing, I've only tried Clif Shots, Powerbars, and Granola bars (Quaker Chewy) for jersey pocket food. I've had PB&J's before the ride and during SAG stops, and normally depend on dried apricots for potassium. Normally I have a cast-iron stomach, but some of the stuff just doesn't sit right.

(also, on the PIE ride, I was feeling bad before PIE...but the a la mode was torture and shall ne'er be repeated.)

[BigSean]

I'm still trying to find something that doesn't give me the runs at mile 30 of a century. Haven't found it yet, and I'm tired of the cramping.

TMI, I know, but any advice on good-for-the-colon-on-long-rides food is appreciated.


Sport Legs is great stuff for cramping. Im also a fan of the Egels that ME is speaking of.

[herbm]

Crank Efuel is great also...mixes much easier than powders..I wil carry a couple at stagecoach to mix my own..that drink mix they had there was aweful....fizzy and wierd

[magicant]

I've become a fan of Clif Shot Bloks. All the energy of a gel, but the fun of Gummy Bears!

Some varieties have added caffeine (100mg per package), which is about the same as a cup of coffee. If you're into that.

I picked up a 24 pack at Performance online for $18.

[1955]

I've become a fan of Clif Shot Bloks. All the energy of a gel, but the fun of Gummy Bears!

Some varieties have added caffeine (100mg per package), which is about the same as a cup of coffee. If you're into that.

I picked up a 24 pack at Performance online for $18.


What he said!

[Mo'Phat]

Re: my cramping wasn't due to legs or lactic acid. It was from clenching. Need to work on the Kegels. ;)

[Grumpy Pig]

Re: my cramping wasn't due to legs or lactic acid. It was from clenching. Need to work on the Kegels. ;)Try dried prunes. They're yummy.

[OC Roadie]

Trader Joes everyday price on Clif Bars is $0.99 I use Hammer Gel and buy it directly from Hammer Nutrition. You can buy a large bottle, and use a gel flask, it's cheaper that way, and you don't have to deal with wrappers. GotBody.com (http://www.gotbody.com/store/categories?Args=) usually has pretty good prices on bars, gels and drinks. Now that I know which products I like, and my body agrees with, I just watch for them to go on sale. When I see a good deal, I buy a few months supply. I like the Clif Bloks, but I'm not sure my stomach does, I'll have to give them another try. If gels gross you out, try Carb Boom's Apple Cinnamon, it's pretty much like the filling to a Hostess Apple Pie :D Also, Fig Newtons are one of the cheapest and easiest to eat energy bars out there.

[Scootcore]

im a big fan of the hammer products(gel, perpetuem, sustained energy...). i buy directly from them as its usually the best price. ive tried the clif bloks and theyre pretty good...a company called sharkies has a similiar product thats rocks pretty good as well.....i cant eat bars on the road, just doesnt work for me....

[zzzwillzzz]

i love the bloks. last time i bought some performance had a buy one get one free sale on a case. so i got two for the price of one. should have bought four.

fig newtons are a good deal too. look for them on sale at your local supermarket for about $2.50 a pack. not bad for 15 servings of 110 cal per serving. 16 cents per serving versus $1 for a gel of 100 cal. or $1 for one serving of (3) bloks 100 cal if a pack is $2.

[mateo44]

+1 fig newtons!

[Scootcore]

my only gripe with the fig newtons is that they get kinda caught in my throat..a bit too dry for me...tasty though

[mateo44]

Yeah, the go good with a beverage.

[voltman]

I want to try the extra-sodium Clif Bloks. I bought a can of GU2O, but I think I'd rather be able to eat my electolytes and have plain water available than have to carry them in the bottles.

[mateo44]

after all, what isn't better when it's with extra sodium?

[Indolent58]

my only gripe with the fig newtons is that they get kinda caught in my throat..a bit too dry for me...tasty though

Try chewing them before swallowing.

[magicant]

I actually like the Nutri-grain bars -- I'll take one or two of them along on long rides. But definitely have to wash them down with liquid during a rest break. I wouldn't try to down one while riding.

[Scootcore]

after all, what isn't better when it's with extra sodium?

water...

[mateo44]

True dat!

[Scootcore]

it took me forever to come up with water! it may very well be the only thing!!

[mateo44]

Yep. I could have qualified my original remark to exclude beverages.

[Scootcore]

margaritas????

[mateo44]

Damn you! :roflmao:

I could have qualified my original remark to exclude a subset of beverages.

[Scootcore]

ya gotta be quick, yo!!!

[Extort]

Actually the SmartWater has electrolytes in it, and that is mixed pretty good. I put that into my camelback when I am on doubles.

CarbBoom gels are awesome because they are mostly fruit flavors and that works better than chocolate for me.
Peanut Butter Clif Bars!!!
and I will create a trail mix of Clif Bloks, Sharkies, and Jelly Belly Sport Beans in my bento box for doubles, because anything shorter and there are almost too many calories in the bento box!

[merider1]

too many calories in the bento box!
Too many! :eek: Dude, you're a metobolic incenirator! I think an extra handful of that fancy trailmix you got going couldn't possibly hurt you. Unless you get belly aches...:o

[socalcyclist]

my only gripe with the fig newtons is that they get kinda caught in my throat..a bit too dry for me...tasty though

I've had the same problem. I like the bars, but my throat gets dry. That's why I like the gel. I read on an ultacycling website that the body needs about 10-15% of its calories from protien after 90 minutes or so of excercise to be most efficient in metabolizing the carbs... If that's true, then I would need something with protien. Maybe the peanut infested candy bar...HMMM

[madmike]

I'm still trying to find something that doesn't give me the runs at mile 30 of a century. Haven't found it yet, and I'm tired of the cramping.

TMI, I know, but any advice on good-for-the-colon-on-long-rides food is appreciated.

There are three main reasons for people getting an upset stomach while riding:
1. Too much sugar at once.
Eating a gel then washing it down with an energy drink. When you eat on the bike, especially high sugar foods, (gels, blocks and beans), wash them down with WATER not an energy drink. My regime for long rides is to start with 2 bottles of energy drink. I usually drink one of them in the first hour to hour and a half. I then fill up that bottle with water and keep refilling it with water. I sometimes carry extra mix to make one or more bottle(s) of energy drink. I then go back and forth between water and drink throughout the ride.

2. People eat too much food while riding. An excerpt from this article: Eat light on your bike (http://www.bicycling.com/article/0,6610,s1-4-21-15019-1,00.html) by Chris Carmichael.

"At a recent cycling camp, I was talking with Dave, a 42-year-old -father of two who was training for an annual cycling weekend with his buddies. He was making progress, but was frustrated with his performance during long rides--once he passed three hours, he started having stomach trouble. As he rattled off a list of what he consumed each hour on the bike--half an energy bar, one gel, a bottle of sports drink and a bottle of water--I realized he was eating and drinking too much.

The American College of Sports Medicine recommends 30-60 grams of carbohydrate per hour of exercise, but few athletes understand the reason for this amount. The average person can process, or oxidize, only about 1 gram of carbohydrate per minute, no matter how much is consumed. The bottleneck isn't your muscles; it's your intestines, which can transport glucose from the food you eat into your bloodstream only so fast. Dumping more carbohydrate into your gut doesn't necessarily increase the absorption rate, and it can increase your chances of an upset stomach.

It's easier than you think to overload on carbs. Take Dave as an example. His half an energy bar (23 grams of carbs), one gel (27 grams of carbs) and bottle of sports drink (about 50 grams of carbs) meant he was taking in about 100 grams of carbohydrate every hour. Early in his rides, he was doing great because he was getting all the fluid, energy and sodium his body could handle, but after a few hours the excess carbohydrate sloshing around in his system was making him nauseous, bloated and ill."

3. Go with what you know on organized supported rides!
Use what works for you and what has worked in the past. Don't just use whatever drink or food that is available. Bring your own stuff just in case. For long rides I always carry a baggie of my drink mix, at least one bar and a couple gels of the brands I use. Sometimes I have leftovers and have carried extra stuff all day but I've never had to worry about making it to the next rest stop in time. :eek:

Hope it helps!

[Cleave]

Trader Joes everyday price on Clif Bars is $0.99 I use Hammer Gel and buy it directly from Hammer Nutrition. You can buy a large bottle, and use a gel flask, it's cheaper that way, and you don't have to deal with wrappers. GotBody.com (http://www.gotbody.com/store/categories?Args=) usually has pretty good prices on bars, gels and drinks.
Hi,

+1 on the Hammer products.

I've used all kinds of homemade and commercial products over the years but the Hammer stuff works better than anything for me. I haven't used any of their recovery drinks but I've been using Hammer Gels, Perpetuum, Heed, and Endurolyte (capsules) this past year and they've worked really well for me.

I've done the mail order thing and I've also bought their products from Tri-Zone in Cypress since they are in the same industrial complex where my youngest has Sax lessons.

[nesdog]

Ditto for me on the Hammer.

I'm using Hammer Gel ( buy the big bottle and use the flasks), HEED for electrolytes on regular days, and Sustained Energy (protein + carbs) on way long rides (although I don't do that many).

I found a place in Camarillo that sells Hammer at good prices via the net. Quicker delivery than from Montana. Even found some items less expensive on sale.

Sheldon

[voltman]

The Endurolytes capsules are interesting. How many do you take per serving, and how often?

[Scootcore]

The Endurolytes capsules are interesting. How many do you take per serving, and how often?

i take three whenever i hit a rest stop on an organized ride or two every hour or so on my own

[voltman]

i take three whenever i hit a rest stop on an organized ride or two every hour or so on my own

Do you have their handy dandy dispenser?

[madmike]

Ditto for me on the Hammer.

I'm using Hammer Gel ( buy the big bottle and use the flasks), HEED for electrolytes on regular days, and Sustained Energy (protein + carbs) on way long rides (although I don't do that many).

I found a place in Camarillo that sells Hammer at good prices via the net. Quicker delivery than from Montana. Even found some items less expensive on sale.


Do you have a link?

[nesdog]

Do you have a link?

www.gotbody.com

Prices today look usual but I have gotten specials from them in the past.

Sheldon

[ronsmithjunior]

There are three main reasons for people getting an upset stomach while riding:

This is all good stuff. Based on personal experience I will add two more:

- Riding at a high intensity for a long time can generate excess stomach acid. Your stomach may or may not be able to deal with it. Mine can't. After 8-10 hours I will have bloating if I don't take an ant-acid. On double centuries I take a gel flask filled with Pepto Bismal. At SAG stops I take a small sip. That is enough for me.

- Eating solid food while riding at a too high an intensity. The bigger the effort you are putting out, the less able you body is to digest food. Easily digestible calories, such as sports drinks and gels, will do better than something solid, such as a sandwich.

As with anything else, YMMV.