Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Which energy gel?

I have tried Hammer gel, but there are so many of them. Do they really help? If so what ones are the best and where is the cheapest place to buy them? I am new to cycling and there is sooooo much to learn....Thanks to you guys I have a place to go for help....

Youre new to cycling and you want gels? hehe.

Eating right is the first and most important step to be in peak shape and perform at your best. At your level, being completely hydrated and having a good clean diet important if you want to excel- depending on your particular goals. For beginners, just get in some good carbs before riding to fuel your muscles.

I've wasted plenty of money on gels when I was a newb. During a century (hundred mile ride), I've gotten more out of a few Fig Newtons.:thumb:

Gu..chocolate.. the one, the only, the bonk killer

I have tried Hammer gel, but there are so many of them. Do they really help? If so what ones are the best and where is the cheapest place to buy them? I am new to cycling and there is sooooo much to learn....Thanks to you guys I have a place to go for help....

I don't know about Gels, I think those are more for the racer crowd where they need to make sure that the length of a stop is .1 seconds or less. They can be expensive and most taste like crap. Taste is a personal preference, so you need to try different ones. Sometimes dollar stores and variety stores will have them, but like anything else in those kinds of places, check expiry and best before dates.

I find a bag of Gorp,works wonders. Gorp means Good Old Raisins and Peanuts, although any nut or variety of nuts will do, toss in a few Smarties, and some shredded coconut your good to go. When you want or need to eat, find a nice park bench, sit down, have some gorp, and some water, rest a couple of minutes, then get back on and go...... I like the bulk food store for this, as you can get different stuff in smaller amounts......

If you're a Clyde and needing to lose weight (like me), I don't eat anything on rides of less than about 2 hours unless it's a hammer-fest or a social-schmooze with the local club.

However, I am partial to PowerBar products (sponsor of our team :D ). I really like their fruit smoothie bars now--really excellent, maybe just a bit too much sweetener. But, I only use gels occasionally: on longer training rides of 90-mins to 2 hours just for a little extra boost. They only contain like 100 kcals so it's not much, just gives a little boost for accelerations.

If you're trying to lose weight, eating energy supplements is counter-productive. The idea is to burn up your fat reserves. If you eat more to compensate for the energy you expend exercising, you won't attack those reserves.

My experience is that they all taste horrible unless you really need them, and then they all taste great.

I have tried Hammer gel, but there are so many of them. Do they really help? If so what ones are the best and where is the cheapest place to buy them? I am new to cycling and there is sooooo much to learn....Thanks to you guys I have a place to go for help....

Try a Coke or Pepsi. The Sugar and Caffeine will give you a boast that you can feel.
I have tried the gel, but have never felt any energy from them.

Gels aren't meant to give you a supernatural burst of energy. You won't notice it at all. Only thing you will notice is the lack of empty stomach feeling. Only keeps you from feeling like you're bonking.

If you read the directions on how to properly use them, you need to take one after the first 45 minutes of riding, then every 20 or 30 after. I use them on 10k century climbs. I go thru about 6 or 7 of them on the ride.

If you're looking for some magic burst of energy feeling, you're in the wrong place.:p

In my experience, they all taste like crap and have the texture of snot. Why pay a premium for that? Put a Clif Bar in your pocket and fill your water bottles with Gatorade and you should be good to go for a couple of hours.

Gels aren't meant to give you a supernatural burst of energy. You won't notice it at all. Only thing you will notice is the lack of empty stomach feeling. Only keeps you from feeling like you're bonking.

For real? The times I've used them, I've felt a second wind afterwards. But then, I stopped while I ate them, so maybe it's coincidental?

I live on gels, bars, powders and tablets during my long distance rides. My stomach doesn't do well with regular food on rides over 100 miles. I like Accel Gels (Key Lime), Clif Shots (Raspberry), Clif Bars (carrot cake or chocolate chip), Accelerade (fruit punch; orange with caffeine after 8 hours of riding), NUUN (tri-berry), and Hammer Endurolytes.

It's not that I'm looking for a burst of energy, it's that I like a measured, even 250-300 calories per hour when I'm on the bike for 8 or more hours. The easiest way to do that (IMO) is with bars and gels washed back with sports drinks.

Fig Newtons are good, but so are Sport Beans by Jelly Bellys if I need something like that. I can't stomach the gels. Just nasty. Unflavored HEED and some Hammer Sustained Ride if I plan to be longer that 3 hours.