Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - Gel Recommendations and Flavors?

I've never used Gel's, but I do see a big advantage, power bars and ice cream only feel good (for a very short while).

I'm looking at Gu's? Any opinions on other brands? I've got a long(ish) ride tomorrow, and there's only about two places to stop after I get out of the city so I was going to pick up (about 6) before the start.

Flavor recommendations, do these things taste pretty good? I was looking some of the flavors over and "Chocolate Something or other" just sounds gross. How about berry/banana?

Taste is a person thing. Buy some and give them a try.

I happen to dislike gels, although they can be convenient.

It's all up to personal taste, so I recommend you buy a couple of different flavors and brands, and see if something works for you.

IMHO,
the best tasting is chocloate Gu. Nothing else is even close.

Which isn't to say it tastes good, it is to say it doesn't taste dreadful.

I like Hammer products. Also a bonus since you can buy them in buy nd transfer the gels into a flask that is easier to use that an indiviudal serving package.

Accel Gel Key Lime and Clif Shot Raspberry are my two favourites. Although, they're only 100cal and I find that they're really best when used as a booster-fuel when you know you have a tough section coming up or you're currently running low on energy until you reach your next control.
I tried a double on nothing but bars, gels and liquid carbs... Ack! Never again.

IMHO,
the best tasting is chocloate Gu. Nothing else is even close.

Which isn't to say it tastes good, it is to say it doesn't taste dreadful.

Well it sounds gross, but I'll have to try one now. They sell them 6 for 5, so I'm hoping I can mix and match, I'll know in a hour!

Hammer espresso! :love:

Hammer espresso! :love:

I second that, and it has a nice dose of caffeine.

I like the Hammer Tropical personally, the taste is not bad and it has some caffeine in it.

Any of the Hammer gels. My favs are espresso, raspberry, and apple cinnamon. Pretty much all of them are good, but I find the vanilla to be sickly sweet tasting. Gu is ok, as is the Accelerade gels, though the Accel gel has a grainy texture.

Well, they only had Gu's. As late said, Chocolate Rage (or whatever) is by far the best flavor, and vanilla made me gag. Straw/Bannana is ok.

They did help out quite a bit though.

I'll have to find a local source for the hammers, since I like espresso.

I find the Hammer gels metallic tasting. I like the Carb-Boom vanilla orange.

Another vote for chocolate Hammer Gel. It's a great value. And, re: gels in general, you'll soon find them invaluable. Think of it as pudding!

A tip with the plastic gel containers (which I highly recommend): fill them 3/4ths with gel, 1/4 water, then shake. Makes it much easier to consume.

I like hammer gel. Over time my taste preferences change. Right now I buy apple-cinnamon and vanilla in bulk and mix them 50/50 in a hammer flask for "apple pie a la mode."

I know I've preached this sermon before, but the day of a long ride isn't a good place to start experimenting with anything[especially food ]. The same stuff I use all day with no ill effect could possibly upset your stomach and maybe end your ride.

Hammer espresso is my favorite. Good tasting and a bit of caffeine to help out during those last couple hours of climbing centuries. I've also had good luck with the Gu Roktane (blueberry-pomegranate) and Accel-Gel Strawberry-Kiwi for something with a bit of protein too.

I like Hammer products. Also a bonus since you can buy them in buy nd transfer the gels into a flask that is easier to use that an indiviudal serving package.

+1 to this. I can get the flask out of my back pocket, take a sip and get it put away, all without losing a pedal stroke in the middle of a fast-moving group. Pull out a packet, tear it open, get the last bit out of the bottom and get the garbage back into a pocket without littering? Not so much.

As a bonus, it's significantly cheaper in the bulk bottle. If you really want to save money, google "make your own gu" and find lots of recipies that work out to pennies per serving.

BTW: Every time I go out for a ride I see individual gel packs (usually Gu brand) scattered along the road like leaves in the fall. It isn't the squirrels dropping these things.

Stop it. Seriously. If you are SOOO special that you don't want your sensitive little jersey pocket to get sticky from your own trash then grow up and get a flask (http://www.hammernutrition.com/za/HNT?PAGE=PRODUCT&PROD.ID=3981) (all of what.. $1.50?)

Thanks. I feel better now.

Hammer Apple-Cinnamon. Awesome....

...and people throwing empty gel packs on the side of the road really, really irk me. Seriously, that little bit of sticky sugar residue won't wash out of your jersey pocket???

BTW: Every time I go out for a ride I see individual gel packs (usually Gu brand) scattered along the road like leaves in the fall. It isn't the squirrels dropping these things.

Stop it. Seriously. If you are SOOO special that you don't want your sensitive little jersey pocket to get sticky from your own trash then grow up and get a flask (http://www.hammernutrition.com/za/HNT?PAGE=PRODUCT&PROD.ID=3981) (all of what.. $1.50?)

Thanks. I feel better now.

I put them back in my little bento box, until I find a garbage can, littering is a**holish.

+1 on stashing your empty gel packs in your jersey, but we're probably preaching to the choir here.

I keep a few gels with me in case I need a quick boost, but I've been experimenting with sports drinks, almonds, bananas, Cliff Bars, and other goodies as my primary fueling on long rides. I eat pretty regularly, at least every hour, and kinda feel like a rolling convenience store when I load up, but it's been working well so far.

I've also been trying to avoid the gels with caffine in them. I'll have one or two with me on the HHH century I'm doing in August for a final kick if I need it, but would rather be able to work on fueling without caffine for the most part.

If your LBS does not carry them then you may find a good runner's store (as in running shoes) that carries a selection - that's where I got my first few to try.

I like Power Gel (by Power Bar) Tangerine flavor. It goes down easy, tastes good and has caffine. It packs a nice punch too.

I carry a snack size zip lock bag in my pocket for empty packets, keeps the goo inside.

Any of the Hammer gels. My favs are espresso, raspberry, and apple cinnamon. Pretty much all of them are good, but I find the vanilla to be sickly sweet tasting. Gu is ok, as is the Accelerade gels, though the Accel gel has a grainy texture.

+1 Raspberry is my favorite. Great flavor but not too sweet, and EVERYTHING seems to sweet after 8 hours in the saddle!

Clif blocks.

hammer in raspberry. Very refreshing and not overly sweet imho.

BTW: Every time I go out for a ride I see individual gel packs (usually Gu brand) scattered along the road like leaves in the fall. It isn't the squirrels dropping these things...


I don't understand that either. Beyond the environmental issues, people eat them like candy and apparently do not understand that GU's/Gels are not meant as primary nutrition on a ride/race. They don't have the proper nutrition in them to sustain them properly for a long ride. They are meant as a quick pick-me up. If you are eating properly on the bike you shouldn't need them. The only time I use them is if I miss a feed time and need a quick boost while I eat properly or maybe just prior to a huge effort like a long climb.

I used to mix a little in my Sustained Energy to give it flavor but don't even do that anymore. I have gallons of the stuff that sponsors have given me sitting, collecting dust.

Another vote for Hammer gels. I like vanilla and apple cinnamon. I have gotten to the point where I am exclusively using Hammer products for cycling related nutrition. Their service is great and I have been pleased with everything they make. I use their sports drink (Heed), their gels, their bars, their whey, and their recovery drink.

Make the EXACT FLAVOR (use your imagination!) you want with the all the nutritional and supplement ingredients you need for a fraction of the price of the expensive brand name products listed here....

Make your own SkinnyGels and SkinnyCaps (http://gvridez.com/bb3/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=60)

:thumb:

I don't understand that either. Beyond the environmental issues, people eat them like candy and apparently do not understand that GU's/Gels are not meant as primary nutrition on a ride/race. They don't have the proper nutrition in them to sustain them properly for a long ride. They are meant as a quick pick-me up. If you are eating properly on the bike you shouldn't need them. The only time I use them is if I miss a feed time and need a quick boost while I eat properly or maybe just prior to a huge effort like a long climb.


+10 on this! I found out through a lot of trial and error that Gels worked best as a supplement to real food on long rides, not as the main fuel source.

However to answer the original poster's question, chocolate and espresso...