jackb

They look disgusting and unappetizing, but they might be good. Has anyone tried any of them? What do you think?

OC Roadie

I used to think the same. My gel of choice that I use almost daily is Carb Boom. The apple cinnamon flavor is pretty similar to the filling of a Hostess apple pie. I also use their Vanilla Orange flavor it's spiked with caffeine. I have tasted some hideous gels on organized rides, where they are supplied. The Gu chocolate flavor is pretty good too. I think that gels are a must on long rides, especially self-supported rides where you can only stuff your pockets with limited items.

BlazingPedals

I started using Hammer Gel last year, to supplement the Perpetuem energy mix I used on some longer, tougher rides. Between the two, I surprised myself a few times by not bonking during some pretty tough performances. If you use gel, remember it takes 20 minutes to hit the bloodstream; so you have to know ahead of time when that monster hill is going to rear its ugly head.

jppe

I use Gu Gels--both Banana Blitz and Tri Berry. I find they provide both a mental boost and also get some additional physical spark. They are not substitute for other nutrition but are an excellent additive for me.

stapfam

On the longer rides I do, I carry one as it is a quick boost for a short while. They are not a substitute for good eating on the rides, but when you just have to put in that bit more effort, or the Carbo loading has run out, It Will give you a bit of time for that last hill, or untill the Sandwiches start working.
I last used one on a 100miler, 4 miles from the end, when I knew that the last hill was going to take a little more effort than I wanted to put in. It worked.

GrannyGear

I'm not so discriminate...I use whatever gel is at hand. They digest more rapidly (don't sit lumpishly in your stomach), are easy to consume while riding, and provide, for me, more of an energy edge than a sudden, lasting renewal. Works best for me if I take them with a fair amount of water. Only real drawback is sticky fingers...and that cake frosting/syrupy sweetness.

skydive69

I use Powergel with a reasonable fruit flavor. It seems to work fine for a quick energy boost at the end of a hard ride. I also have used it between races. In the Senior Games circuit here in Florida, they run the 5K & 10K time trials one after the other. I find that after finishing the 5K, it helps me re-energize for the 10K by consuming a gel pack with water.

overthere

Sometimes I ride hard enough to feel nauseous, but I still have miles to go...I love gels then. I like Carb Boom vanilla orange. Tastes like frosting, and definitely got me through my first metric century.

RonH

I always take two Power Gels on my weekend rides and I always have a few in my panniers on my commuter, just in case. They taste great.