Gels and bars
 

Hey All,

I usually bring Clif bars, but chewing them when I'm already breathing hard gets me out of breath and it slows me down a bit.

I guess with gels the problem does not exist, as there is no chewing involved.

I looked at the SIS website and for some reason they put artificial sweeteners (acesulfame and sucralose) in the gels. Since it's about carbs anyway, why not just put glucose?

Anyway, recommendations?

Or maybe some sort of powder I can mix with water? (again, with no artificial sweetener)

Thanks All!

I like cytomax, but you can use some dextrose powder if you want to keep it simple.
For foods, you can keep it simple by carrying some pitted dates in a ziploc or some of those natures bakery fig bars.
You can also make your own food, such as rice cakes. Get the book: the feed zone portables

We eat granola bars ... you'll find them in just about any grocery store and there's a wide variety to choose from. Or oatmeal raisin cookies, or ANZAC biscuits.

We only use gels and powders for emergencies.

Gu gels don't contain sucralose and fake sweeteners. I also like Clif Kit's Organic bars. Not hard to chew.

A lot of of the Cliff bars are extremely high in sugar and have simple carbs in general for average bars.

You can make you're own bars or cookies with oatmeal, peanut butter, egg, banana, etc. & bake it. Plenty of recipes out there. Not only will you save some $ but you have control of what goes into it. 🙂

:rolleyes:
I thought this was going to be about gel pads and handle bars.

Hammer gel also uses natural stuff. i get the jugs and put them into a reusable flask so i can take as much as i want or can while moving and if something comes up i just flip the cap and put it away until there is a better time.
https://www.rei.com/product/796288/h...bottle-3-fl-oz i like these better than the sport top type flasks since i find it easier to open/close

Personally, for training rides I use Infinit “Go Far” in one bottle, along with a Cliff Bar or Fig Newtons about 2 hrs in. I prefer to eat the Cliff bar while stopped – it’s a bit chewy to down when riding & can be hard to swallow while at pace. It’s good fuel though.
When I can’t stop, such as in a race, I might double-up on the Infinit mix in both bottles and tuck a gel or two up the cuff of my bibs. I don’t use gels for everyday training – it seems too far removed from ‘real food’ for me.

If you're having a problem breathing around granola bars, you might not fare any better with some of the gooey stuff.

Rather than Clif bars and the like, I simply pack a half or two of PB&J+honey sandwiches.

Clif Shot (gel) in Mocha flavor.. ftw

^ The citrus is my jam

I don't often do gels, but when I do, the chocolate/coffee gels are the best - they're great for the frosting fiends (like me).

I like Gu, but this is such a low cost item, why not just read some labels and then buy a few of a bunch of different kinds and see which works for you?

Banana.

Super convenient and easy to eat.

Nice thing about the hammer gels with the reusable flask is that you can also dilute it with a little water if you have trouble choking down the full strength on a hot day while breathing hard. The other good thing is that you can get as much or as little as you want while riding, and don't have to either litter or get your jersey pocket or pant leg sticky. Downside is that if you don't use it, you lose it and it is kind of a pain in the butt to clean those little flasks.

+1. If I'm going out for at least a few hours, it's usually a banana and a PBJ&H.

I have had no problems just refilling them when I only use part of it. I wash the tops each time but then wash the whole thing once in a while. you can keep them in the fridge if you live in a hot area.

Probably not dangerous or anything, I just think it gets gross because it's pretty hot and sweaty back there in my pockets, haha

Eat what tastes good to you and agrees with your gastrointestinal tract.

Where are you going that you can't slow down a bit? Are you racing? If not, enjoy the cliff bar as you ride - you don't have to gobble it down it two bites; it's all part of the ride. :thumb:

And the banana peel goes back into your pocket right? (Until it goes into the trash at the next pit stop :thumb:)

If I'm in the city, I'll stow it for the compost later, but otherwise the peels are better off decomposing in the bushes rather than taking up landfill space.

Not even just racing, but if you're doing a fast group ride that's a drop ride, those are the times it's tough to try to eat a clif bar if you're dying to hang on. The hammer flask allows you to pretty easily get out of your pocket and take a swig one handed even at speed. Some of the guys I used to race with would even take shot bloks, lick the bottom of them and stick them on the top tube behind the stem for easy , quick access, haha

Raisins. Natural. Works.

Clif Shot Bloks.

Packaging works with one hand (if you clip one end off before the ride). Chewing is optional. Mostly organic. No artificial sweeteners. Works for me in moderate to high intensity exercise.