cujet

Ok, on a whim I purchased some Perpeteum made by Hammer nutrition. I have to give it top marks, and I do not want to promote any particular product. But this stuff works well for me. As we all know, individuals are different and my results won't be the same as yours.

EDIT: Most of my rides are just a few hours max, 2-3 AVG. I never ride 8 hours anymore. I like Perpeteum for my length rides.

Here is the scoop. I have been making my own energy bars for years. They work well and prevent bonk fairly well, plus they taste good. So, I was not wanting to pay for supplements. However, Gu, Clif Blocks, jelly beans and the like do work for me on longer rides. I sometimes use Gatoraid and tried Cytomax. All work well for a boost.

But the Perpeteum stuff simply works better. The end result is a couple of tenths more speed over a long ride. Plus I simply feel better. In my case, I have found the secret!

Cytomax claims to have lactic acid reducers and I suppose they work, but Perpeteum works better. Not sure about the lactic acid, I generally don't have a problem with burn. However Perpeteum results in stronger feeling legs during a ride, and especially towards the end the day, after my ride.

Chris

PhattTyre

I used Perpetuem last year when I was training for a dirt century. I had been on 7+ hour mountain bike rides on pbj sandwiches, fig newtons, and my own energy drink (mostly brewers malt, honey, water, and salt). When I started with the Perpetuem and the espresso hammer gel I noticed a huge difference. I could ride longer and recover faster.

The stuff worked great, but I did have one problem with it. The Perpetuem gave me painful stomach cramping gas if I didn't take enough solid food with it. It usually happened late in the ride (8+ hours), but it would last awhile. I found getting at least a third of my calories from solid food during the ride prevented it.

Jarery

I couldn't handle it in hot weather rides, i went back to Heed from the same company without the worries of it going rank in hot weather

ericgu

Perpetuum and I do not get along.

I used it on a couple of long rides last summer, and I got really bad stomach cramps from it. Luckily, I had brought some accelerade mix along with me, and the stomach issues went away almost immediately when I switched.

I think it's the soy protein that doesn't sit well with me.

sigg.switz

From the Hammer Website:
Hammer is a complex carb, gatorade and other stuff (jelly) are simple carbs - mix the two and you are gonna get some funky stomach issues.

Why are simple sugars bad?
Simple sugars (glucose, sucrose, fructose, dextrose, etc) need to be mixed in concentrations no higher than 6-8% in order to achieve an acceptable absortion osmolar value of body fluids (280-303 mOsm) and be digested with any efficiency. That's it. The problem is that a 6-8% solution is a pretty weak mix and will only yield about 100 or so calories an hour, which is inadequate for maintaining optimal energy production. Some athletes realize that and try to resolve the problem by making a double or triple strength batch of their simple sugar product. Unfortunately, that solution is now far too concentrated, it's much higher than 6-8% and, unless more water is consumed or added to the mix (at which point the athlete might very well be flirting with over hydration) that concentrated simple sugar solution will not pass the gastric channels. Energy production is compromised and stomach distress is sure to follow.

The same problem occurs when an athlete combines a simple sugar fuel with a complex carbohydrate fuel. The beauty of complex carbs is that they will match body fluid osmolality, not at a 6-8% solution, but a more concentrated 15-18% solution. Even at this seemingly too-high concentration complex carbohydrates (such as maltodextrins/glucose polymers) will empty the stomach at the same efficient rate as normal body fluids and provide substantially more calories (up to three times more) than simple sugar mixtures will. However, when simple sugars and complex carbs are consumed together or near each other, it increases the solution concentration beyond what either source can be efficiently digested at. In other words, when you consume simple sugars and complex carbohydrates together or within close proximity of each other you negate the efficient digestibility of either source. Once again, energy production will be compromised and a variety of stomach issues are likely to occur.

Machka 

I think most long distance cyclists have tried Perpetuem at one point or another. I tried it once and it wasn't bad ... reminded me of muffin mix.

But I usually use HEED and solid food on my rides.

rodrigaj

I've used Perpetum for one year. It works very well for me on rides over 2 hours. I use it in place of food for rides lasting up to 6 hours. After that I need real food.

I also love Recoverite and Heed (for rides under 2 hours).

Hammer Nutrition products work well for me.

backinthesaddle

+1

Also I use Hammer Bars as an occasional substitute for Clif Bars. Only 2 flavors, but they're good.

Quinn8it

I Dove in huge with the Hammer Products! I was happy with heed and Hammer Gel, and bought a bunch of perpetuem. I was getting ready for an annual ride from S.F. to L.A. that i do with a couple of friends every year, in 4 days. I was planning on consuming Perpetuem as my sole fuel source on the bike. I did a couple of training rides on the stuff and loved it, I started taking it on longer rides. One particular 100 mile ride I began to not feel so great, and was having a lot of trouble feeling Hydrated, no matter how much I drank. I gave the stuff one more try in a different configuration, double strength with a bottle of plain water. It was not any better. Now I stay away from that stuff. Whats funny is that Now I cant drink Heed... I think it is the sweetener that they use in both Heed and Perpetuem (stevia leaf) But the website says it is the same one that is in Hammer Gel, and i continue to use The gel with great success... Just my experience..

Machka 

I wouldn't recommend depending on any powder, gel, or bar as my sole fuel source on the bike ... especially not powders or gels.

Jarery

I agree. For protein intake on a 4-8 hour ride, i want food, not protein added to my water

Quinn8it

I disagree. I ended up getting most of my calories from Hammer Gel, and additional calories and protein from a high protein Cliff "Builder Bar" for a total calorie consumption of 275cal/hr and about 5 grams of protein an hour. I Found this system to deliver consistent fuel and I had zero Gastro issues. For long high millage days without a support team gels and bars are great fuel.

Machka 

And that's a notable difference between American long distance cyclists ... and long distance cyclists from the rest of the world. It works fine if you plan to only ride in the US where you can get your powders and bars conveniently, but if you travel to other countries for events, you'll discover that they rely on real food and finding powders and bars is a bit of a challenge. Just something to keep in mind.

Also ... I used to like energy bars. After riding long distances for 7+ years, I now hate them. Perhaps you'll feel differently after a few years.

Quinn8it

My point about the gels and bars was that I could bring all my fuel needs for the entire trip, and not have to rely on local availability, until dinner....

And at what point did i list my long distance cycling resume? You have no way of knowing how long i have been cycling or using bars and gels...

roadie gal

Perpetuem worked great for me... until it got warm, then I couldn't get it past my lips.

No I use Infinit. I've been very happy with that and it doesn't cost any more than the Perpetuem.

Carbonfiberboy 

Cycling buddy of mine did team RAAM, planned to do it all on Perpetuem, but barfed it up in the desert and did the whole rest of the ride on Ensure Plus. So one vote against.

Doctor Who

Gels, bars, and powders seem to work great for those who do long-distance races, even those racers over in Europe and Canada, who allegedly know everything there is to know about cycling.

TomM

I am with you with carrying my needed fuel but I've noticed a lot people who have an aversion to it.

HigherGround

I tried Perpeteum, but I am not a big fan of feeling like I'm drinking oatmeal from my water bottle. I like the Heed, however. I'm reluctant to go with just an energy drink as my sole source of calories on a century however - my stomach feels too empty and I want some solid food. The only time I would have deviated from that was during the Assault on Mt. Mitchell in 1997. It was such a gut wrenching climb that I wished I had gels for the last part of the ride.

InTheRain

I just completed a one-day double century (seattle-to-portland) with perpetuem as as my main source of nutrition. I started with 10 scoops in a double zip-loc plus prepared two bottles just before the ride. I consumed 8 bottles during 15 hours. I also carried some beef jerky (salt & protein) and drank a total of 3 bottles of gatorade at rest stops along the way. The only other solid foot consisted of 1/2 ham sandwich, about 20 grapes, and 1/2 of a boiled potato that had been chilled. I also consumed about 5 bottles of plain water. The heat was extreme for what I'm accustomed to... the last 6 hours were in 90+ degree heat. I didn't want to suffer the complications of dehydration. I also swallowed about 16-20 capsules of "sportlegs" along the way.

I still suffered some cramping, but I would say that was due to not enough miles of training rather than nutrition or hydration. I didn't experience any stomach/digestive issues. I can't say that I ever felt hungry either. In fact, I waited until almost 2 hours after the event to have a meal. I'm a perpetuem believer and I'll continue to use it on distance events and long training rides the way I used it during this event.