Bike Forums - budget energy gel

i found this recipe over at mapmyride.com for making inexpensive energy gel

http://www.mapmyride.com/community/d...riding/#Item_3

One idea: Energy gels are very convenient and great for a nice, measured amount of fuel while riding. There is one problem with their usage, however. They are expensive! I cannot find them for less than $1 per packet. If I use three of these at $1 during one ride and do that three times a week every week for the six months of great riding weather, I'll spend $216! (I could buy a lot for that kind of money...) Hoping to avoid that fate but still gain the benefits of the gels, I did a little investigating. Eventually, I found a solution online: buy the ingredients and make them myself. Without further preamble (and ramble)...

My energy gel recipe:

Ingredients:

1 cup water

1 cup maltodextrin (ordered a 12lb bag from local health food store for $30)

3 tbsp fructose (from local Winco bulk section - also available at health food stores)

1/2 tsp sea salt (for some electrolytes)

Boil water in small pot. Add ingredients in small batches to ensure dissolving without clumping (this is a problem with large amounts of maltodextrin). Add desired flavoring (I've made coffee and kiwi watermelon ). Continue boiling to thicken to desired consistency (I usually stop as soon as solids are dissolved - this makes a thick syrup consistency). Strain if necessary (about half the time - malto doesn't dissolve well every time). Fill gel flasks while still warm and refrigerate. This recipe should make enough to fill two gel flasks. I'd guess the gels will last, conservatively, at least a month with refrigeration.