Bars & Gels

Angus444

I tried a gel for the first time the other day....the one that Zipvit sent out in the promo box.... and it was truly the worst thing I have ever put in my mouth...(sounds like a heading for another thread).....and I've eaten at KFC!!!

It was so top-heavy with caffeine, it was all I coud do to stop barfing it up right there and then.

Anyone recommend a better product?

bobtbuilder

IMO - most gels are horrible, but if you eat sensibly during the ride, you shouldn't need the quick hit of a gel.

There are plenty of "real" foods which do the job just as well: malt loaf, fig rolls, nuts/berries, sandwiches, etc.

If you really want to use energy bars, Clif bars are quite nice and so are the Zipvit ones.

Angus444

Agreed, Bob. The Zipvit bars were good...as are Trek bars, from Sainsbury...there's some weight in them!

God knows how anyone could stomach 2 or 3 of these gels on any one run/race........

apple15

I'll have to agree with you I tried the Zipvit gel and it was disgusting, I normally go for the SIS Smart 1 gels, they seem to do the trick without having to carry sticky malt loaf, which IMO is really difficult to get down after a while in the saddle.

UncleFred

Carb Boom Gels are my favorite, followed by Accelerade and at a push GU's

Clif Gels make make puke instantly.

Wappygixer

I like SIS gels.
A bit strange at first but they do get better and they are the only gel available that doesn't require water to break them down and work.
I find orange and tropical the nicest.

crown_jewel

Hammer gel. Vanilla and chocolate. They actually taste pretty good.

Chaz.Harding

Angus444 wrote:

I tried a gel for the first time the other day....the one that Zipvit sent out in the promo box.... and it was truly the worst thing I have ever put in my mouth...(sounds like a heading for another thread).....and I've eaten at KFC!!!

It was so top-heavy with caffeine, it was all I coud do to stop barfing it up right there and then.

Anyone recommend a better product?

Thats PRECISELY what I thought. Shoulda seen my face! Lol

And they are soooo thick! Luckily wasn't actually cycling, just getting ready to shoot off. I can't stand coffee, so the coffee-bitter taste made them truely horrible.. Urgh... BUT, my God did it work! I was flying! Proper good effects, just a shame they are horrific-tasting!

Slow Downcp

bigchazrocks wrote:

And they are soooo thick! Luckily wasn't actually cycling, just getting ready to shoot off.

:shock:

nolf

Gels are great though if you're a bit out of breath and need something quickly.
SiS gels are great.

Personal faves (taste) zipvit energy drink (fruit punch),
SiS gels,
Powerbar energy bar (chocolate),
Powerbar chocolate powder recovery drink.

don key

Nothing makes me go like the Clif gell I had a year and a half back. Can only get them in the States though.

Mike Healey

Bars are very good places to pick up gels, doncha know?

Monty Dog

Mike Healey wrote:

Bars are very good places to pick up gels, doncha know?

My thoughts exactly..

DavidBelcher

Angus444 wrote:

I tried a gel for the first time the other day....the one that Zipvit sent out in the promo box.... and it was truly the worst thing I have ever put in my mouth...(sounds like a heading for another thread).....and I've eaten at KFC!!!

It was so top-heavy with caffeine, it was all I coud do to stop barfing it up right there and then.

Anyone recommend a better product?

I forget the brand, but last autumn I had a gel sachet given away as a freebie at the race I'd just finished....and frankly I could see why they were giving them away free. I think it was supposed to be pineapple or tropical fruit flavour, and reminded me of a particularly grim trifle.

David

freehub

ZipVit gel bars are really good, like rocket fuel, the caffeine gel bar did make m head go abit funny but still woke me up

DavidBelcher wrote:

Angus444 wrote:

I tried a gel for the first time the other day....the one that Zipvit sent out in the promo box.... and it was truly the worst thing I have ever put in my mouth...(sounds like a heading for another thread).....and I've eaten at KFC!!!

It was so top-heavy with caffeine, it was all I coud do to stop barfing it up right there and then.

Anyone recommend a better product?

I forget the brand, but last autumn I had a gel sachet given away as a freebie at the race I'd just finished....and frankly I could see why they were giving them away free. I think it was supposed to be pineapple or tropical fruit flavour, and reminded me of a particularly grim trifle.

David

High Five? Powerbar?

DomPro

Agreed, the Zipvit gels are disgusting. They do the job though.

SIS Smart gels are my preference.

Stewie Griffin

Damn, I thought you said Bras and Girls

agnello

i couldn't get on with gels until I tried high 5. they are quite liquid and very agreeable.

wish i took a few more on the marmotte.

what do they say about PPPPPP?

Bhima

Perfect if in a squeezable squirty bottle.

Get cheaper honey to refill the bottle with, as the squeezy bottles tend to be more expensive.

Pure glucose & fructose. No caffiene. Cheap.

softlad

blimey Bhima - that's actually not such a bad idea...

prawny

I thought the Zipvit gel was nice, although mine wasn't a caffeine one, just a sugary orange burst of speed!

McBain_v1

Torq bars are okay.

Gav888

I tend to use Gatorade and Nutra-grain bars as fuel... working so far, I think

Are gels basically a quick fix, if so, why not use jelly beans or something like that, dont they do the same job but alot cheaper?

Anonymous

sod the gels, dont ever badmouth KFC or things will get finger lickin' bad mister 8)