Best value energy gels?

martincashman

I'm not a racer but am considering giving it a try next year. I typically ride 100km at a time 2 to 3 times a week, this has been fine to build up base miles (started cycling Aug '10). Next year I want to change from typically 100km spins to maybe 1 longer spin between 160 and 200km and two shorter spins of higher effort/speed.

I'm able to get around the 100km with a good breakfast and some High5 in my bottle (I tend to have it more diluted than recommended so I get more spins out of a tub) Anyway for the longer than 100km distance, even with higher concentration in the bottle I usually have to bring some food or stop for a snack. I would like to bring something handier and energy gels seem a good idea but I don't want to gopro with the expense, at 33 I'm not training for the Tour de France, I just want to have some backup in the pocket that I can use if I need and is not to bulky to carry around if I decide I don't need it.

Multiple suggestions would be good as I need to find a vegetarian suitable fuel.

Thanks.

Pseudonym

it's impossible for anyone to suggest which gel will suit your own palate and digestive system. Best bet is to try a few out...

amaferanga

Soreen.

Save the gels for racing.

Crimmey

CNP proEnergy Max Gel box of 24 = £30.00 + 40% discount if member of British Cycling ( other codes are available) + £3 postage = 88p a gel. Vegge friendly.

martincashman

@Pseudonym: did you answer the wrong post, I didn't mention anything about a gel that tasted nice or didn't upset my stomach?

Cheers @amaferanga: but I'm looking for something that will do as emergency backup on a long distance and I can use in racing if needs be, although racing in Ireland is restricted to 80km, so I should be ok for that.

Cheers @Crimmey: Will do a search for some voucher codes.

Pseudonym

martincashman wrote:

@Pseudonym: did you answer the wrong post, I didn't mention anything about a gel that tasted nice or didn't upset my stomach?

no, I'm definitely on the right thread, but maybe you didn't understand my answer. You asked for suggestions for energy gels, yes? No point suggesting a gel that you don't like, regardless of whether it represents 'good value' or not.

Take any recommendations, by all means, but at the end of the day you have to like it and it has to agree with you.

crom7

I've tried a few energy gels and have found SIS to be the best for me. That said, i've recently ditched the gels and taken a couple of fig biscuits instead. They seem to keep my energy levels up and taste rather good too (also a lot cheaper than gels).

GiantMike

I like ZipVit. They have a very high carb content.

Atz

Likewise I detest SIS as it makes me feel sick. I've also had some energy drink supplement that gives me stomach cramps within 20 mins of drinking it. So, back to the OP, pseudonym was right that you need to try some. In terms of how they work, most are pretty good these days, it's about finding what works (I like Torq personally).

jibberjim

Make your own - that way you can adjust the ingredients to something that suits you, and it will be a lot cheaper than 88p a shot. Also more nicer without crappy wrappers everywhere.

http://jibbering.com/sports/gels.html

martincashman

OK - I don't care what they taste like or if they give me explosive diarrhea, instead of best value lets just say cheap.

dennisn

martincashman wrote:

OK - I don't care what they taste like or if they give me explosive diarrhea, instead of best value lets just say cheap.

It should be a simple matter to log on to any one of the online bike retailers and find the cheapest. Why ask us? :roll: :roll:

martincashman

@dennisn: Because there is too many sites to search, though someone might have found an unbeatable offer and been willing to share. Asked about a mountain bike fork on one of the forums recently and someone suggested a site I hadn't heard of that had the fork I was looking at for €50 less than the best I had found, at least I got one suggestion.

Prob should have asked on a Tri forum as that is more endurance focused so may have some better luck.

patchy

Dunno if they're available in the UK, but I use GU gels - taste good, decent consistency. I tend to have one in the pocket just in case and one in the saddlebag for absolute emergencies.

Pigtail

I don't know about gels, but I use high 5 sports drink powder, and the best place I have found is

http://www.vigour.co.uk/

Good prices, and equally importantly quick free delivery. I've had to wait a fortnight from another supplier before now.

amaferanga

martincashman wrote:

Prob should have asked on a Tri forum as that is more endurance focused so may have some better luck.

I think what you mean there is there are many more triantelopes with more money than sense who like to p*ss money down the drain using energy gels on training rides.

If these were for emergencies like you said then why would you care how much they cost? Surely you'd only have such an emergency very occasionally?

Pseudonym

martincashman wrote:

OK - I don't care what they taste like or if they give me explosive diarrhea, instead of best value lets just say cheap.

I'm struggling to see the logic here. If you blow £30 on a box of 500 gels and the first one gives you the sh1ts, what will you do with the other 499...??

WisePranker

Pseudonym wrote:

what will you do with the other 499...??

Probably 499 more runny sh1ts :shock:

Pseudonym

that's put me off my breakfast..

SBezza

Got to agree with Pseudonym here, no point in getting the cheapest if you can't actually stomach them, if they give you the runs during a ride they are worse than useless.

There is a massive amount of different companies selling these gels, as mentioned above try a few different types first to see what you prefer, and then find the cheapest of that brand.

Also as mentioned above I don't really see the point of them in training rides, you surely can eat normal food during training, during racing it is another matter, as eating solid food might not be desirable or even possible. 100+ miles on just gels will be an expensive ride no matter what you find if just using gels, the exception to this is following JibberJim's recipe.

SBezza

Alternatively

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... highlight=

james-m-h

dont bother with jels make flap jacks as they are full of good quailty long lasting energy and fast burning sugar bursts + will keep you fuller 4 longer and are very cheap to make and easy

danowat

james-m-h wrote:

dont bother with jels make flap jacks as they are full of good quailty long lasting energy and fast burning sugar bursts + will keep you fuller 4 longer and are very cheap to make and easy

Can just imagine me wofling down a couple of flapjacks in a 100 mile time trial :roll:

FWIW, I find SIS Energisers do the job.

Atz

Realistically, eating is fine, problem is breathing while you eat I find

mmacavity

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/artic ... ngers.aspx


At 1:00:00 onwards

CYCLESPORT1

I have been using Maxifuel ViperActive and I must say that they are a big inprovement on some others, the taste is good.

milese

Cheap, readily available, full in energy, easy to digest, good taste and biodegradable packaging.



I found the High 5 Isogel cheapest when I last bought some, these are very easy on my stomach, unlike the more condensed, thicker version they do.

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-t ... Googlebase

Think I got them from somewhere called 'Harris' something.

jgsi

CYCLESPORT1 wrote:

I have been using Maxifuel ViperActive and I must say that they are a big inprovement on some others, the taste is good.

+1 managed to get a box of 25 for a tenner a few weeks back.. so what if they are out of date
by the time I race again in March, they will l be even more out of date...
best before bollox
They are very easy to take in.. unlike other gels that are ultra sticky and far too sweet.. yes I am talking to you Torq.. get your recipe act together..... it's a shambles you hurt my 18 fillings let me demonstrate

floosy

Bananas for me tooo.. (and soreen...yummy)

Dave.

amaferanga

floosy wrote:

Bananas for me tooo.. (and soreen...yummy)

Dave.

Have you tried the banana soreen? Best soreen ever.

gr8race

While I too like Bananas, they aren't very convenient during races. I like them on long multi-day tours but since they don't travel well I always make sure I have some gels as a backup in case I can't find any while riding. Gels aren't magic, but they are convenient, reliable, 100-calorie sized servings and have more that just sugar. If you have ever had any GI issues while using gels, then you may want to look at the carb source or whether or not it contains caffeine. As a general rule, the more complex carbs a gel has, the less likely to cause GI distress. Long course athletes should watch how many mg of caffeine they are ingesting especially if they are downing a gel every 30 minutes. Here is a chart of the most prevalent energy gels available in the States. The chart is sortable by Calories, Carbs, Caffeine, Sugars, etc.