How do you buy your energy gels?

G-Wiz

I've got quite hooked on the Zipvit stuff but not many local retailers stock them and all the online places seem to sell them by the complete box.

Do most people stick to the same flavour all the time or do you have a bit of a pick-n-mix selection at home?

Do you know anywhere that does mixed boxes at a decent price?

ShutUpLegs

Zipvitsport.co.uk :?:

Waste of money unless you are racing IMHO

on-yer-bike

A very expensive way to eat. Emergency use only. Zipvit are always doing deals.

danowat

Still beggers belief (to me anyway) that people use gels in training.....

napoleond

I buy in bulk and only use for racing or have them for emergencies. Took 3 out with me yesterday for my 'ride on empty' with Pokerface. At the end of the 2.5 hour ride I returned home with all 3.

A banana or whatever we have in the house that's sweet gets used. A Jam butty wrapped in foil is perfect.

alihisgreat

If you're going to waste money on expensive energy products then get drink powder -> that's what I do because they're softer on the stomach than gels and I don't like to eat a huge amount of proper food.

I take a powerbar for emergency bonk rations because they're tastier than gels.

napoleond

I only ever use energy drink if I get it free. Otherwise I use cordial (Tesco Cherries and Berries is my fave) and a pinch of salt.

deswahriff

..I buy the Torq ones in bulk when I see an offer, and keep them for longer (4 hours plus) rides and sportives. Day to day stuff, its bananas, munchy bars, whatever is lying about.
I tried those Powerbars on a tour of northern Spain recently...wow!...tasty, lasted ages, nibbling bits every now and then, probably contains way over the regular caffeine dose!!

ilm_zero7

I never buy gels - i get them given and they accumulate, so i give them away - they taste foul, and make your blood sugar levels so peaky! The only time I ever use them is in a longer race, to stop you bonking near the end,or 15 minutes before a big climb

bickers

If im doing 100km plus i chuck one or two in as a just in case but would rather eat a banana, to much energy stuff makes my insides want to get outside and that is not good in lycra! Most importantly all long rides should include a cake stop otherwise the person who did the route must be beaten up

I did the 300km Vatterundan in Sweden in June and that required energy gels if you wanted a good time and not stop at to many feed points. The feed stops on that gave you this blueberry soup stuff in a little cup, a small sweet bread roll and banana cut in half to take with you - perfect and the soup was like rocket fuel!

I normally just have water but I use torq in a drink bottle if im doing a long ride. I find their grape fruit flavour nice to drink without leaving a minging taste after a days riding and its fine on my guts.

Buying gels is annoying, i use them randomly and forget which are nice and which are like tar - last time i kept a packet and bought a box just for convenience and cost but i think ive had 3 since i ordered them

G-Wiz

Not so popular then! I only really use them on longer rides of 100k+ and only towards the end, but doing 2-3 of those a week soon stacks up. I probably use more of the bars than the gels in reality, but same thing applies. I'm quite a big rider so I find it hard to get the calories in on the big rides. I just forget to eat and then need something that'll fix me up quickly.

I'll keep an eye on Zipvits own site for any discounts, thanks for the tip.

napoleond

Best thing on a long ride near the end is a snickers and a can of red bull from a garage!

G-Wiz

Can't eat chocolate when I'm riding, my normal sweet tooth deserts me on the bike for some reason, and redbull gives me headaches, especially when I'm already close to dehydration. For some reason the zipvit caffeine stuff goes down better and really works well for me. I only use it at sportives where I'm fussed about a time though, the crash afterwards is fairly harsh. I guess it's what you're used to though. I used to row, and eating in the boat is pretty much impossible so I just load up on energy drink and easily digestible stuff. Bananas are OK but anything else and I need too much water to get it down me.

navrig

NapoleonD wrote:

I only ever use energy drink if I get it free. Otherwise I use cordial (Tesco Cherries and Berries is my fave) and a pinch of salt.

Don't think that's energy drink as the carb content of the cordial will be minimal. Good option for rehydration and salts though.

Gels are OK as emergency. I've still got pockets full of them after picking up the Zipfit freebies at the Caledonain Etape. They were all ceffienated so I only use them when I have to.

autobahn

You dont need gels on a training run or leisure run. Fines as an emrgency , in race or a really long tough ride, Normal food is sufficent and suplemented with water , cordial etc. Get your carbs from normal everyday food, and your rehydration from water.

gsk82

i always buy online whenever i run out because its so much cheaper than a shop.

as above though i only use them for racing or if i'm struggling to get home.

durhamwasp

Poundland are selling 3 packets of Lucozade tablets for £1 near me