pros and cons of gels/bars vs real food

awavey

Id say the pros are gels/bars are dead easy to carry in your jersey pockets,they are light not bulky etc etc, its no good saying just eat a wedge of cake instead, or take any other type of "real food", because its alot harder to carry around, you dont want to have to muck around with carrying a small rucksack to bring your food with you plus everything else you need, or then try and find somewhere that sells food you might want, which isnt always as straightforward, maybe in your part of the country theres a coffee shop round every corner, but thats not always reliably the case and shops might not sell quite what you want, or you find that moment you need it most isnt when you are anywhere near a cafe stop.

on all my medium to long rides I carry a couple of gels for emergency energy, so if I feel Im really struggling to make it back home and need that energy kick, the caffeine ones I do find give you a boost pretty quickly, the non caffeine ones do behave more like protein bars, so they kind of help but dont perk you up as much, then I use it, and put the wrapper in my saddle bag.

so its simple and effective.

the cons are cost, so you tend to bulk buy which means they tend to sit around for a long time, I really cant see how BBE dates apply to what is basically just sugar. and some of them dont taste very nice, though like all food you try a few different ones and then settle on the ones you do like, plus you need to understand how they work for you, you do see alot of people who treat gels as just another thing pro riders do that therefore they need to do, and not understand what it does for them.


but as with alot of this stuff in cycling, do what works for you best, we arent all the same

OnTheRopes

mamil314 wrote:

Do you wrap bits of soreen individually? I once wrapped fig rolls in foil but struggled to get to them since I cannot ride hands free.

I used to race in fig rolls, best technique was to cup with foil from both ends that were just over half way each, came off with one hand then.

sloppyschleckonds

awavey wrote:

you dont want to have to muck around with carrying a small rucksack to bring your food with you plus everything else you need, or then try and find somewhere that sells food you might want,

What utter nonsense

apreading

NitrousOxide wrote:

Jelly Babies say hi.;)

https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/shop/gb/gr ... abies-250g 75p is the best deal I'm aware of, if anyone knows of better deals, please post link.

Edit: https://groceries.asda.com/product/jell ... 0003081005 51p for 190g, better deal, no idea of taste.

Noooooo!



Jelly babies are not Jelly babies unless they are Bassets. All others are inferior. I have been on group rides several times where others had own brand and when shared with the group, they all say WOW! when they have the Bassets because they are so much nicer. Accept no substitutes in this case!

apreading

PhotoNic69 wrote:

All my gels went out of date.
Food is good. Cake stop halfway round. Sometimes have toast and marmite instead of cake. Always black americano.
Often have one bidon with sugar/salt/juice mix and one plain water. Useful energy boost and sucrose is easier on the guy than high density glucose gels etc. Also jelly babies and a flapjack. Good for 80 miles.

I get so many free gels at events that I cant keep up. I am normally using gels 2 years out of date as I go for the oldest ones and use them up first and just cant catch up. I end up giving loads away and dont like giving away out of date ones so I keep using the old ones. I think however they are made preserves them so well that the dates are meaningless. Done this for years and only ONCE did I have a bad gel - it was a banana one and a bit lumpy and tasted funny. Maybe banana doesnt keep so well as other fruit.

apreading

mamil314 wrote:

Do you wrap bits of soreen individually? I once wrapped fig rolls in foil but struggled to get to them since I cannot ride hands free.

Wrap them in pairs, with buttered side in. You can put jam or honey on them aswell as jam for extra energy.

awavey

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

awavey wrote:

you dont want to have to muck around with carrying a small rucksack to bring your food with you plus everything else you need, or then try and find somewhere that sells food you might want,

What utter nonsense

which bit specifically do you object to ? come on lets debate and discuss it properly for a change.

I already carry keys, mobile phone, inhaler, cycling cap, tissues, money, if its cool Ive probably got arm warmers and a gilet as well, if its a long 6hr ride Ive probably got at least 2 bananas as well, all in my back jersey pockets as a minimum.

where am I supposed to store a bunch of sandwiches or bits of cake as well vs a couple of small gels that I know I can pack in, I know exactly how to carry food like that because Ive done it, and its using a small drawstring backpack, and its annoying having to ride like that as the weight shifts around, the straps are uncomfortable over long periods and you get little niggly aches and hotspots.

and you cant just say oh use the nearest shop instead, what nearest shop when you energy crash and you are even only 5miles away from the nearest village that might or might not have a local shop, let alone the 10-15 you could be, that could be an hours ride when every pedal stroke feels like the last you can possibly do, thats not going to be fun is it, youve got to be food self sufficient enough to get you through the worst bits and assume you will not find a shop or coffee stop with food when you need it the most, that means you have to carry it with you.

plus Ive been to plenty of cafe stops where the selection of cakes or food on offer has been rank at best, Id rather know Ive got a backup insurance in the worst case scenario, and that for me is taking a couple of gels, not using them, just that they are there if I need them

and keep it simple, gels are perfectly reasonable replacement sources of food intake, no-ones saying your whole diet on the bike must be an intake of gels, so I dont know why people get so snobbish in cycling about this stuff

slowbike

If it's a 6 hour ride then 2 or 3 bananas should be enough anyway. If (like me) you don't like bananas then substitute them for some other food - sandwich is fine - or soreen or fig rolls or ..... you just see what you can pack in your pockets.

If you're really touring then a saddle bag or bar bag or even top tube bag for extra storage.

I've yet to carry around Spag Bol or a nice roast ... I think I'd stop at a cafe/pub for that one!

apreading

What NOT to eat:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fvy43QrIW5I

fenix

Drawstring bag on your back ? Sounds rubbish. You can get a bento box strapped to the top tube. I use it for ironman races - you can fit a lot of flapjack in there. That should do you for 6 hours or so. But cafe stops are more fun.

joey54321

awavey wrote:

which bit specifically do you object to ? come on lets debate and discuss it properly for a change.

I already carry keys, mobile phone, inhaler, cycling cap, tissues, money, if its cool Ive probably got arm warmers and a gilet as well, if its a long 6hr ride Ive probably got at least 2 bananas as well, all in my back jersey pockets as a minimum.

where am I supposed to store a bunch of sandwiches or bits of cake as well vs a couple of small gels that I know I can pack in, I know exactly how to carry food like that because Ive done it, and its using a small drawstring backpack, and its annoying having to ride like that as the weight shifts around, the straps are uncomfortable over long periods and you get little niggly aches and hotspots.

and you cant just say oh use the nearest shop instead, what nearest shop when you energy crash and you are even only 5miles away from the nearest village that might or might not have a local shop, let alone the 10-15 you could be, that could be an hours ride when every pedal stroke feels like the last you can possibly do, thats not going to be fun is it, youve got to be food self sufficient enough to get you through the worst bits and assume you will not find a shop or coffee stop with food when you need it the most, that means you have to carry it with you.

plus Ive been to plenty of cafe stops where the selection of cakes or food on offer has been rank at best, Id rather know Ive got a backup insurance in the worst case scenario, and that for me is taking a couple of gels, not using them, just that they are there if I need them

and keep it simple, gels are perfectly reasonable replacement sources of food intake, no-ones saying your whole diet on the bike must be an intake of gels, so I dont know why people get so snobbish in cycling about this stuff

I fit my keys, phone, money, cards, id in one pocket and could easily fit a cycling cap, tissues and an inhaler in there too. That leaves two pockets for food. Arm warmers can be rolled down and left around the wrist if needed too.

Also, you could stop at the nearest stop BEFORE you get to that point. Maybe when you have eaten one of your bananas. Or the first shop you see after you've eaten you second banana.

Also, the notion that the ONLY way to carry 'real' food instead of gels is using a specific drawstring backpack which is uncomfortable so no one should is one of the most ridiculous things I've read on this forum (and that is saying a lot!). There are many, many, many ways to carry things on a bike.

pblakeney

No. He is right. It is ridiculous.
Use the team car. #obviousinnit

sampras38

bobmcstuff wrote:

I usually have soreen and bananas for any normal ride. Usually stick a gel in just in case but 9 times out of 10 it comes back with me.

I did a 300km ride last weekend and I did have some gels towards the end, I find in longer rides stuffing soreen gets to be quite a lot of bulk and I want something a bit less filling. Also sometimes you might want caffeine, which probably means a caffeine gel (could have it in the bottle but I don't like having caffeine all the time. Or you could have a cafe stop!).

Pretty much the same with me. Been using the small banana soreen bars of late but for Sportives I tend to keep a couple of high calorie gels for the last few miles or so. Have tried many foods over the years. Fig rolls have always been another favourite of mine.

Maglia_Rosa

Just bought a box of Blackfriars fruit flapjacks, they’re just under 70g carbs per bar and work out at only 75p each. I mix it up so it doesn’t get boring, fig rolls & soreen etc. On club runs I don’t take anything other than money to buy some beans on wholemeal toast, that’ll give you approx 80g carbs which is plenty for me on rides around 130km. Also that video of what not to eat had me in stitches. Weirdest thing I’ve seen someone pull out of there back pocket was 2 scotch eggs and he only ate the egg part, he threw the outer shell away, bizarre.

meursault

Gels are fine if you are cream crackered near the end of a ride, if you need a quick boost. Most taste 'orrible though. I just add in a coffee shop, or get a pasty or the like from a shop. Bidon is just water, used to use tabs, but they make my mouth too dry. Also, hydrate night before big rides too.

Some nice recipes here

https://wordery.com/feed-zone-portables-biju-thomas-9781937715007?currency=GBP&gtrck=RUlHRHpCcm94WDhBMGNxU3E1Szk5QlF2MGxHUmdnRzhKUmcySDdCczJ2Yy8wT0swMFNqSGZvclB4aTRBd1R1OEo3TDh1WndrRUFmOUpvc0pKQW5KNFE9PQ&gclid=Cj0KCQjwjbveBRDVARIsAKxH7vntJE5Mn40YKWfZKth9GgKmfIc8vj9AoZ4vJlu7EBGCQ2H8AGZdbzIaAqcREALw_wcB

mrfpb

Advantages of gels:

Portable and come ready wrapped
designed to be easy to open
don't need to chew them when your mouth is too dry to chew
calorie dense, so take up less room than "real food"
long life - you don't have to throw them away if you don't use them on a ride
survive (and don't make a mess in your pocket) if you accidently put them in the washing machine (I have proved by experience they are superior to fig rolls in this regard)

cycleclinic

A couple of weeks ago I did a 12hour over night MTB race. My food was simple, dried cranberries, flaphack, coca cola and Cornish pasties. fueled all night and not a stomach cramps in sight. Gels are a quick fix for a shorter intense race.

Fzs1000n

supplements vs real food on long rides?

both for sure.......

For a decent days ride I pack:
Oat Honey Bars (easy and fast to eat)
Zip lock bag with Dried Dates (these are naturally loaded with carbs) and provide solid food
Energy Gels poured into an Endura plastic bottle dispenser so it's not messy, sticky and no rubbish, leaving these to the 2nd half of the ride

Killerclown

I plan most of my long rides with a Wetherspoons stop included. They’ve got an app for the phone now, where you can order food and drink from your table. It saves having to leave your kit on your seat whilst you order, or having to order at the bar, point at an empty table to tell the server which table number it is, only to turn round to find someone has just parked themselves at that table ( it has happened ). I’ll carry a bag of jelly babies ( their actually isotonic dontcha know ) and maybe a gel for an emergency, if I’ve completely run out of fuel, and haven’t made it home.

haydenm

Killerclown wrote:

I plan most of my long rides with a Wetherspoons stop included. They’ve got an app for the phone now, where you can order food and drink from your table. It saves having to leave your kit on your seat whilst you order, or having to order at the bar, point at an empty table to tell the server which table number it is, only to turn round to find someone has just parked themselves at that table ( it has happened ). I’ll carry a bag of jelly babies ( their actually isotonic dontcha know ) and maybe a gel for an emergency, if I’ve completely run out of fuel, and haven’t made it home.

Obligatory "don't you have space for more food in that 40kg rucksack you ride with?" post, may as well get that in there now...

I find as long as my body has available energy I'm not too bothered, slower release stuff saves me eating non-stop but I don't think too much about the distinction. I don't seem to get the gut- issues from gels. I've done 5 hour rides on nothing but haribo, and nothing but gels before and survived (with a decent breakfast first). Ideally I'd go with cereal bars and gels, I don't really like stopping for lunch as I'm usually on my own and it's dull. I could ram some sandwiches in my pockets but I haven't bothered in the past

briantrumpet

Baguette filled with Bleu d'Auvergne and tomatoes, wrapped in foil & plastic: makes the best use of space (narrow and long, and so sits nicely in middle back pocket with plenty of room for other stuff), full of carbs, fat, and salt, and tastes bloomin' lovely. Supplemented by the odd café stop for an allongé, and bakery for a tranche of flan. Miam miam! Works for rides of 110 miles & 11,000ft of climbing.

imposter2.0

Killerclown wrote:

I plan most of my long rides with a Wetherspoons stop included. They’ve got an app for the phone now, where you can order food and drink from your table. It saves having to leave your kit on your seat whilst you order, or having to order at the bar, point at an empty table to tell the server which table number it is, only to turn round to find someone has just parked themselves at that table ( it has happened ). I’ll carry a bag of jelly babies ( their actually isotonic dontcha know ) and maybe a gel for an emergency, if I’ve completely run out of fuel, and haven’t made it home.

Dear lord. No they are not. Do you even know what 'isotonic' means?

figbat

Imposter wrote:

Killerclown wrote:

I’ll carry a bag of jelly babies ( their actually isotonic dontcha know )

Dear lord. No they are not. Do you even know what 'isotonic' means?

Very clearly not. A solid thing is isotonic. Ooookaaaay....

big_harv

He probably means the likely sugar content, but not a true replacement of minerals etc. And hardly very filling even if one scoffed a whole bagful.

I'm with the French version above. Pure class.

charlie_potatoes

SurferCyclist wrote:

Potatoes on a ride, deary me.

Is that an invite?

ZMC888

There are basically four fuel sources.
1. Glucose. Quick hit sugar for short bursts eg jels tabs. The main and preferred source for hman muscles.
2. Fructose. Fructose is great, if found in natural fruit, but potentially very unhealthy if not eg HFCS. That's why dates, bananas and dried strawberries (my personal favorite) work so well. It's a simple sugar but burns slower than other sugars and is only metabolised in the liver.
3. Fats. You can get fat adapted by doing fasted morning rides, then your body can use actual body fat or seeds/nuts for fuel. Personally I love a Snickers or I used to know it, a Marathon.
4. Caffine and other stimulants. Caffine gels are yuk, but give you a burst, best consumed if made from a roasted coffee bean.

So gels are just for necking quickly if you are Chris Froome and you are about to go up an HC climb. Something light, eaten quickly, can give you a boost when your heart-rate is very high and you are sucking in so much oxygen nothing other than a gel or fluid can be ingested. There's not much point for amateurs even racing, unless really intense.

Killerclown

meursault wrote:

Gels are fine if you are cream crackered near the end of a ride, if you need a quick boost. Most taste 'orrible though. I just add in a coffee shop, or get a pasty or the like from a shop. Bidon is just water, used to use tabs, but they make my mouth too dry. Also, hydrate night before big rides too.

Some nice recipes here

https://wordery.com/feed-zone-portables-biju-thomas-9781937715007?currency=GBP&gtrck=RUlHRHpCcm94WDhBMGNxU3E1Szk5QlF2MGxHUmdnRzhKUmcySDdCczJ2Yy8wT0swMFNqSGZvclB4aTRBd1R1OEo3TDh1WndrRUFmOUpvc0pKQW5KNFE9PQ&gclid=Cj0KCQjwjbveBRDVARIsAKxH7vntJE5Mn40YKWfZKth9GgKmfIc8vj9AoZ4vJlu7EBGCQ2H8AGZdbzIaAqcREALw_wcB

I’ve found some actually palletable gels.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/sd-ld-energ ... 17655.html

Particularly the salted caramel one.

big_harv

Rule 15)

viewtopic.php?f=40034&t=12846748&p=17546828#p17546828

Carry on m'lud.

nicleza

I prefer gels and bananas. It's easy to eat in the saddle and I like the taste. I prefer "liquid gels" that won't feel like glue. I also have high carb drink but I am a very skinny guy who tends to bonk easily, better safe than sorry.
This time of year I do a like 4 longer rides per week and I can't stop for cake/lunch since it will pile up to huge amounts of time in the long ride which I need for the boring parts of life. It's also bad weather where I am at the moment which means if you stop more than a couple of minutes you can go straight home because the cold get to you.

I can't remember which team it was, but a trainer said they had one rider that needed to eat every 15 minutes and another didn't need to eat anything during racing. What I am trying to say is that we are all very different and everyone has to do their own trial-and-error. I know I have learned a lot how my body works the hard way and that I should eat as much as I can, while other people feel bloated if they do.

And by the way, gels is not only for racing

meursault

Killerclown wrote:

meursault wrote:

Gels are fine if you are cream crackered near the end of a ride, if you need a quick boost. Most taste 'orrible though. I just add in a coffee shop, or get a pasty or the like from a shop. Bidon is just water, used to use tabs, but they make my mouth too dry. Also, hydrate night before big rides too.

Some nice recipes here

https://wordery.com/feed-zone-portables-biju-thomas-9781937715007?currency=GBP&gtrck=RUlHRHpCcm94WDhBMGNxU3E1Szk5QlF2MGxHUmdnRzhKUmcySDdCczJ2Yy8wT0swMFNqSGZvclB4aTRBd1R1OEo3TDh1WndrRUFmOUpvc0pKQW5KNFE9PQ&gclid=Cj0KCQjwjbveBRDVARIsAKxH7vntJE5Mn40YKWfZKth9GgKmfIc8vj9AoZ4vJlu7EBGCQ2H8AGZdbzIaAqcREALw_wcB

I’ve found some actually palletable gels.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/sd-ld-energ ... 17655.html

Particularly the salted caramel one.

I'll give those a go ty, good price too.