Gels difficult to open

trekvet

Brought some gels from Home Bargains, which work fine, but very difficult to tear the top off. Thought it was my wet / sweaty hands but now I'm having trouble with High5 gels, too; it's as if they have gone from single ply to two ply, as there is a clear layer inside that I'm finding tough to tear.

So what have others found?

Hooptie

This might be a silly question, but have you tried tearing the tops off with your teeth?

lincolndave

It’s much easier to use your teeth, well I find it it

jgsi

Gel bottle... re useable.
Also means you can dispose of those annoying empty wrappers properly!

What on earth you are using gels for at this time of the year begs another question.

darkhairedlord

Tape some scissors to the bars.

thistle_

darkhairedlord wrote:

Tape some scissors to the bars.

A knife is much safer.

sam_anon

JGSI wrote:

Gel bottle... re useable.
Also means you can dispose of those annoying empty wrappers properly!

What on earth you are using gels for at this time of the year begs another question.

:? :?:

sniper68

Fill at home,no mess/sticky fingers when riding.

photonic69

Sniper68 wrote:

Fill at home,no mess/sticky fingers hen riding.

hen riding? That's a new one on me. Must be pretty darn big hens!!

joe_totale-2

When hen riding I like playing chicken with other road users.

With regards to gels, yeah, use your teeth.
I'd second though questioning about you using gels at this time of year given that there's no road racing or sportives going on.

sniper68

PhotoNic69 wrote:

Sniper68 wrote:

Fill at home,no mess/sticky fingers hen riding.

hen riding? That's a new one on me. Must be pretty darn big hens!!

Corrected.

trekvet

Thanks so far.
I'm using gels on my runs, yes runs, because it's how I execrise when I consider it's too cold for this 70 year old to ride.
There is no litter from gel wrappers because I carry a small mesh bag so all litter goes home.
Can't open them with my teeth as it would pull my crowns off.
Can't use a gel bottle as it wouldn't hold 13 gels I use on 26 mile runs, nor would it accurately give 1 gel at a time.
Scissors in a suitable ligtwheight holder have just been fitted to rucksack as a trial. So was best answer, thanks.
I will ask on a runners forum, just thought I'd give you knowledgeable chaps first crack at it.

joe_totale-2

Can I be the first to post, 13 gels??!?!?!?!?!
As a non runner I have no idea if this is normal or not, good effort though being able to smash out 26 mile runs at the age of 70.

photonic69

Maybe worth making a little slit with scissors at the point where you tear them to start it off?

13 gels!!! Good grief! How does your digestion cope? If I did 13 it would not be a pretty sight and I might have to bin some items of clothing!

trekvet

I'll try slits on some and see, thanks.
Yes, 13 gels.
26 wet and chilly trail miles was 5:30hrs. It on Stava of course. 1 gel every 25 mins = 13 ish. Digestion was fine, as expected.
https://www.strava.com/activities/2089389663

lettingthedaysgoby

13 gels and I'd be able to sh!t through the eye of a needle :shock:

sniper68

TrekVet wrote:

Can't use a gel bottle as it wouldn't hold 13 gels I use on 26 mile runs, nor would it accurately give 1 gel at a time.
.

The Hydrapak 150 holds 4 gels,there are larger sizes available.They're also soft/collapsible.Do you have to be exact seeing as you're having one every 25mins?You could always put markers on the bottle.
13 gels :?: :shock:
The most I've had is 3 and that was on a 105mile ride

darkhairedlord

lettingthedaysgoby wrote:

13 gels and I'd be able to sh!t through the eye of a needle :shock:

13 gels and i'd be able to sh!t needles through my eyes...

jgsi

Cant be good for you..

26 miles running or
13 gels
I say this as dedicated 5k park runner who's given that cr ap after doing my achilles in for the duration - I'll pick it back up again October after another sensible season of road racing ungelled.

graeme_s-2

I don't have any crowns, but I'd be surprised if they'd cause your teeth any trouble. You grip the tab in your teeth and then tear it sideways by moving the gel with your hand. You don't grip it with your teeth and then just pull (which I could see possibly giving you trouble with your teeth).

drlodge

Just don't use gels, try proper food.

darkhairedlord

Fill up a plasma bag and tow the trolley along.

Tyresome

https://www.wiggle.co.uk/clif-bar-shot- ... 8-x-60g-1/

Cut the tops off before you set out. Job jobbed.

webboo

Tyresome wrote:

https://www.wiggle.co.uk/clif-bar-shot-bloks-18-x-60g-1/

Cut the tops off before you set out. Job jobbed.

Although these are pretty good,they do stick to your teeth and if you are breathing hard you end up inhaling them.
One of the worse things for getting open were the original power bars. I could never get them open with my teeth, so I used to cut them up in to small squares. However if it rained and I had put the chocolate flavoured ones in my pocket, it looked I’d sh*t myself .

keef66

Have you considered jelly babies instead? They are my go-to energy supply on the bike; a lot nicer tasting and a lot less packaging

dee4life2005

If you find gels a problem, what about something like Cliff Shot Bloks ... a little more expensive than gels maybe, but might be easier - and I find them tastier too.

OnTheRopes

Graeme_S wrote:

I don't have any crowns, but I'd be surprised if they'd cause your teeth any trouble. You grip the tab in your teeth and then tear it sideways by moving the gel with your hand. You don't grip it with your teeth and then just pull (which I could see possibly giving you trouble with your teeth).

^^ This
I see why you are using 13 gels as some advise one every 20 or 25 mins, I have a couple of friends who are got into triathlon and this was their train of thought but I would suggest you might look for some alternative source of energy as well. I don't run these days and never the distance you have (Kudos for that btw) but gels are expensive and generally used by most in competition.
When training (cycling) I will usually carry a banana cut in half which gives me 2 energy shots, 2 bananas (4 shots) on a long ride with maybe a cereal bar and occasionally a couple of gels for emergency. You could as suggested carry Jelly babies or similar or dried fruit or fig rolls or anything. Sure gels are easier to eat when you are above Lactate threshold but if this is not competition surely you can ease you pace enough to eat something?

trekvet

OnTheRopes wrote:

I see why you are using 13 gels as some advise one every 20 or 25 mins, I have a couple of friends who are got into triathlon and this was their train of thought but I would suggest you might look for some alternative source of energy as well. I don't run these days and never the distance you have (Kudos for that btw) but gels are expensive and generally used by most in competition.
When training (cycling) I will usually carry a banana cut in half which gives me 2 energy shots, 2 bananas (4 shots) on a long ride with maybe a cereal bar and occasionally a couple of gels for emergency. You could as suggested carry Jelly babies or similar or dried fruit or fig rolls or anything. Sure gels are easier to eat when you are above Lactate threshold but if this is not competition surely you can ease you pace enough to eat something?

Indeed I do. Jelly babies I have tried, bit like Cliff Blocks, very difficult to chew with an open dry mouth. Did try fig rolls but again too dry.
A snack size Mars bar = 1 gel does work if kept warm. Also works is 1/2 Turkish Delight (cut and wrapped in buttered greaseproof) so 20p. = 1 gel.
Lactate threshold, read the term, none the wiser, I just run at my easy pace 11.30/mi. and although it is only Training (for an Ultra) can't afford to slow as this will increase gross time.

cougie

TrekVet wrote:

Thanks so far.
I'm using gels on my runs, yes runs, because it's how I execrise when I consider it's too cold for this 70 year old to ride.
There is no litter from gel wrappers because I carry a small mesh bag so all litter goes home.
Can't open them with my teeth as it would pull my crowns off.
Can't use a gel bottle as it wouldn't hold 13 gels I use on 26 mile runs, nor would it accurately give 1 gel at a time.
Scissors in a suitable ligtwheight holder have just been fitted to rucksack as a trial. So was best answer, thanks.
I will ask on a runners forum, just thought I'd give you knowledgeable chaps first crack at it.

Woah. That's way too many gels. I use four or five on my marathons. I've never Heard of anyone using thirteen.

I don't use them in training either. I use jelly babies or something. Your runs must cost you a fortune. Do you run 26 miles in training too ?

trekvet

According to the gel manufacturers I should have a gel every 20mins, but instead I have one every 25mins.
Perhaps the gel makers don't know what they're talking about?
So you are infering that if I have four or five gels my blood sugar level will stay optimum throughout the 26 miles, so I finish as strong as I started, just as I did the other day on 13 gels?
That would be one gel an hour, 1/3rd of the recommended sugar intake. And only a fraction of the Strava calories of 2,870.
Perhaps you should put it to High5 and SIS that they have it all wrong?
I am training for an Ultra and the 26 miles was on the training plan, and this 70year old pulled it off nicely :-)

cougie

Weird isn't it - gel manufacturers encouraging to use more than you need.

Look at the elites. No gels.

I've managed dozens of marathons without hitting the wall so far so my technique works for me.

Don't forget that your body has enough fuel to go 15-20 miles without needing any extra energy. The elites can go even further. Good luck on your ultra.