Ok, i’ve never used them before but I’m guessing that they will be quite handy for the Puffer which I’m soloing, so can anyone tell me where to get cheap and good energy gels please? I guess I’ll be buying about 24 of them. And some of those nun tablet things too.

I’d suggest you try some first – not all agree with everyone.

Not trying to be a smart-arse, but runny honey in a gel bottle is a very cheap alternative. Obviously not got exactly the same composition as a gel, but it’s still giving you the carbohydrate (sugar) you need the most. Particularly good if you’re using an energy powder in your drink as well, which should cover other bases like electrolytes. Best to work out how much fuel you need as well…rough calc is 1g of carbohydrate per kg of weight per hour. If using gels, you could easily be looking at three or more per hour!

I do tend to keep a couple of Torq gels with caffeine for when I’m really getting knackered though.

It is really important to try them first – if they dont agree with you in something like a 24 then you can really upset your stomach (and end your race).

Having said that, i rate the Torque gels. The flavours are less harsh / chemical than others i have tried, and they come in a nice big box of 20ish i think.

Nuun tablets – great but remember to drink enough. The cola ones are a bit funny tasting but ok. I use a few tubes to mix up the flavours. Not a problem as they are useful for normal riding anyway.

go into your local asda cheaper than any LBS

Jelly babies

http://www.energy4sport.com whatever they have on offer.

You’ll need more than 24 if it’s all you are eating. About one every 20 minutes is the recommended amount on the packaging.

You can get isotonic ones which don’t require you to drink water at the same time. I prefer the high5 iso ones

Several kilos of Haribo.

the lucozade gels they sell in the big tescos cost about 60p. usually found next to all the energy drinks.

I’ve tried a few. SIS are the worst – it’s like squeezing Grangemouth waste into your mouth. Honey Stinger taste the best but are currently unavailable in the UK. Torq are a safe bet. The Yoghurt ones don’t taste ridiculously sweet and the Rhubarb and Custard is brill!

Hmmm, I’m 110Kg at the moment so this could be pricey but there is no way that they will be all I’m eating! I’m not going to win it I just want to keep going for as long as possible. There’s not much upsets my metabolism, it’s got pretty used to being abused over the years. Sounds like my usual of flap jack, haribo and jelly babies might be enough after all! Ta for the replies.

I really like the yellowy green SIS ones, and they’re often on discount in Tesco. That said, usually I use haribos but for this I guess I’d take real gels.

There are lots of recipes out there to make up your own if you fancy playing around.

One of my favourite (and very simple) is dates, brown rice syrup and a small amount of powdered caffeine all bunged in a blender. It’s got a great mix of longer and shorter lasting carbs, tastes pretty good, has the kick from caffeine and is fairly healthy.

Although most of the time I find it easier just to go with dates, bananas and flapjack 🙂

summer fruit High5 Energy Gel work for me and are nice enough.

jonb
You can get isotonic ones which don’t require you to drink water at the same time. I prefer the high5 iso ones

You still need to drink water – no gel can be isotonic anyway but some do contain electrolytes meaning you don’t need so much electrolytes in your drinks

to the OP I would have a few and carry one in your pocket to get you round a lap but rely on your usual fuelling to provide the bulk of your carbs

Hmmm, my usual fuelling is sweeties and then beer! That won’t work in this case I don’t think. I suspect the spare tyre I have carefully built up over the hols will keep me going!

haribo good for shorter rides. i wouldnt fancy having 24 hours worth of haribo consumption in my stomach! That is going to cause trouble 🙂

torq are the best – most of the others give you a dodgy stomach if eaten too many. bars are really tasty too.

rough calc is 1g of carbohydrate per kg of weight per hour.

shouldn’t that be lean weight?

and if you’ve never eaten them why would you race with them? you wouldn’t ride a new bike. eat what you trained on.

TJ you’re right. IF you look at standard gels they need to be consumed with (extra) water. These don’t. They don’t provide you with enough water to survive though. On the plus side they tase just like thick fruit juice so go down easily unlike the gloopier ones.

runny honey in a gel bottle is a very cheap alternative

Im going to try this

and if you’ve never eaten them why would you race with them?

Because I’ve never trained for 24hrs before!

Aren’t gels for shorter more intense events where your digestive system can’t really cope with solids? You should be fine with “proper” food or bars. Maybe a caffeinated gel such as the mule bar lemon zinger if you’re really in trouble in the last hour or so.

What I would do ( what I did do!!) is to try to eat normal food every lap or so. You need a good mix of carbs – long and short acting. Carry some gels ( or jelly babies) for emergencies halfway round a lap – I did and I used them a couple of laps.

So – good dinner the night before with plenty of carbs. Long acting carbs for breakfast ( porridge is good or other oats) Carbs in your drinks and electrolytes – I ran on salted diluted apple juice, eat little and often during the 24 hrs.

You will need as many calories as you can cram into your system in any way you can basically

A mate of mine reckons a shot of the SIS gel makes him feel like a lady at the end of a porno.

I actually really like them though. Handy during running races as you don’t need to drink as much water with them. I think they’re meant to be isotonic or something like that. Whereas I find the torq ones awful without lots of water. Not a big issue when riding though.

Is this the Gel Flask you were on about to put honey in?

here

yup that’s the one

SIS Gels are mingin IMO… like a gob full of phlegm

High5 work for me – banana is the fave…

…enjoy!