[Closed] Would golden syrup be a good substitute for gels ?

Troll post...cannot be serious.

Can a vegan eat syrup?

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The new Torq Raspberry Ripple gel is raspberry ice cream sauce, I'm convinced of it.

Would golden syrup be a bit sticky and sickly? Apart from that, give it a go, it's cheap enough.

As a sugar source I guess no different to eating jelly babies or other sweet snacks but without the chewing.
Lots of water would probably be required to wash it down.

Dried apricots with jelly babies washed down with a swig of water

WTF!

Purely as a fuel it is fine, but come on the consistency is rubbish. In my opinion gels are a pain in the arse too, and would cost a fortune to take on board the kcal I need on a big ride.
The best way (for me) is to put all my fuel in my drink when I really need to do it properly, like when racing. For normal rides even hard 6 or 7 hour rides real food works best. Dates, bananas flapjacks etc.

I've had syrup sandwiches for brekkie last few mornings. Its lush!

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Comes in 12 little squares, about 400 cals per pack or 33 cals/square. Or have some proper sweets or proper food.

Better than nothing, if a massive sugar hit will get you where you need to be then yep, but it wont really do you any favours.

Not so mad thinking really, years ago a ghetto energy drink was mixing 50/50 cola and water, and from reading race reports i think it was the arrowhead 135 (or similar event) a contestant goes into detail about required food carry for emergency use, a jar of peanut butter did the job, chap carried it but never needed it for a few years (same jar) 🙂 but it fullfilled the requirements of must carry kit...... and get the arrowhead wrong.....good chance of a slow death.

There are better things than a bottle of golden syrup 🙂

paladin - Member
I've had syrup sandwiches for brekkie last few mornings. Its lush!

Can a vegan eat syrup?

Methinks those Shotbloks are overpriced versions of what midlifecrashes posted

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Sponser do a honey based 'gel' which is really rather pleasant.

Syrup sounded like a slightly more convenient option to the traditional ghetto energy fuel of jelly babies to me.

I've often heard people say sugar is not ideal for lengthy exercise, as it just gives you an instant energy rush that is soon followed by an energy crash.
I was thinking a constant drip feed of sugar, a small squirt of syrup every 10 minutes, rather than a 60ml gel hit every half hour, to avoid this.

I've tried energy drinks, like Torq, but find them a bit sugary. I would carry two bottles so I could have a swig of energy drink, then wash it down with plain water, so I would have no problem doing something similar with syrup.

scaredypants - Member
paladin - Member
I've had syrup sandwiches for brekkie last few mornings. Its lush!
ewww - Have you never heard of condensed milk ?

Tins of milk remind me of bad trips at sea..... I'll stick to squirty syrup. Or Marmite.

These are 45g.

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These are 325g for about the same price.

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An ex used to be sponsored by a company called [url= http://www.honeystinger.com/ ]Honey Stinger[/url] which as far as i could tell was just yer bog standard honey in a non bio-degradable plastic pouch that cost rather more than a jar of honey, in my opinion all gels and such like energy products are snake oil and despite having them for sale in the shop i ask folk why they feel they need them? - if you have a decent diet you don't need them, if you want to waste a few £ on a needless product but like the taste then go ahead. If you are riding for hours on end and feel you need an energy boost then a packet of oat biscuits from the supermarket is a fraction of the price and will do the same job, or better still a bag of dried fruit will do your digestion more good.

If the average "joe" understood nutrition and how glycogen affected performance vs regulated fat use then they'd avoid these products like the plague.

Why not, maybe honeys worth a go too, its all just sugar including the gels.

Personally I'm on dates at the moment, bit slower getting started but do the job if you plan ahead and there easier to carry/store than a gel.

Coca cola is also fine if you need a quick hit, easier to drink if its flat though.

Why don't you just try it on your next long ride then report back? 😀

If the average "joe" understood nutrition and how glycogen affected performance vs regulated fat use then they'd avoid these products like the plague.

You should speak to the pro-teams, I'm sure they would appreciate the marginal gains in performance an oat biscuit could bring.

What's the vegan take on honey?
I mean it's not an animal per se, just theft from one.

MrSmith : Perhaps there may just possibly be a world of difference between a pro-team rider with their muscular massage on demand after a training session/Yoga and stretching regime/Hyperbaric treatment chamber for treatment of muscular tears and injuries/Intensive training regime/Continual power assessment/Doctor on call 24hrs a day along with tailored training to peak for specific points in the race season, compare that to yer average Joe Blogs out for an afternoons ride on his team replica bike with his team replica kit trying to achieve an aero position whilst possibly carrying a tad more than 5% or 6% body fat, he had a bit of a late night last night and perhaps a glass or two of wine so feels a tad tired but that's ok as he believes the expensive energy drinks in his bottle along with the numerous gels in rear jersey pocket will help him throughout the day but at what expense to the way his body regulates it's energy resources?.

So called energy products? - all snake oil in my book (for the average rider at least), perhaps there may be a case for using them if you have optimised every other possible parameter but until then your wasting ££

Yunki, that fry-up is missing a few things, and what's that green stuff?

Isn't too much sugar actually poisonous as well? I was just reading an interesting article in the Nat Geo about why our bodies have actually developed to get by on very little of the stuff. Too much results in fatty deposits building up in the liver.

I didn't want to offend the OP

Malt bread and jelly babies. Got me round the Borrowdale fell race in under 4 hrs last week. Harder to eat running than riding too I reckon...

Reconstituted dried figs. Seriously. Pop a whole one in the mouth and nibble small bits off it and swallow. No need to chew. Like an energy bar but much easier to eat as no holding required. I ate one every 40min on Ride London. I also eat lucosade tablets because they are 39p a pack from work. Raced on those on Wednesday - one tab every couple of laps. Can't stand or stomach energy drinks.

but at what expense to the way his body regulates it's energy resources?.

Depends on the individual. Everyone is different, I know people who can get by on next to nothing and a banana after a couple of hours. Me? I ride with people fitter than me (cat2-3 roadies) if I want to be in with a chance of not getting dropped I use bars and perhaps a gel for the last big hill on the way back of a long ride.
I do steer clear of the cheap glucose based ones as the I don't get on well with pure refined sugar (which I try to avoid in my diet) but then I'm really skinny and prone to sugar high/lows. If I don't start eating within the first half hour of ride then ill pay for it half way through the ride and will bonk after an couple of hours on just water alone.
MTB rides are a bit different as I don't enter the pain cave and quite happy with cake as I'm hardly going to knacker myself out.

Couldn't care about saving money with something cheaper, it's a struggle but I can just about afford the £3.50 every time I go on a bike ride. 🙄

I ran a bottle of Tomato soup a couple of times last year! Combined with an apple, a bag of peanut m+m's and a couple of rice crispie squares, was enough to do the overnight Maxx Exposure on 🙂

I've had syrup sandwiches for brekkie last few mornings. Its lush!

try a Jellie Tot toasted sandwich!

Why don't you just try it on your next long ride...

I just thought it was worth asking to see if anyone else had had success with syrup or if anyone knew of some genuine scientific reason why proper gels are better.

I think one of the claims of gels is that they contain two types of sugar, fructose is used by the body instantly, while glucose takes a little longer. Or something like that.
The idea is that there is a steady release of one type or the other over half an hour.
Why not just use one type of sugar, at 1/7 the price, and eat a smaller amount 3 times as often for the same result ?
How does "invert sugar syrup" compare to the stuff in gels ? Is it all just sugar ? Is there really a difference, or is it all just marketing ?

From http://torqfitness.co.uk/nutrition/torq-gel

Unlike Maltodextrin and Glucose, which compete with each other for absorption, Maltodextrin and Fructose are absorbed in parallel, so you get the ultra-fast energy supply from Maltodextrin, plus the slower energy release from Fructose.

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverted_sugar_syrup

Inverted or invert[1] sugar syrup is a mixture of glucose and fructose

So, for most of us who are well below the level of elite athletes, does it really make any difference ?

rootes1 - Member
I've had syrup sandwiches for brekkie last few mornings. Its lush!
try a Jellie Tot toasted sandwich

Couldn't find jelly tots, had a banana and golden syrup toastie.

Proper syrup out of a tin, not from a squeezy bottle

could you not make flapjack with the syrup ? get some porridge oats in yhe equation then an still fsirly easy to Carry?

From http://torqfitness.co.uk/nutrition/torq-gel

Unlike Maltodextrin and Glucose, which compete with each other for absorption, Maltodextrin and Fructose are absorbed in parallel, so you get the ultra-fast energy supply from Maltodextrin, plus the slower energy release from Fructose.

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverted_sugar_syrup

Inverted or invert[1] sugar syrup is a mixture of glucose and fructose

So, for most of us who are well below the level of elite athletes, does it really make any difference ?

The torque fitness page is based on reality but with the usual marketing hyperbole. Most gels are composed of maltodextrin, glucose, fructose and electrolytes, which is nothing new or revolutionary. The idea that glucose and maltodextrin compete for transporters should be a non-issue.

Maltodextrin is useful because it can be used in higher concentrations (more calories per ml) without altering the ideal osmolarity. Fructose requires metabolism in the liver and takes longer, hence the low glycemic index. Both the addition of maltodextrin and fructose are useful since they essentially increase the half life of glucose in the blood, compared with glucose alone.

Ideally you want a mixture of glucose, fructose and maltodextrin. Luckily virtually all sugars are derived from sucrose (glucose and fructose). Maltodextrin is a difficult one from food, but you can get it as a power if you want to make your own diy drink/ gel mix.

To me its typical marketing bull, compared with fruit or any other sugar source gels will make virtually no difference to your average ride. If you're a professional athlete it might make the additional 0.1%, but at that point your probably sponsored anyway.

I once had the brainwave to try honey like that.

Had a hard day touring climbing big hills, so to replenish I ate a comb of honey.

Results nearly worthy of the Picolax thread.

The sad thing was I was out bush in Oz, it was bloody hot, my arse felt like it had been hit with an anglegrinder, and I still had 6 days pedalling to get home.

A very raw experience.

Haven't touched it since. 🙂

Just had another thought on this subject;
Kendle Mint Cake.

For decades before the introduction of gels and isotonic drinks with scientifically backed advertising claims, mountaineers were eating what was effectively a lump of peppermint flavoured sugar.

I don't really mind what 'specialist' products any of you invest in to give yourselves a psychological boost, just as long as you pick up the wrappers afterwards..
I'm regrettably almost looking forward to the day when I catch a littering cyclist red-handed at the moment..

That's one of the reasons why I thought a squeezy bottle of syrup would be better than gels.
No fiddly wrappers to tear open and carry.

After lots of experimenting with tris and ultra marathons, I went back to my old climbing favourite.....yes Kendal mint cake. Romneys ideally as crumbles less. Easy to carry, nice energy and refershing taste! Gave up on dried apricots after nasty experience 30 miles into first ultra marathon!!!!!

Surely you only need gels and stuff when you're running you're body close to its limits? I.e if you a pretty elite athlete? When a pound of fat contains 3500 calories if you're an average adult in you're late 30's to early 40's then 20 to 24% of you is lard - more if you're carrying a bit too much timber. I don't think you're close to truly bonking with around 100,000 calories insulating you. You can train your body to access body fat quickly as a source of energy during exercise by training when hungry. Elite athletes who have low body fat percentages have to rely on gels and external energy sources, but for us normal folk, we're already carrying our own energy reserves with us all the time. Leave your gels at home, have your breakfast after your ride, take plenty of water with you to ensure you're always hydrated.

I don't really mind what 'specialist' products any of you invest in to give yourselves a psychological boost, just as long as you pick up the wrappers afterwards..
I'm regrettably almost looking forward to the day when I catch a littering cyclist red-handed at the moment..

You and I both!

I've used syrup a few times now on long rides, and in the established tradition of using anecdotes instead of evidence on the internet, it works.

Try a pint of Stella mid ride, I always get home in double quick time..... or so it seems.

I know a bloke who did the Bob Graham (Sub 24hrs) on only Kendal Mint Cake, for variance he used both types.

Eeeeuuuuggggghhhhh!

"Haven't touched it since"
Someone has too....your arse?

So if I pour honey on my kebab I'll be ok then?
More to the point why do gels taste of sodding fruit? Why not nice flavours, like kebab or roast beef?

Very thankful for the gels I was carrying yesterday during the ultra I did - maybe it was psychological, perhaps figs or syrup would have been better, but I definitely felt a welcome boost that carried me through the last 20K.

I don't usually use them on normal Sunday rides, I prefer a banana and flapjack. But as a lightweight portable energy source they're pretty good.

I do wonder how the old staples of Soreen, Fig rolls and Jam Butties actually weigh up on a proper scientific nutrition scale with the 'sports nutrition' products?

Not often that I use energy drinks but when I do, it's a good organic jam mixed with water (passed through a seive if it has seeds), pinch of salt.
I'll try it undiluted in one of those reusable gel bottles if I ever get round to it. Home made bars/brownies etc...

Surely you've gotta be plain lazy or a mug to pay for powerbar stuff?

marzipan - about 4000kcal per bar!

Kendle Mint Cake.

You are aware of how Kendal Mint Cake stops you being hungry, aren't you?

When all that's left is KMC you can suddenly think of all manner of things you'd rather eat, (eg rocks, raw sheep, your own boots) and then you're not [i]that[/i] hungry.

Did the Bontrager 24 hr solo a few years ago. I can never face a gel again. A guy who was riding out of our pits did the whole thing on Jacobs Crackers and honey. He came 5th. Make of that what you will.

I did one of the UK 24 hour solos on jam sandwiches. Thick layers of strawberry jam, yum.

Didn't do real well though. 🙂

I raced the singlespeed worlds at Aviemore in 2007 with a bottle of red wine in my camalbak, funnily enough i lost interest in racing approx 500yards from the start and pootled round the rest of the course, i even pushed back up one of the furthest away downhill sections a few times as it was a brilliant section and a giggle when half cut, i then got waylaid at the beer stop 3/4's of the way round and settled down to heckle with the rest of the troublemakers.......If i only used Gels instead of red wine i could have knocked Adam Craig from the #1 spot....... 😉

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Bad angle pic of the beer stop, i may have been crawling around drunk by this point, to be honest the only way i could have knocked adam craig from the #1 spot was by lobbing beer cans at him.

Any race where Gels are used is not fun, give us beer/wine/whisky...preferably in that order.

Haribo sprinkled with malodextrin powder?

Come to think of it this thread has made me think of the only logical use for a Pez dispenser - although I've never seen one with a handlebar mount :S

Surely you've gotta be plain lazy or a mug to pay for powerbar stuff?

cash rich, time poor.

😀
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