taking in gel on your bike
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() So my weekend ride this past week I finally got fed up with gel packets on the bike. At least for me, they are not the easiest to gel the gel out of the packets completely (I also cut my lip last year pretty good on a packet trying to get it all out) and are messy once 'done' as some always leaks out afterward no matter how well I try to consume all the gel. does anyone use a gel flask? I am interested in trying but wonder how do you know how much to take to keep on with your calories/hr or do something like run out cause your 'doses' were too big early on? The chomps are not an option for me cause they don't settle well and i have eaten them, had about 1 hr down time, then started my workout and they still came up. the run is fine for the gels, its just the bike i struggle with. anyone have any suggestions? Thanks |
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Master ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() I struggle more with the flasks than I do with the packets. For me, the gel squeezes out of the packets so much easier than out of the flask. |
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Veteran ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() What kind of gels do you use? Some are thicker than others. For races I use powergel because they are very wattery. I tape them to the top tube of my bike so as I grab the pack and pull it from the frame, it opens up automatically. Squeeze the contents into my mouth, wash down with some with quality h2o and move on. You don't need every single last drop out of the container. If this is an issue, maybe look into EFS Liquid Shot. They come in a 5oz reusable container and has about 400 calories per bottle (equivalent of about 4 gels). Store is in your jersey pocket or bento box and take a swig every hour or so. http://www.firstendurance.com/nutrition/efs-liquid-shot.html |
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Elite ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Have you looked at Hammer Perpetuem? Two scoops of it is 270 calories. Mix up a separate bottle of it for as many calories as you'd need, just as you would for a gel flask, and nurse it through your ride. Supplement your hydration with plain water from other bottles on your bike. My opinion: skip the Orange-Vanilla flavor. It's not good, even cold. Just go with the Cafe Late
Basically, a gel flask would be the same concept... it has 'x' number of calories per measured amount; you would just fill it with the proper amount for your bike segment and mix with water to have a concentrate. |
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Expert ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() I buy my fuel in 20 oz bottles, put the gu in a squeeze water bottle, mix in a little H20 to make it more slickery, and put the bottle in my down tube water bottle rack. Works great for me. Long rides I have 2 behind the seat bottles and aero bar flask for fluids and down tube bottle for fuel. |
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Master ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() LSUfan4444 - 2013-03-11 3:43 PM What kind of gels do you use? Some are thicker than others. For races I use powergel because they are very wattery. I tape them to the top tube of my bike so as I grab the pack and pull it from the frame, it opens up automatically. Squeeze the contents into my mouth, wash down with some with quality h2o and move on.
I do the exact same thing as Bobby Boucher... errr Adam. |
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Elite ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Sous - 2013-03-11 3:46 PM LSUfan4444 - 2013-03-11 3:43 PM What kind of gels do you use? Some are thicker than others. For races I use powergel because they are very wattery. I tape them to the top tube of my bike so as I grab the pack and pull it from the frame, it opens up automatically. Squeeze the contents into my mouth, wash down with some with quality h2o and move on.
I do the exact same thing as Bobby Boucher... errr Adam.
Water sucks! Gatorade is better. |
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Not a Coach ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() I often use gel flasks. They are marked, but mostly I've just learned roughly what a 'squirt' or two from one means in terms of how much I'm getting. Also, if I am using it for a shorter race (like an oly) where I only want 1 or 2 gels, I add water to the flask to make it easier to get down. Don't overthink it. If you get too much on any one 'squirt', you'll just get a little less later--or vice versa. Precise accuracy is unnecessary. |
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Expert ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() I've found GU in a flask needs to be thinned out or it's near impossible, especially in cooler weather. Hammer Gels are typically thin enough that they come out of a flask just fine. |
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Master ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() thebigb - 2013-03-11 4:01 PM I've found GU in a flask needs to be thinned out or it's near impossible, especially in cooler weather. Hammer Gels are typically thin enough that they come out of a flask just fine. That's my bigget issue with GU... I like 'em but they are the consistency of cake frosting... forget about using them in the winter. |
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Master ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() cgregg - 2013-03-11 2:49 PM Sous - 2013-03-11 3:46 PM LSUfan4444 - 2013-03-11 3:43 PM What kind of gels do you use? Some are thicker than others. For races I use powergel because they are very wattery. I tape them to the top tube of my bike so as I grab the pack and pull it from the frame, it opens up automatically. Squeeze the contents into my mouth, wash down with some with quality h2o and move on.
I do the exact same thing as Bobby Boucher... errr Adam. Water sucks! Gatorade is better. Moma says Gatorade is from the Devil! And besides that, Vicki Vaillancourt recommends you stock with the high quality H2O |
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Master ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() weiky - 2013-03-11 2:39 PM So my weekend ride this past week I finally got fed up with gel packets on the bike. At least for me, they are not the easiest to gel the gel out of the packets completely (I also cut my lip last year pretty good on a packet trying to get it all out) and are messy once 'done' as some always leaks out afterward no matter how well I try to consume all the gel. does anyone use a gel flask? I am interested in trying but wonder how do you know how much to take to keep on with your calories/hr or do something like run out cause your 'doses' were too big early on? The chomps are not an option for me cause they don't settle well and i have eaten them, had about 1 hr down time, then started my workout and they still came up. the run is fine for the gels, its just the bike i struggle with. anyone have any suggestions? Thanks I often just have granola bars (chewey or crunchy) and even go for Fig Newtons from time to time. I simply wash things down with the liquid. I get some calories from the liquid, some from the solids. |
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() I use the accel-gel, its pretty watery out of the pack, that is what i like about it but that also seems to lead to it getting on my hands and empty packs still leaking some out in my nutrition box, making a mess. that is why i am looking for another option. |
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![]() | ![]() weiky - 2013-03-11 2:39 PM (I also cut my lip last year pretty good on a packet trying to get it all out) I'm intrigued how one cuts their lip on a gel packet?! Is there more to the story? |
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![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() I tape them to the top tube of my bike so as I grab the pack and pull it from the frame, it opens up automatically. This. The only drawback with this is that you sometimes end up with tons of tape gunk on your frame. Be religious about cleaning it off with Goo-B-Gone, etc. |
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Extreme Veteran ![]() ![]() | ![]() PowerBar gel is much thinner than Gu. I can get 5 packs in a Fuel Belt flask. Throw a splash of water to make it thinner. Much easier to deal with. |
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Elite ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() The Hammer Gel that comes in the 26 serving bottle is formulated to be a bit more runny than the gel in individual packets (its also better $$$). They also sell a 5 serving flask that is marked 1-5 in both directions (so that you can read it upside down or right side up). Just take one of these flasks and store it in your bike jersey pocket. |
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Master ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() reecealan - 2013-03-11 1:24 PM I often just have granola bars (chewey or crunchy) and even go for Fig Newtons from time to time. I simply wash things down with the liquid. I get some calories from the liquid, some from the solids. +1. I use Clif Bars and Gatorade Perform during the bike segment and that has been working out nicely for me. 1 bar (split into quarters) with liquid/hr. Edited by kloofyroland 2013-03-11 4:33 PM |
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Regular ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() I quit on gels quite a while ago. It just seemed like during a hard workout or race they tasted like flavored mucus. Plus it seemed impossible to choke a gel down without getting that sticky goo all over my fingers which ended up on my handlebars or shirt. Yuck. On the other hand, I absolutely love Cliff Blocks. These are more like jelly bellies and come in multiple flavors. The kick is not quite as quite as a immediate as a gel, but it's there. The margarita flavor with sodium is spectacular. I just put a rip in the top of the package, tape it on my top tube and screen out the blocks one at a time as I need them. Edited by lutzman 2013-03-11 5:24 PM |
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![]() | ![]() The bike is where I do solid food. I don't use gels unless I have to. I've even used cookies during my races. Save the gel for the run... |
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![]() | ![]() I've tried several gels, and I agree with some of the other posts above me. Powerbar is thinner, and my favorite. |
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Expert ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Infinit |
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Master ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() I use a gel flask for training and long-course. Actually, I lost my flask during IMAZ and I ended up taking gels from the course. Worked out very well, except that I had to buy a new flask afterwards. I don't worry too much about how much I take in. A mouthful is about the same as a regular gel pack, maybe a little less. I only do rough calculations for nutrition anyway. For training I generally prefer fruit, but on long rides I'll take a gel flask too. |
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Regular ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() bzgl40 - 2013-03-11 5:33 PM The bike is where I do solid food. I don't use gels unless I have to. I've even used cookies during my races. Save the gel for the run... I eat steak on the bike I like the idea of taping the tops of the gel packets and ripping the top off by having the tape hold it there. |
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Master ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() I gel on the bike with GU. In cold weather I hold the gel in my hand for a while to warm and soften it up. Nevertheless this is only in a race, on a training ride I don't nutritionize (up to 58miles) or stop and eat a stinger waffle. Or even eat a stinger while I ride (if I can get it open). |
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