Energy Gel Info

[dstepper]

IMO: Hammer Products are the best. I have been using Heed in my water bottle and I seem to tolerate long rides in the heat better. Also carry a flask of Hammer Gel but I try not to use it unless I am on a ride over 5 hours. Key for me is to not ride for 2-3 hours then eat something. After the first hour I try to put a little something in the gas tank ever 30-45 minutes. That is were the Heed works for me.

I also like real food on the trail and have been know to bring sandwiches and chicken on the trail. I put blocks of ice in the Camelback to keep it fresh. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches rock on the trail.

Dean

[Dino Brown]

Originally Posted by dstepper

IMO: Hammer Products are the best. I have been using Heed in my water bottle and I seem to tolerate long rides in the heat better. Also carry a flask of Hammer Gel but I try not to use it unless I am on a ride over 5 hours.

Dean

I have tried Hammer products. I must agree with Dean--- simply the best!

[Wrecker]

I pretty much use only the Hammer stuff. I love the apple cinnamon (takes like the inside of apple pie) and rasberry (tastes like jelly donut filling).

The best thing, for me, is that I don't have that sugar crash feeling when the gel starts to wear off. It pretty much stabilizes my blood sugar while riding, instead of giving me highs and lows.

I, also, keep my flask in the fridge and rarely clean, but refill.

Although, right now I'm trying their other products.

You get a discount by ordering direct from them?? (heeheeh) I'll have to call

I know some people that love caffeine when they ride, but it doesn't work for me. Elevates my Hr too much (I can hit 120-130 sitting around doing nothing with a little can of Red Bull). Of course, there is other data on that...(decreased pain perception, short term increase in performance--just watch for dehydration on warm days)

[Pain Freak]

When you really see what works, it is on the longer rides. After 6 hours , you do a shot of hammer gel and within a few minutes you honestly feel rejuvenated. There is nothing, and I mean nothing that works as well as Hammer Gel for me. If I'm going on an extended ride where we will be riding over 10 hours, I try to keep my caloric count up and I find Hammers Perpetuem can be mixed to go as high as 2500 calories in one water bottle and I'll mix it this way. It truly helps a lot. I've tried all the other gels, but to me nothing even comes close to Hammer's product.

[allison]

Originally Posted by xhuskr

I put my Camelback in the freezer...keeps it cold and clean!

I just did that for the first time Sunday after reading the Camelbak thread on MTBR

Originally Posted by CC

I also ride with Cytomax in a water bottle on longer rides.

Ditto on that!

[Jordansrealm]

Do those of you that run Cytomax in your bottle thin it out with water and what ratio? I threw some in a bottle before a road ride the other day and straight Cytomax tasted like paste to me.

[Pain Freak]

Originally Posted by Jordansrealm

Do those of you that run Cytomax in your bottle thin it out with water and what ratio? I threw some in a bottle before a road ride the other day and straight Cytomax tasted like paste to me.

Can't do the stuff.

[allison]

Originally Posted by Jordansrealm

Do those of you that run Cytomax in your bottle thin it out with water and what ratio? I threw some in a bottle before a road ride the other day and straight Cytomax tasted like paste to me.

I fill the bottle to the necked area with water, then dump in a scoop to 1.5 scoops of Cytomax (Go Grape), then add additional water and shake.

[Wrecker]

I can't do the Cytomax on long hot days...gives me a tummy ache. Of course, I haven't really been on any long rides recently.

[lukewiens]

green gu20...cheap, and has the least flavor effect. it will give you the carb/electrolytes w/o all the cyto-sugar taste.

accel gel - strawberry kiwi....has the best consistency, not to thin, not to thick. it tastes exactly like the old school ice cream push pops (now who doesn't like those)....and they utilize the patented 4 to 1 carb to protein ratio which helps greatly with recovery. i have read that younger athletes can benefit from protein addition as a fuel source as well.

24 oz. and one gel per hour.

race effort tested and works well for me....no gi stress.

good luck.

[Lefty Kev]

I use Access bars which can only be purchased online at Melaleuca.com. The Chocolate Caramel Kruncher flavor tastes just like a candy bar, is small and easy to digest, and provides at least two hours of sustained energy per bar. There are other flavors such as peanut butter, chocolate fudge, etc. (which I don't care for so much!).

The Access bars have a patented formula that blocks the absorption of adenosine by receptor cells and converts it into inosine, which doesn't block your body's fat-burning process. This allows you to burn less sugar and more stored fat for use as energy. It also facilitates the release of acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter that elicits muscle contraction, so you use more muscle fibers, thus enabling you to complete much longer rides. They are also supposed to aid recovery by limiting the buildup of lactic acid after exercise.

The downside of these bars is that you have to avoid other high-sugar products to enable it to block adenosine absorption and burn stored fat. In others words, favorite ride drinks such as Gatorade, etc. will prevent the bar from working efficiently. The other bummer is that you can't buy Access bars in stores; you must first open an account with Melaleuca and have them ship them to you directly each month.

I have a buddy who orders a lot of different products from this company and he just gets me the Access bars (this product is also available as a delicious chocolate shake which can be put in your bike-mounted water bottle).

I can tell you from personal experience that they work! I still take Gatorade along on my rides but wait at least two hours to drink it so the bar has a chance to do its thing.

Hope this helps

[Shu]

Lemon Lime or Mandarin Orange Cytomax in a bottle and Lemon-lime or Orange Shot Bloks(they remind me of jello shooters..hahaah)

[Letyrides]

Originally Posted by dstepper

Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches rock on the trail.

Dean

PB&J sammies are magic

[mcgyver0302]

GU is cheaper... but smaller amount... I have been trying different combinations over the last 3 years and "Hammer Gel Tropical" 15 minutes before and about every 45 min... Cliff bar "Peanut Butter Crunch" 1 hr. before I ride. I do this for the F-Loop, about 12 miles. It's what works for me!

[bjammin]

I like to eat the bugs that fly in my mouth when I ride.

[Pho'dUp]

Here's some basic info from cyclingnews.org:

The Training and Event fueling plan consists of very high carbohydrate foods with a little protein and almost no fat. This is where your athletic energy foods, bananas, fig bars, yams gels and sports drinks come in. If you eat enough during an event or hard training ride, you should not be ravenous immediately afterwards. If you drink enough you should need to pee within the first half hour after getting off the bike. Your urine should be C&C (Clear and Copious). Gel-type energy foods give you a big rush and a big crash, so be sure to carry enough for the whole race or session, roughly one every 25-30 minutes from beginning to end, or start using them later. Carry enough food that you can begin eating about 45 minutes in and have a big bite every 15-20 minutes throughout the event or session. A total of 250-350 calories per hour works for most athletes but you’ll have to find your own level. More is better so long as you don’t end up feeling full or bloated. See below for a list of recommended foods and drinks.

http://www.cyclingnews.org/fitness/2...guidelines.pdf


You should also plan on drinking some kind of electrolyte drink too. That'll help keep you from getting dehydrated as your out there much longer and sweating more.

But like the Gu's, blocks, electrolyte drinks, you need to try lots of these outs. Lots of this stuff can really chew up your stomach.

I like the Gu Vanilla and Expresso Love too. Also Powergel Vanilla. I don't use the extra Sodium stuff packed stuff b/c I get enough electrolytes from my drink and I need to watch my sodium because of family hypertension. Though on the really long rides, I say f-it and I'll pack spam musubi or PBJ sanwich.

Carl

[genusmtbkr5]

I usually carry Gu packs. Tri-berry is good also strawberry/kiwi, shot bloks; cran raz is really good, a bottle of water and a bottle of Cytomax(pink lemonade). On long rides, same plus my 100 oz. camelbak. Always nice to have a sandwich on the REALLY long rides or at least some cliff bars(banana nut).

[bobzrag]

Originally Posted by Winger

FYI, Costco has a 2 for 1 on Powerbars this month in their official coupon mailer. 48 bars for $20.

...or I've got a big cardboard box I could cut up into rectangles - good source of fiber and they taste better

[dstepper]

Originally Posted by Letyrides

PB&J sammies are magic

This weekend, after a long 6 hour loop, stjunkie eats a PB&J sammie, then he is building and riding log rides in camp. Yes PB&J work.

Dean