When do you suck your gel?

[Scotticus]

Between 60-70km mark into a 100km race. Else basic nutrition would surfice.

On a training ride with a perceived exersion is 8 on a scale of 1-10... I'd do 100km without an gels.

[Mister B]

I just suck the moisture out of the air for hydration purposes and for a quick burst of energy I absorb the rays from the sun and turn this into energy.

 

On hot sunny days I have to wear sunblock or else I will easily win any race. This leads to complications later as when I need to provide urine samples, the urine almost always dissolves the container.

 

Chuck Norris is that you ?

[StevieL]

When I know the next big hill is coming.

 

Even if the gels don't work, my mind convinces my body that it's doing it's job.

[Li Mu Bai]

ideally you should use them every 45 mins with water. If you are using an electrolyte sports drink too, then the two conflict and you should use the gel less frequently. if using 2 bottles, water in one, and an electrolyte sports drink in the other for use in the last third of the event.

a 60km mountain bike race might be quite tough and slow, and energy replacement/management is part of your battle plan. some use bananas, some use potatoes, fruit cake, energy bars.

 

You need to train the way you race, thus practice with all sorts of things to find what works for you, everyone is different.

 

A 60km road race is over before you know it, so energy drinks may well be sufficient. longer road races, switch back to the 45min gel water rule, with an electrolyte sports drink for the last third of the race.

[4u2nv]

before you hit the wall

And another one after you hit the wall

[MTBer wannabee]

i cant do gels. They make me feel ill. Long endurance events i take along mini Bar ones with lots of water.

[Hairy]

Chuck Norris is that you ?

 

Nah ... he is my little brother.

[simhen]

Start the day with a good serving of Future Life. 4 table spoons of powder, 1 table spoon of organic peanut butter. Half milk, half water and mix into a smoothie.

 

2 bananas to fill the gap during the ride.

 

1 bottle of 32GI Endurance.

 

2 liters of water in the Camelback.

 

Sorted

 

All you need is a blanket and you can have a picnic...

Edited September 28, 2012 by simhen

[DR ◣◢]

That made my day!

[RocknRolla]

Gel dont gel with me.

 

Recently on longer more intense rides, I take them 32 gi chews. sometimes I have to double check that I am eating the actual chew, and not the wrapper, but I dont eat it for the taste, it serves a function.

 

I vary between wholewheat pronutro and future life, but my texture tolerance for those two does not last longer than 2 day in a row... FOS - I know

 

else lots provitas with bovril or cheese also does the trick before a ride.

[Stefanh]

Sometimes chewing can become very hard on longish rides, that why suck gel is easier for me. Unless the chew is soft.

[walkerr]

...60 km race...

do you suck it every 30 minutes, 60 minutes, one gell an hour from the end?

 

Never now - gave them up. Too many spike induced side effects. Aim for steady nutrition now before, during and after.

[Bos]

I use them when Im really tired of If there are big climbs late in a race.

I estimate how long I'll be in the saddle for. For me, I know I start suffering after 3 hours. I will count back from my estimated finishing time in half hours and carry one GU for every half hours, though I will Only use them If I need it. then I'll have some gu"s in the last hour or hour and a half in 4-5 hour races.

[Unclerico]

Does it have to be futurelife? Will pronutro do?

 

Does it have to be 23IG? Will AJ's, or similar, mix work?

 

Do I really need a camelbag for 60km?

Im also not a huge fan of future life, I do eat it for breakfast now though. 200ml milk,4 tablespoons future life strawberry,4 spoons yoghurt and 1 banana in a shaker and them im good till 11am haha. I tried on the go trail mix yesterday and it went down well,

[RoboLuke]

so i sucket my one gel about 40 minutes from the end of sundays 65 km babbas. man i felt great and had a strong finish even though my legs were crying foul

['Dale]

 

And another one after you hit the wall

 

Hahaha!