Energy Gel Consumption

[arendoog]

Gels give false sense of energy and power and therefore you ride harder than your fitness level .I only take one along if i cannot find anything else to eat .I do ride with pvm octane in my water bottle .Train harder and eat food instead

[walkerr]

As others have noted - in my case ZERO. The spikes were ok, but the energy dips were like falling off a cliff.

 

Am off all gels and energy drinks at present. Plain water one bottle, electrolytes the other. Solid food in my back pocket for energy - which has to be eaten well before needed as it takes longer to kick in.

 

But we're all different - what works for you is very individual, and takes time to figure out which is all part of the fun. If you're really racing at the front, you maybe need more boost than those of us who ride for the fun, I can imagine then that a nice energy and caffeine blast is perfect

Edited January 14, 2014 by walkerr

[Snytjie]

I ended up in ICU because of energy gell's at last years Epic.

 

Have look at the attached clip for the explanation.

 

 

I now ride on water and real food. I suggest you also have a look at Tim Noakes book Waterlogged.

 

Don't you want to tell us a bit more about how that happened?

 

The clip and Tim Noakes' book both contain vital information, but when looked at in isolation it is often difficult to understand what best practice is.

Edited January 14, 2014 by Snytjie

[Ernaantoinette]

I ended up in ICU because of energy gell's at last years Epic.

 

Have look at the attached clip for the explanation.

 

 

I now ride on water and real food. I suggest you also have a look at Tim Noakes book Waterlogged.

 

Thank you for this... sooo interesting! For an amateur rider that just drinks energy gels, because people say that's the thing to do... I definitely think that there is a huge risk for dehydration.

[Karooryder]

I'm sceptical about gels...it is a very clever and aggressive publicity machine that makes us believe that we need these as energy stores during races and hard training sessions, IMO.

 

I'm a fan of a healthy diet, one based on the replenishment of energy stores at all times. Then on race day / hard training sessions, a good old banana, water and some electrolytes work wonders.

[rouxtjie]

I ended up in ICU because of energy gell's at last years Epic.

 

Have look at the attached clip for the explanation.

 

 

I now ride on water and real food. I suggest you also have a look at Tim Noakes book Waterlogged.

mmmmmm ok....I don't buy this I am sorry

[jcza]

Doesn't really matter what you take but you need carbs and liquid is best otherwise you'll bonk. Unless you're going slowly in which case fat is used as fuel.

[jcza]

mmmmmm ok....I don't buy this I am sorry

 

What does it say? - can't see it

[rouxtjie]

What does it say? - can't see it

I am actually referring to the comment of "gels put me in ICU" that I don't buy

 

The video clip does a exercise with eggs where their hard shell has been eaten away with vinegar and putting them into different calorie concentrates....it basically comes down to absorption is better if its weak. Thus drink alot frequently. I agree with that.

[Frosty]

I now ride on water and real food. I suggest you also have a look at Tim Noakes book Waterlogged.

I (try) to only ride with water and fruit (apple or bananas) - I find the "energy" drinks leave me with a dry mouth compared to just good old H₂O.

 

1x 650ml bottle for a 2 hour ride, 2 bottles (650ml + 500ml) for anything longer. If it's longer than 120Km, then it's not a race and spaza shops and corner cafe's help.

[WIPEOUT 1000]

 

 

Don't you want to tell us a bit more about how that happened?

 

The clip and Tim Noakes' book both contain vital information, but when looked at in isolation it is often difficult to understand what best practice is.

 

In short, I ended up unconcious 3km from the end of the stage due to severe dehydration but importantly with a stomach full of fluids. This can be confirmed by my partner.

 

I was resuscitated briefly next to the road but fell unconcious again soon thereafter. I was put in the ICU and I regained consciousness approximately 3 to 4 hours later.

 

It was a very distressing experience and I have subsequently done a lot of reading on the matter and I the best explanation could find was the one in the video clip I attached to my 1st posting.

 

There is a lot of pseudo science out there and everyone clearly have there own opinion. The problem is that one never knows whether it's "placebo effect" or real. In this regard I found " Waterlogged" a very useful resource and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to get a more scientific perspective on the subject.

 

The outcome of all of this is that I subsequently stopped using any supplements and I basically now ride on water and real food and it seems to be working fine.

[WIPEOUT 1000]

 

I am actually referring to the comment of "gels put me in ICU" that I don't buy

 

The video clip does a exercise with eggs where their hard shell has been eaten away with vinegar and putting them into different calorie concentrates....it basically comes down to absorption is better if its weak. Thus drink alot frequently. I agree with that.

 

Since I placed the clip, I'll clarify.

 

Basically it implies that the stomach is a membrane and water moves from one side to the other through a process called osmosis. The direction of the movement is determined by the concentration of the solution. I.e. the water will move from a low concentration to the high concentration. The movement will stop when equilibrium is reached, ie both sides have the same concentration. Normally the direction in the body would be from the stomach into the blood steam.

 

However, if one has to much sugars, etc. in solution in your stomach, the process can reverse and your body may no longer absorb water through the stomach and worse your stomach may even absorb water from your body that basically further dehydrating the body.

[LuckyLuke]

Interesting tread, I don't think I can add anything else that is not said all ready. See what works for you and let your body adapt to the timing and supplement taken. Use your supplement you train with to race with and take them the same times. Your body will be use to it and you will have good results. Know your body and your limits.

[Gen]

Must add when I ride more than 60km I always ride with a banana and nuts or something salty to eat.

[jcza]

I think that through endurance training adaptations and specialized regimens (e.g. fasted low-intensity endurance training), the body can condition type I muscle fibers to improve both fuel utilization efficiency and workload capacity to increase the percentage of fatty acids utilized as fuel, sparing carbohydrate use from all sources. In short the pros will be more fuel efficient.

[JGR]

a friend of mine had 14 gels (GU) on the IM bike last year. One every 30 mins for 7 hours.