Energy Gel Consumption

[Prince]

For a 3 hour race, one 550ml bottle water, one 550ml bottle energy drink and a GOOD breakfast before the race. I Agree with most of the posts that people actually eat and drink more than they need during the ride and not enough proper food before.

[Dicky DQ]

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.

 

This is all good and well but what about the stomach acids etc that do the "work" before your "osmosis" that is not taken into account. and this video was a marketing video for a specific product so..... hmmmmmmmmmmm.

[Dicky DQ]

For a 3 hour race, one 550ml bottle water, one 550ml bottle energy drink and a GOOD breakfast before the race. I Agree with most of the posts that people actually eat and drink more than they need during the ride and not enough proper food before.

 

Agreed, and you need to train to ride the distance. also remember that over hydration is worse than dehydration.

[Tayyib]

I use to have a few gels during a race,then saw to many guys getting sick from them while riding!

I now carry 1 for emergencys,and find you can't go wrong with peunut butter with some honey to moisen it a bit! Two or 3 slice during a race mixed with a bannana and jungle bar gives you plenty energy to complete a race!

[leona]

Agreed, and you need to train to ride the distance. also remember that over hydration is worse than dehydration.

 

i don't know if i agree with that as it is.. you can obviously die from both but you;d be hard pushed to over hydrate to that point while riding unless you are meaning over hydrate as in drink too much water with no electrolyte replenishment which is of course a wholly different kinda death..

[JGR]

I try avoid the gel with caffeine - which imho is the cause of a lot of stomach issues

[Lone Rider]

For a 95-115k race, I just have a small breakfast (oats or ProNutro) 2 hrs before the race. I fill one bottle up with an energy drink, the other with plain water, and take 3 energy gels with me. I normally only use 2, the 3rd is in case of a mishap...I once went over a rumble strip and let a gel slip through my fingers...I've also had a sachet that stayed sealed after ripping off the tab.

 

I don't disagree that whole foods (bananas, peanut butter sandwiches) do the trick, and that's what I normally take on training rides, but during a race you don't want to be caught pealing a banana, or unwrapping a sarmie, when someone decides to attack, or there is a surge. I guess it all depends on how seriously you're competing, and on what works for you.

 

Whatever nutrition you decide on, make sure to try it out on a couple of training rides before the race event. The last thing you want is to have an upset stomach during your race.

[Karooryder]

 

 

Whatever nutrition you decide on, make sure to try it out on a couple of training rides before the race event. The last thing you want is to have an upset stomach during your race.

 

Very true!

[rouxtjie]

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.

Fair enough...but here is the kicker, for you to get that state you either consumed / mixed the products incorrectly, for your stomache to be full of fluids and dehydrated. Now this is the part that might hit a nerve....why did this happen?

 

Probably cause you were panicking and smashing bottles of energy drinks(not drinking when thirsty) and lots of gels thinking that it will help you get through the day....and why were you panicking, cause you might have gone in under cooked. As jcza points out, the fitter you are the more efficient your body becomes at using energy...so you will feel less fatigue and in turn won't slump and start panicking.

 

If it was the product that is at fault, everyone would be experiencing these symptoms, but they are not. This isn't a personal attack, but blaming gels and powders on the fact that you didn't finish the race is the easy way out and not the root of the problem.

 

For what it is worth, I cant afford fancy powders, bars and gels so plain ol game does the trick for me...

[MK Killer]

Peanut butter Zaaaaaamie.... thats all

[taito]

After riding a couple of transbaviaans and Attakwas events all that gels do is upset your tummy.

A combination of energy drink,water and some coke at the tables is all you need.I feel that people do not realise the importance of WATER.

 

Yes keep a gel for emergencies but stick to normal food-salty patatoes.

As with all major products the suppliers will promise the world but deliver little.

Gels are a expensive eye blinder.

 

Training is the answer