D.I.Y gels

[HappyMartin]

I was quite into the thread where that new guy was making gels containing just honey. Not about his product as such but the ideas of making your own gels. Anyway it got shut down but I want to bring the bits about home recipes for gels back to life.

 

In Noaks one book he describes the sports drink industry as having taken cheap kitchen ingredients and turned them into a multi billion dollar industry. I feel much the same regarding gels. When you need a carb boost I reckon a spoon of plain sugar will do the job. So I make my own gels and I'm keen to get useAs and feedback on others doing the same.

 

 

[Surv0MTB]

I made my own gel for a while, eventually just got lazy but they really do work..

 

i would say something like 40% honey, 40% brown rice syrup, and 20% molasses, with some flavouring...

 

You can up the portion of honey and reduce the brown rice syrup.. honey and the syrup giving you the most energy with the molasses helping with potassium etc.. too much molasses makes it quite hard to swallow though, not a fan of the staunch flavour.

[dee_biker]

I've done it for about a year now... Buy the cheap Hammer Gel flasks (hand-grip-size). Buy some cheap honey, and make some strong espresso. Add the honey (80%) and espresso (20%) together and shake. Lasts for months and tastes great!

 

Works for me...

[HappyMartin]

The molasses thing is interesting. What I don't get is why do you need all the nutrients and stuff when on a ride. If you are well fed, which I unfortunately am, surely you don't run out of anything other than energy on a ride. Is the molasses a flavor thing.

 

I have also used condensed milk on rides. Put it in a little bottle with some coffee to thin it a bit. It's very palatable and super cheap.

[Ed-Zulu]

The molasses thing is interesting. What I don't get is why do you need all the nutrients and stuff when on a ride. If you are well fed, which I unfortunately am, surely you don't run out of anything other than energy on a ride. Is the molasses a flavor thing.

 

I have also used condensed milk on rides. Put it in a little bottle with some coffee to thin it a bit. It's very palatable and super cheap.

Wasn't that one of the contributors point of view...good constant nutrition takes the need for gels away?

 

I have never used gels, don't like the consistency of them by sight, yet, on long rides eating becomes tedious and sucking on a gel would be easier and won't seize your mouth up?

[HappyMartin]

My thing was cost and taste. It's sugar people. What does it have to taste like hell. Condensed milk tastes good on a ride. Costs next to nothing.

 

I must look at my mix I think. I use honey and espresso but I go half and half. But then I like coffee.

 

On long hard rides I find I have to consume something. I am a low carb eater but when the hammer gets dropped I go for the sugars.

[JulesV]

I've done it for about a year now... Buy the cheap Hammer Gel flasks (hand-grip-size). Buy some cheap honey, and make some strong espresso. Add the honey (80%) and espresso (20%) together and shake. Lasts for months and tastes great!

 

Works for me...

 

Sounds great, and easy! Reckon you could substitute espresso with strong instant mix or will that not be as effective?

[Super Sywurm]

The molasses thing is interesting. What I don't get is why do you need all the nutrients and stuff when on a ride. If you are well fed, which I unfortunately am, surely you don't run out of anything other than energy on a ride. Is the molasses a flavor thing.

 

I have also used condensed milk on rides. Put it in a little bottle with some coffee to thin it a bit. It's very palatable and super cheap.

 

The ratio of condensed milk to coffee?

[HappyMartin]

I use about 20% espresso with the condensed milk. Just a bit of flavour and makes the rather sticky condensed milk a bit easier to deal with

[Super Sywurm]

I use about 20% espresso with the condensed milk. Just a bit of flavour and makes the rather sticky condensed milk a bit easier to deal with

 

The espresso, is it in liquid or powder form?

[Pieter1]

Not so much a gel but I made a bar kind of thing by blending Chia seeds, goji berries, peanuts, pumpkin seed, salt, honey and coconut water and then baked it till it was kind of dry. Was lekker to snack on.

 

EDIT: I put in dates also.

[Super Sywurm]

Not so much a gel but I made a bar kind of thing by blending Chia seeds, goji berries, peanuts, pumpkin seed, salt, honey and coconut water and then baked it till it was kind of dry. Was lekker to snack on.

 

What about plain fudge?

[Wuzzie]

http://www.active.com/a3_articles/ac3718e4-a15d-42f9-b99f-2f71b1d5243f/1?page=2

[Helpmytrap]

Would sugar not be far too quick burning? You could surely no use it for anything over a 90 minute ride/race.

Isn't quick what you want? The sooner they are available for your muscles the better... The longer the ride, the more you use.

[Super Sywurm]

Isn't quick what you want? The sooner they are available for your muscles the better... The longer the ride, the more you use.

 

The same when making fire with newspapers. The more you use, the easier the wood starts burning. If you use to little, it doesn't work.

[Rocket-Boy]

Isn't quick what you want? The sooner they are available for your muscles the better... The longer the ride, the more you use.

You essentially need two parts to it, one quick release and one slower release.

Very high sugars have a way of spiking insulin which gives a nice kick but the sugar crash that follows is pretty bad. Something that contains both quick and medium release is better as it will help prevent the crash.