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GELS: best/tastiest/most economic

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  • April 20, 2014 at 12:11 am #21207
    Leviathan

    So last year I tacked some long events for the first time, 50m and 100miles and learned that keeping yourself fuelled is essential. I can go out for a training ride for a couple of hours but you don’t notice of you are loosing energy, you are just comparing to last time. But on a sportive I quickly started to go backwards. Some late stops for free gels on the London 100 gave me a real boost; and although I won’t be ditching real food I plan to include a few in my back pocket.

    So here is the thing; they are quite expensive individually at Sainsburys chemist counter. I know I can probably buy in bulk from one of the usual websites but I would like some recommendations first. Who makes the best gels? Energy wise or flavour wise. Where can I find the most economic (not just the cheapest but good brands at a good unit price.)

    Cola/Watermelon/Mojito, any you love, or spit out?

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  • April 21, 2014 at 3:48 pm #787417
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    dunnoh

    I usually buy the High 5 Race
    I usually buy the High 5 Race day including bottle when its on offer – £3 sometimes. That gets you 10 gels, some recovery stuff, salt tabs, energy powder, bottle etc. I’ve tried loads. The best are CNP Elite Hydro Max Gel’s but they are so expensive I rarely ever get them. Next best are High 5. Torq are more like pudding and make me feel sticky they are that surgery. The worst was something given to me in Belgium – it was like drinking Vics vaporub.

    I tend to buy flapjacks, marathons and a few nectarines and bananas as well as the odd gel. You can really feel fruit like oranges and apples working on a hard ride. I’m surprised more people don’t have them

    April 21, 2014 at 3:11 pm #787415
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    S13SFC

    Torq are excellent & actually
    Torq are excellent & actually taste as OK. However, price wise, they are too expensive for me considering they do the same job as High5.

    April 21, 2014 at 2:09 pm #787413
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    ajmarshal1

    -1 for High5! They’re cheap
    -1 for High5! They’re cheap but don’t work for me at all. Personally I hold Torq stuff right at the top of the tree.

    April 21, 2014 at 11:54 am #787411
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    Tony Farrelly

    Jonathan Knight wrote:I

    Jonathan Knight wrote:
    I picked up a couple of espresso flavoured gels at a bike show last year, very nice they were but I’m a coffee lover anyway. I think they are Zipvit, they weren’t a sickly as some gels I’ve had before and actually tasted like the flavour they were supposed to be.

    They might have been these

    http://www.mulebar.com/collections/energy-gels/products/cafe-cortado

    I’d rather have real food than a gel, but I would make an exception for one of these – not cheap though. When I’ve used them it’s been as a get-me-home treat for the last couple of hours of a big ride.

    The other product I’ve used that I really liked the taste of was the 33Shake Original Chia Vanilla Energy Gel… which is even pricier. Very tasty but more like a sort of vanilla porridge than a gel. David Else who reviewed it wasn’t as impressed as I was. I’m not sure I’d pay £1.99 – maybe for a special ride.

    http://road.cc/content/review/107907-33shake-original-vanilla-chai-energy-gel

    April 21, 2014 at 11:48 am #787409
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    themartincox

    best thing is certainly to
    best thing is certainly to try them out, but wiggle et al offer far better value than sainsbury’s counter….

    I am a big fan of the Torq range, they are thick enough without being too thick, and the flavours are quirky and fun – and genuinely pleasant!

    April 21, 2014 at 11:31 am #787407
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    Jonathan Knight

    I picked up a couple of
    I picked up a couple of espresso flavoured gels at a bike show last year, very nice they were but I’m a coffee lover anyway. I think they are Zipvit, they weren’t a sickly as some gels I’ve had before and actually tasted like the flavour they were supposed to be.

    April 21, 2014 at 9:15 am #787405
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    FatAndFurious

    Simon E wrote:I won’t touch

    Simon E wrote:
    I won’t touch SIS, they are purveyors of artificial sweeteners X(

    Agree on this. I’ve narrowed down SIS gels to be the cause of my post-exercise headaches. More than one gel over the day, and that’s me for the evening.

    Anyone else had similar experience?

    April 21, 2014 at 7:17 am #787403
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    bashthebox

    About the only ones I like
    About the only ones I like are the Kinetica Cola ones. No one else I’ve ever met uses them, but they’re pretty ok. Can’t stand the High5 ones, and the Torq taste like arse on a hot day.

    April 21, 2014 at 7:08 am #787401
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    Nick T

    Can’t stomach any gels,
    Can’t stomach any gels, luckily for me I’m a demon for fig rolls and they’re only 50p for a sainsburys pack.

    April 21, 2014 at 12:14 am #787399
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    Leviathan

    Okay,okay, so I gave got down
    Okay,okay, so I gave got down to 62p each for 25 High5 Isogels on Wiggle. Everyone is bigging up High5 here, but to Iso or not to Iso? All SIS stuff says it is Isotonic, or just regular ‘Energy Gel’ as High5 proclaim.

    Much credence in isotonic stuff?

    April 20, 2014 at 9:45 pm #787397
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    Simon E

    I’ve seen more favourable
    I’ve seen more favourable reviews for Torq than any other brand, often by people who have tried others and find it’s the only brand they can stomach. You won’t find Torq cheap anywhere, but that’s deliberate – Matt is selling a premium product and refuses to undermine his brand. There are testers at some stores so you can try the flavours.

    OTE were reviewed on road.cc, they sound nice enough.

    I’ve read too many user reviews of Zipvit gels that compare the texture with, er, a bodyfluid I’d rather not swallow, so I can’t say I’d be rushing to try them either :&

    I won’t touch SIS, they are purveyors of artificial sweeteners X(

    But TBH unless you’re racing flat-out I think it’s unnecessary, an expensive way to get some sugar. A recent discussion on gels:
    http://road.cc/content/forum/115139-how-long-climb-should-you-take-gel

    April 20, 2014 at 7:20 pm #787395
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    Leviathan

    High5 getting all the votes
    High5 getting all the votes then, thanks.

    Flapjacks are good but the best ‘homemade’ ones you can buy are Sainsburys Granola squares, lots for fruits and seeds in them.
    http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/shop/gb/groceries/sainsburys-granola-slices–taste-the-difference-x4

    April 20, 2014 at 5:48 pm #787393
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    matthewn5

    +1 for High5. Think the mixed
    +1 for High5. Think the mixed berry ones are ok, all gels are pretty sickly stuff. Good for that last hill when you are starting to fade.

    And take the empty wrappers home with you.

    April 20, 2014 at 5:24 pm #787391
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    fullers1979

    Torq rhubarb and custard!
    Torq rhubarb and custard! Mmmmmm!!! Not cheap from the shops but then we get them at a very favourable price. Can’t beat real food though, as a few have said, it’s cheaper and more gentle on the digestive system! However gels are an easy and handy addition to any ride.

    April 20, 2014 at 5:13 pm #787389
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    MKultra

    Flap Jacks contain about a
    Flap Jacks contain about a 5th of the daily calories an inactive person needs, they handily contain different types of sugars and carbs so they are not just a quick fix but slow release as well

    They are also only 50p in Aldi.

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