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SIS alternatives – what’s your preferred brand of Energy On the Go

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  • January 28, 2018 at 9:11 pm #28085
    Mikerammell

    Hey all,

    I always have an SIS energy gel on me in case I bonk and if I’m planning 100k or more I’ll usually have a couple and a bar. I was recently about to place an order for another couple of boxes, but paused to think for a second that I’ve never really considered other brands of energy gels and bars. 

    I dont use use them often, just for extra long rides and what not, but in a bid to explore new flavours and textures I thought I’d perhaps see what else you all use. 

    I don’t use whey or protein, but would be curious to know if you do as part of your regim and what your preferred brand is?

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Viewing 15 replies - 16 through 30 (of 33 total)
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  • January 29, 2018 at 1:51 pm #911205
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    Tjuice

    High5 Energy Gel plus for me

    High5 Energy Gel plus for me (raspberry flavour).  Especially when racing.

    Most of the time when training I carry a couple of gels on me ‘just in case’ but without using them.

    But I find the above the only ones (that I’ve tried so far) that I can stomach comfortably (and physically handle – I like that they are quite small and not too much liquid to squeeze all over me) when racing.  I once ran out just before a race, foolishly (and incorrectly) assumed that I could buy more in Evans or Decathlon, and ended up having to use some other brand.  Not a great result – ended up mid-race with stomach cramp.

    The above are not isotonic, but that’s not what I’m looking for from them – I just want the energy in fast in a convenient format.

    Clearly very personal – if you get on well with SiS, you may find that nothing else will work as well for you.

    January 29, 2018 at 12:58 pm #911203
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    CygnusX1

    High5 Energy Gel – I

    High5 Energy Gel – I particularly like the Mohito flavour (think this is/was a Wiggle exclusive). I’ve tried SIS before and wasn’t keen. Aldi’s own brand tastes OK but slightly too thick for my liking (and limited availability – look for specialbuys).

    For solids I use home-made flapjacks, bananas, or raid the kids’ snack box of Fruit Bowl School Bars.

    January 29, 2018 at 12:56 pm #911201
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    Anonymous

    less than 30 miles, nothing,

    less than 30 miles, nothing, I’ll take some squash of varying flavours, no electrolytes nothing in it except watered down squash concentrate. If I plan a longer ride I’ll take some jellied sweets/midget gems and a flapjack type thing or a marathon, up to about 70 miles I’d probably take a home made jumbo sausage roll or big homemade pasty or a couple of rounds of sandwiches along with the sweet stuff and make an electrolyte drink which takes about a minute to do from natural ingredients.

    In lieu of taking ones own food locate a place before the ride so you know where you can stop to get victuals.

    January 29, 2018 at 12:41 pm #911199
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    Simon E
    Bobbinogs wrote:
    ^ What he said (apart from the Snickers due to the associated sugar rush and insulin high/low).

    I never get that with a Snickers but would avoid a Mars bar for that very reason. Although the theory is that, while exercising, you shouldn’t get the same high/low as when idle.

    I have never suffered with that light-headed / bonk feeling either, but that’s probably I am always keen to eat my rations during a ride. I have to be firm and tell myself that I should only eat 1 item per hour otherwise I am tempted to polish them all off as soon as I’ve had the first one. yes

    January 29, 2018 at 12:40 pm #911197
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    Pilot Pete

    Bulk Powders for energy drink

    Bulk Powders for energy drink. You can buy 2.5kg or 5kg bags which work out very cheap per 500ml bottle of drink. They send discount codes every day, 25% off seems to be the normal price but I wait for the 33% or even on occasions 40% off and order then. Stupid cheap then and it tastes great.

    PP

    January 29, 2018 at 12:23 pm #911195
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    asdfqwerty

    Whatever is cheapest on
    Whatever is cheapest on Wiggle, either own brand or High5. Tried others but High5 taste the best to me. I only eat if the ride is longer than 2 hours.

    January 29, 2018 at 12:07 pm #911193
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    rkemb

    Aldi do pressed fruit bars

    Aldi do pressed fruit bars without added sugar, which are generally marketed as kids’ snacks, but are also excellent cycling snacks and cost less than 20p each.

    January 29, 2018 at 11:49 am #911191
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    nniff

    Can’t stand SIS gels!  If I

    Can’t stand SIS gels!  If I have one I spend the next 15 minutes wondering if I’m going to be sick.  If I do have a gel, it’s runny High 5 or tasty Torq (Rhubard and Custard).

    In practice though, I prefer Lucho Delitos boccadillo, Coffee & Guava.   The leaf wrapping can crumble, so I wrap them in grease proof paper.  Tasty and easy to eat quickly, or nibble. 

    Drink is full sugar Vimto squash.  More palatable that most other drinks (SIS blackcurrant is the acceptable alternative).

     

    January 29, 2018 at 11:13 am #911189
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    FatAndFurious

    I haven’t found a “race bar”

    I haven’t found a “race bar” that I get on with. They’re simply too chewy / sticky / sweet / powdery.

    I’ve settled on jam sandwiches (with no crusts) for steady top-up fuel, and High5 EnergyGel for a boost in advance of a big effort or emergencies when bonked out.

    January 29, 2018 at 10:37 am #911187
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    bobbinogs

    ^ What he said (apart from

    ^ What he said (apart from the Snickers due to the associated sugar rush and insulin high/low).  Gels have their place (on long hard rides where you can’t face any more food but know you need some energy, emergencies when you have got it wrong and been out for 3 hours and started to get dizzy…or at the pointy end of a race) but for most of us a gel should be something you keep in the back pocket for about 3 months.

    I have been sat in lovely cafes serving a myriad of delicious cakes whilst on a break in a 45 mile club ride…only to see some guys sucking in a gel or two instead of enjoying the fare on offer.  Disappointing but a great testament to the marketing BS.  

     

    That said, the Torq ones are quite good and have some interesting flavours which can pep you up a bit.

    January 29, 2018 at 10:10 am #911185
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    Simon E

    Flapjack, banana, snickers &

    Flapjack, banana, snickers & water is fine. You don’t really need a gel on a normal bike ride (and if you eat something at intervals you shouldn’t ever bonk) but you could try Stealth – pleasant natural flavours, not as sticky or sickly as some.

    Whey protein is for gym rats IMHO. I usually get a protein powder fanboy shouting at me for saying it but real food is perfectly adequate for recreational cyclists.

    January 29, 2018 at 7:27 am #911183
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    LastBoyScout

    SIS are the best gels, but

    I find SIS are the best gels, in terms of taste and being gentle on my stomach. Unless it’s a very long ride or a race, I carry a couple more as an emergency than intended use. SIS often have silly deals on them as samples, or something – keep them in the freezer and ignore the use-by date.

    I find SIS bars are terrible – go solid when it’s cold and pretty much melt when it’s hot. So I use High5 bars, which don’t do that and taste pretty good.

    I use a mix of SIS and High5 drinks, mainly the Go electrolyte and High5 Zero, but also the Go Energy (used to be PSP22) for long rides.

    Those are my preferences, anyway – I’ve used others and I like the Clif bars, bananas and flapjacks for alternatives.

    January 29, 2018 at 7:19 am #911181
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    Beecho

    Wiggle gels (smaller but

    Wiggle gels (smaller but enough of a hit) and Meridian bars. Always take but often don’t use.

    January 29, 2018 at 4:19 am #911179
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    madcarew

    Huge fan of Gu gels for

    Huge fan of Gu gels for racing, but stick to plain brand meusli bars for other rides. Generally 2 bottles, one with water, one with some sports drink for the flavour

    January 28, 2018 at 10:37 pm #911177
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    Woldsman

    Flapjacks from Home Bargains.

    Flapjacks from Home Bargains.

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