Discussion
I got a couple of these free with an order from a well known online bike shop so shoved one in my bag to try at a later date as I haven't used them before.
I was out on the bike today and due to having had a cold this week I was feeling a little knackered. Ideal time to try one of the energy gels out I think to myself and rip open the sachet and swallow the blackcurrent flavoured blob. Not as bad as I expected to be honest.
Fast forward to me at home about an hour later and I get a very urgent need to use the toilet with hardly any warning. Lets just say if I was still out on the bike I would have looked like a two wheeled dirty protest
Having googled it energy gels do seem to cause diarrhea in some people. Anyone else suffered with this? Is my body likely to get used to it or am I best steering clear?
I was out on the bike today and due to having had a cold this week I was feeling a little knackered. Ideal time to try one of the energy gels out I think to myself and rip open the sachet and swallow the blackcurrent flavoured blob. Not as bad as I expected to be honest.
Fast forward to me at home about an hour later and I get a very urgent need to use the toilet with hardly any warning. Lets just say if I was still out on the bike I would have looked like a two wheeled dirty protest
Having googled it energy gels do seem to cause diarrhea in some people. Anyone else suffered with this? Is my body likely to get used to it or am I best steering clear?
Depends on the gel - I have used some that have a similar effect and others that have been fine - although they all make you as windy as a brass band. I try to steer away from gels now, and tend to try to eat small amounts of flapjacks or similar every half an hour or so - negates the need for a sugar/energy rush!
I found the same with hydration drinks, SIS hydration sachets don't sit well with my but High5 or NUUN are fine!
I found the same with hydration drinks, SIS hydration sachets don't sit well with my but High5 or NUUN are fine!
I tend to treat gels as more of an "emergency" thing, and leave the "fuelling" (God, I hate that term!) to "proper" food pre-ride, and either bananas, Soreen or energy bars during the ride at regular intervals, assuming the ride is long enough.
I've found that Torq stuff works best for me: they claim "all natural" ingredients. Whatever they are, my guts don't protest, be it from the energy drink, the bars, the gels or the recovery drink (which, FWIW, is very good). Other brands like SIS and their REGO recovery drink, however, do have an, ummm...effect.
I've found that Torq stuff works best for me: they claim "all natural" ingredients. Whatever they are, my guts don't protest, be it from the energy drink, the bars, the gels or the recovery drink (which, FWIW, is very good). Other brands like SIS and their REGO recovery drink, however, do have an, ummm...effect.
i must be pretty lukcy as i can hold down (or in!) pretty much any of the gels, the sis ones are the nicest, high 5 are a bit watery but ok flavour wise and the zipvit ones are the thickest so need a good mouthful of water with them... as others have said, just try a few when it doesnt matter about the consequences.
pablo said:
i must be pretty lukcy as i can hold down (or in!) pretty much any of the gels, the sis ones are the nicest, high 5 are a bit watery but ok flavour wise and the zipvit ones are the thickest so need a good mouthful of water with them... as others have said, just try a few when it doesnt matter about the consequences.
Same as me then - tend to use the SIS gels, and mule bars for food )esp the apple struddle one!!! yummy!!!I've been using Zipvit gels for ages, mainly for convenience - I work next door but two to them - and find them very useful.
I've used them on rides when tired and/or cold and I've also used them on half marathons. The coaching advice I've had seems very sensible - never race on gels or drinks you've not tested in training beforehand - so i geuss the same applies for non-competition. They can disagree with some people.
I've used them on rides when tired and/or cold and I've also used them on half marathons. The coaching advice I've had seems very sensible - never race on gels or drinks you've not tested in training beforehand - so i geuss the same applies for non-competition. They can disagree with some people.
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