Energy gels for cycling

[meamoantonio]

(01-03-2025, 08:24 AM)topCat Wrote:  

(03-25-2020, 01:32 PM)Zviedrs Wrote:  SiS (Science in Sport), only positive feedback from my side. No stomach ache or other digestive issues. I've tried all sorts of tastes including lemon, apple, orange, blackcurrant. Double espresso gives that extra push before the finish or end of the ride.

I don't consume energy gels often, but I have heard good feedback about SIS gels too. They rarely upset your stomach. SIS offers a good variety of tastes too, and they have "cakes" and other forms of nutrition. Most recently, I had a lemon cake/bake: https://www.scienceinsport.com/sis-go-energy-bakes-lemon-12-pack

What is this sorcery and why hasn't this reached our shores?? Oh man I can imagine this'll be good for any event and if you're already sick of gels, imagine alternating this with their Gel product on a really long endurance event, this solves most of the problems we cyclists have with getting tired or sick of gels during these events

[GirishH]

If it's too good to be true it probably is..

@meamoantonio, just be thankful that this or such sorceries haven't reached your "shores"..

I am biased against anything that is this "processed". And, I worked in the biotech before quitting it after 15 years. Nothing this processed comes without its drawbacks...

So, I will stick to things are just natural or as-close-to natural. They might not make me super-human but will definitely not make me feel like crap or force me to crap water...:-)

[dhoni4037]

I would say keep it simple:
I usually go with Maurten or SIS because they’re easy on the stomach and don’t taste overly sweet. Some of the cheaper generic gels have given me stomach issues mid-ride, so I avoid those now. Taste varies, but anything cola flavored has been a miss for me.

[Mr. Beanz]

Lifesaver gummies. Big bag for $4 at Wally World.

I went through 2 boxes of Clifshot gummies but that stuff gets expensive. Read a post about gummies so I tried it, I don't feel a bit of difference. $4 bag vs $52 box, no brainer. Clif has a little more electrolytes but I drink Liquid IV on hot rides so it's no bit deal.

Some people warn about gel upsetting the stomach but I don't have any issues.

My thing is a bowl of oatmeal, couple of sausage links, some grapes for breakfast. Then one gummy every 5 miles to get the carbs and sugars.

Heck, people have been using little candies for years. The fancy bike stuff gets expensive for the convenience.

On longer rides, 100 miles with 10,000 ft gain, I ate a good breakfast. Couple pancakes, 2 eggs, and sausage. I did use a couple of GU packs on the ride just to be safe and before knowing about the gummies. Ate half a banana, couple of orange wedges and a couple cookies along the way. Felt good but couldn't eat much after that if I wanted.

Ona century, I eat a small sandwich if possible, turkey if I can find a place. Or take a P&J wrapped in foil in the jersey pocket. Food is best on a ride imo. Never had a need to use the fancy expensive gels. Just good old fashioned food.

FTR, rarely eating fast food, once a couple of buddies and I were doing a century. At mile 65 there was noting around other than a McD's. I had a quarter pound with cheese, or cheese royale if you prefer. Man, that was the best 1/4 ever and I finished strong.

But I ate one when I got home remembering how good that one was but...........it sucked!

[GirishH]

@Mr. Beanz, I hear you..:-)

I was on a long ride through Colorado or New Mexico and, being a vegetarian, I was craving Chinese food or Subway. My body just desperately wanted the salt.

I don't take standard electrolytes—instead, I rely on standard Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS). They are my version of Lifesaver gummies.

When I finally hit the first Subway I came across, I was in heaven, even though I polished off a whole veggie footlong. It gave me such a boost that I easily rode the remaining miles.

Interestingly, the next time I had a footlong, it didn't taste nearly as good—probably because I wasn't quite as crazily hungry!

(05-14-2026, 07:04 PM)Mr. Beanz Wrote:  Lifesaver gummies. Big bag for $4 at Wally World.

I went through 2 boxes of Clifshot gummies but that stuff gets expensive. Read a post about gummies so I tried it, I don't feel a bit of difference. $4 bag vs $52 box, no brainer. Clif has a little more electrolytes but I drink Liquid IV on hot rides so it's no bit deal.

Some people warn about gel upsetting the stomach but I don't have any issues.

My thing is a bowl of oatmeal, couple of sausage links, some grapes for breakfast. Then one gummy every 5 miles to get the carbs and sugars.

Heck, people have been using little candies for years. The fancy bike stuff gets expensive for the convenience.

On longer rides, 100 miles with 10,000 ft gain, I ate a good breakfast. Couple pancakes, 2 eggs, and sausage. I did use a couple of GU packs on the ride just to be safe and before knowing about the gummies. Ate half a banana, couple of orange wedges and a couple cookies along the way. Felt good but couldn't eat much after that if I wanted.

Ona century, I eat a small sandwich if possible, turkey if I can find a place. Or take a P&J wrapped in foil in the jersey pocket. Food is best on a ride imo. Never had a need to use the fancy expensive gels. Just good old fashioned food.

FTR, rarely eating fast food, once a couple of buddies and I were doing a century. At mile 65 there was noting around other than a McD's. I had a quarter pound with cheese, or cheese royale if you prefer. Man, that was the best 1/4 ever and I finished strong.

But I ate one when I got home remembering how good that one was but...........it sucked!

[Mr. Beanz]

(05-16-2026, 08:36 AM)GirishH Wrote:  @Mr. Beanz, I hear you..:-)

I was on a long ride through Colorado or New Mexico and, being a vegetarian, I was craving Chinese food or Subway. My body just desperately wanted the salt.

I don't take standard electrolytes—instead, I rely on standard Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS). They are my version of Lifesaver gummies.

When I finally hit the first Subway I came across, I was in heaven, even though I polished off a whole veggie footlong. It gave me such a boost that I easily rode the remaining miles.

Interestingly, the next time I had a footlong, it didn't taste nearly as good—probably because I wasn't quite as crazily hungry!

(05-14-2026, 07:04 PM)Mr. Beanz Wrote:  Lifesaver gummies. Big bag for $4 at Wally World.

I went through 2 boxes of Clifshot gummies but that stuff gets expensive. Read a post about gummies so I tried it, I don't feel a bit of difference. $4 bag vs $52 box, no brainer. Clif has a little more electrolytes but I drink Liquid IV on hot rides so it's no bit deal.

Some people warn about gel upsetting the stomach but I don't have any issues.

My thing is a bowl of oatmeal, couple of sausage links, some grapes for breakfast. Then one gummy every 5 miles to get the carbs and sugars.

Heck, people have been using little candies for years. The fancy bike stuff gets expensive for the convenience.

On longer rides, 100 miles with 10,000 ft gain, I ate a good breakfast. Couple pancakes, 2 eggs, and sausage. I did use a couple of GU packs on the ride just to be safe and before knowing about the gummies. Ate half a banana, couple of orange wedges and a couple cookies along the way. Felt good but couldn't eat much after that if I wanted.

Ona century, I eat a small sandwich if possible, turkey if I can find a place. Or take a P&J wrapped in foil in the jersey pocket. Food is best on a ride imo. Never had a need to use the fancy expensive gels. Just good old fashioned food.

FTR, rarely eating fast food, once a couple of buddies and I were doing a century. At mile 65 there was noting around other than a McD's. I had a quarter pound with cheese, or cheese royale if you prefer. Man, that was the best 1/4 ever and I finished strong.

But I ate one when I got home remembering how good that one was but...........it sucked!

Ha ha ha! I did have a turkey sandwich on a timed event at mile 62 after 9,000 ft of gain. It was the best greatest turkey sandwich ever. I did several more centuries that year and had a chance to have a turkey sandwich on a couple and I can not lie, I liked them too. 😄

[meamoantonio]

(03-21-2025, 07:55 AM)GirishH Wrote:  If it's too good to be true it probably is..

@meamoantonio, just be thankful that this or such sorceries haven't reached your "shores"..

I am biased against anything that is this "processed". And, I worked in the biotech before quitting it after 15 years. Nothing this processed comes without its drawbacks...

So, I will stick to things are just natural or as-close-to natural. They might not make me super-human but will definitely not make me feel like crap or force me to crap water...:-)

please do share what you know from working in biotech, I bet your insight with sport gels would be pretty good, maybe you can be the resident nutrition guy like how @Jesper is the go to mechanic for classic bikes in this forum

[GirishH]

@meamoantonio, ​I wish I were as knowledgeable as @Jesper on the processed food front.

​To clarify, my background is in HIV vaccine and cancer research, not sports medicine or energy gels. However, my time in research taught me that quick-fix drugs often come with unintended side effects—solving one problem while creating another.

​I simply have extrapolated that caution to energy gels, which are highly processed products. While they provide instant energy, they may also carry long-term, unintended consequences. Also, truly impractical when traveling and from an expense point of view.

​I apologize if my earlier comment gave the impression that I am a sports nutrition expert. I'm not; this is just my personal perspective based on my research background and experience as I bikepack.

(05-29-2026, 11:55 AM)meamoantonio Wrote:  

(03-21-2025, 07:55 AM)GirishH Wrote:  If it's too good to be true it probably is..

@meamoantonio, just be thankful that this or such sorceries haven't reached your "shores"..

I am biased against anything that is this "processed". And, I worked in the biotech before quitting it after 15 years. Nothing this processed comes without its drawbacks...

So, I will stick to things are just natural or as-close-to natural. They might not make me super-human but will definitely not make me feel like crap or force me to crap water...:-)

please do share what you know from working in biotech, I bet your insight with sport gels would be pretty good, maybe you can be the resident nutrition guy like how @Jesper is the go to mechanic for classic bikes in this forum