CanadianBiker32

I would rather use my own flask and put gels in it. What brand of Gels can i buy in one bulk package and pour it into my own container. Instead of buying individual packs in a box or on own? thanks

rubiksoval

https://www.amazon.com/GU-Energy-Ori...WZVAQQHDA7SYDF

GrainBrain

Hammer nutrition is another
https://www.hammernutrition.com/hammer-gel

Iride01 

Ditto on the Hammer. You even get a free flask with each bottle you buy.

zen_

https://www.amazon.com/Gunters-Pure-...5606150&sr=8-8

Also comes with two free flask.

jaxgtr

This....Hammer is good stuff

base2 

You can buy honey by the pound. Nature made glucose & fructose ready for mainlining right into your cycling self with no digestion or wait time necessary.

Sportlegs, potassuim (NuSalt), & NoDoz will get you all the other salts & caffeine you could ever hope a pre-made sports gel or sports drink would have.

But if you want a factory packet for your jersey pocket, Hammer products work well enough.

scottfsmith

The commercial products contain primarily maltodextrin which will digest better and bonk less than fructose/glucose. So if you are going to make your own you should do it right.

CAT7RDR

I have switched to organic maple syrup and will not go back to gels. Yuck!!! Get the good stuff, easy to digest and the taste is smooooth.

base2 

Though I have no bias against maltodextrin, & I am aware it absorbs nearly as quickly as glucose alone, the long maltodextrin molecule must still must be cut into to simple glucose before it can be absorbed into the body. While we are waiting for the maltase digestive enzyme to cut the maltose down to the glucose sugar molecule honey is already made of, so it can be absorbed, fructose (the other sugar in honey) is already being transported by GLUT5 transporter that does not need a sodium ion to function.

Honey (glucose/fructose) utilizes 2 different transport methods that work by different means & does not first require enzymatic action to make it available to the body.

You get more carbs per hour & less digestive lag time with honey.IIRC Honey nets about 90 grams of carbs per hour absorption vs about 60 grams of carbs per hour for other sugar sources.

Absorption of Monosaccharides

scottfsmith

"Its not a bug, its a feature" - you want to slow down the absorption rate or you will bonk on the downside. Also it requires less % water to digest and has less digestion problems compared to fructose. There is a scientific reason why commercial energy gels include maltodextrin. See the science if you want to know more.

base2 

I prefer to get my "science" from dot edu websites.

Maltodextrin is inexpensive. That's why it is used. The reasons it is inexpensive would take us well into P&R but the long & short of it is we have an abundance of corn, corn fields, corn lobbiest, hungry farmers, a lot of government subsidies, & a market where the end user price is artificially held low to get calories to the starving masses as a matter of national food policy. It's one of former President Nixon's lasting achievements. The situation is so pervasive, that as a matter of law, we even put corn derived calories (energy) in our automobiles. E10, E15, all the way up to E85.

I further don't think you understand the term: "Bonk."

Again, I have no bias against maltodextrin. I only dispute the claim it is "better" for this application. It is not.

I'd rather take my 90 grams of carbs (360 calories) per hour & sweat out the water & electrolytes, than a maximum absorption rate 240 calories per hour, but you do you. Running out of calories 30% sooner ain't what I'm into.

scottfsmith

No, maltodextrin is used because of the science. For example, Here is one peer-reviewed study written by "dot edu" people. They found that there is a sweet spot in terms of how much maltodextrin relative to other sugars is optimal for athletic performance, both too much and too little maltodextrin decreases performance and a .8 maltodextrin-to-other-sugars ratio is optimal. The logic behind this result is discussed in the article; the long and short is the human digestive system is much more complex than just energy in -> energy out.

zen_

The glycemic index of maltodextrin is higher than any other carb (110), but that's good because you want the maximum absorption rate of carbs (which is ~ 2:1 maltrodextrin to fructose) for long, hard efforts like a race.

Kinda of a moot point here though, as anyone who really needs ~90 carbs / hour to race probably already knows that. For everyone else, a sensible mix of carbs that doesn't cause GI distress is the way to go, and honey is perfectly fine as part of that if you want to use it instead of overpriced plastic packets of maltodextrin.

scottfsmith

Yes if honey works for you that's great. I need to limit my water to just above dehydration and maltodextrin is the ticket for that. In general maltodextrin is more forgiving if you don't have a consistently high water feed.

I'm interested in this thread because I am currently spending far too much money on these stupid gel paks. Planning to try a home-brew version with maltodextrin plus agave.