Clif Shots Discontinued
#76
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what a bummer. the ones with 25 or 50mg of caffeine have been my favorites for years. I'm not looking forward to finding a replacement. Hammer will be my first try since my club shop stocks them.
#77
Senior Member
I use these once in a while...made from natural ingredients.
https://www.embarkmaple.com/
Otherwise I just eat real food....bananas, dried fruits, nuts etc. Certain dried fruits like raisins, cranberries, and dates are a good choice since they are a high glycemic index food.
I don't buy into these processed foods like clif blocks or stinger waffles etc.
https://www.embarkmaple.com/
Otherwise I just eat real food....bananas, dried fruits, nuts etc. Certain dried fruits like raisins, cranberries, and dates are a good choice since they are a high glycemic index food.
I don't buy into these processed foods like clif blocks or stinger waffles etc.
Last edited by prj71; 04-18-23 at 09:13 AM.
#78
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SIS works well and is easy to get down. Maurten is also good but really expensive.
I've mostly given up on gels as you need a ton of them to properly carb up at 60-90g/hour, that's 3-4 gels an hour which is ridiculous. I make my own carb drink mix:
100 parts maltodextrin
80 parts fructose
3 parts salt
1 part sodium alginate
You can find all of the above in bulk easily online. I add one True lime or orange packet per bottle and about 70g of the above. This costs about $0.65/bottle. I make 2kg of it at a time. This stuff will not bother your stomach and absolutely keeps you going. Carbing properly has changed how I train.
I've mostly given up on gels as you need a ton of them to properly carb up at 60-90g/hour, that's 3-4 gels an hour which is ridiculous. I make my own carb drink mix:
100 parts maltodextrin
80 parts fructose
3 parts salt
1 part sodium alginate
You can find all of the above in bulk easily online. I add one True lime or orange packet per bottle and about 70g of the above. This costs about $0.65/bottle. I make 2kg of it at a time. This stuff will not bother your stomach and absolutely keeps you going. Carbing properly has changed how I train.
- 1 Breakfast sandwich
- 1 Starbucks Doubleshot Mocha
- 2/3 Belgian waffle w/ syrup
- 4 Clif Shot gels
- 2 750ml bottles with Skratch High Carb mix (400 cal each)
- 1 PowerBar protein bar
- 2 Cokes
- 1/2 banana
- 2 Red Vines
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Last edited by Eric F; 04-18-23 at 10:38 AM.
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#79
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I use SIS Beta Fuel chews - a bit sticky and GU. I carry them in a small baggie I can grab them out of and then put the GU empties back into. On inclimate looking days, I always carry a baggies for phone, car keys anyway, just in case.
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#80
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Why rely on one source? I generally use both gels and a high-carb drink mix on rides more than 2 hours for a fairly constant flow of carbs. If it's longer than that, I'll add in something more substantial. My 6 hour ride on Sunday was fueled by...
- 1 Breakfast sandwich
- 1 Starbucks Doubleshot Mocha
- 2/3 Belgian waffle w/ syrup
- 4 Clif Shot gels
- 2 750ml bottles with Skratch High Carb mix (400 cal each)
- 1 PowerBar protein bar
- 2 Cokes
- 1/2 banana
- 2 Red Vines
- 1 Breakfast sandwich
- 1 Starbucks Doubleshot Mocha
- 2/3 Belgian waffle w/ syrup
- 4 Clif Shot gels
- 2 750ml bottles with Skratch High Carb mix (400 cal each)
- 1 PowerBar protein bar
- 2 Cokes
- 1/2 banana
- 2 Red Vines
I once did a 168 mile ride that was fueled by 6 wieners from Olneyville (google it!) and a goulash sub,
I started a thread a few years back asking if there were other people who could eat just about anything on a long ride.
#81
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I know a lot of folks who like salty snacks when they ride, particularly towards the end of a long one. I don't tend to be one of those.
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#82
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My typical Saturday ride during bike season is 100 miles or better, with a hearty lunch at the half-way point. I'm just getting geared up to my first solo century of the year this weekend. Last week I only rode 76 miles, with a lamb shawarma sandwich and a nice salad for lunch in Exeter NH. I've been known to kill some all you can eat buffets at midpoint, which is definitely a peculiar skill.
Hope people don't mind the thread drift, but alternate fueling seems a pretty natural reach from the topic.
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#83
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My typical Saturday ride during bike season is 100 miles or better, with a hearty lunch at the half-way point. I'm just getting geared up to my first solo century of the year this weekend. Last week I only rode 76 miles, with a lamb shawarma sandwich and a nice salad for lunch in Exeter NH. I've been known to kill some all you can eat buffets at midpoint, which is definitely a peculiar skill.
Hope people don't mind the thread drift, but alternate fueling seems a pretty natural reach from the topic.
Hope people don't mind the thread drift, but alternate fueling seems a pretty natural reach from the topic.
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#84
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Why rely on one source? I generally use both gels and a high-carb drink mix on rides more than 2 hours for a fairly constant flow of carbs. If it's longer than that, I'll add in something more substantial. My 6 hour ride on Sunday was fueled by...
- 1 Breakfast sandwich
- 1 Starbucks Doubleshot Mocha
- 2/3 Belgian waffle w/ syrup
- 4 Clif Shot gels
- 2 750ml bottles with Skratch High Carb mix (400 cal each)
- 1 PowerBar protein bar
- 2 Cokes
- 1/2 banana
- 2 Red Vines
- 1 Breakfast sandwich
- 1 Starbucks Doubleshot Mocha
- 2/3 Belgian waffle w/ syrup
- 4 Clif Shot gels
- 2 750ml bottles with Skratch High Carb mix (400 cal each)
- 1 PowerBar protein bar
- 2 Cokes
- 1/2 banana
- 2 Red Vines
The most I take in while riding is one bottle with drink mix and one gel.
#85
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The first 3 things on my list were before the ride started, and I was quite full when we rolled out, but they were definitely important fuel for the day. The protein bar was just past halfway, and was essentially my lunch. The banana and Red Vines were at the last aid station on our route, and I was waiting for my ride buddy at the top of the last big climb, so I decided to grab a couple things while I waited. I would have been fine without them. The Cokes were thoroughly enjoyed treats on a well-supported event, but they aren't something I would haul with me. Being that this was my first ride of this duration in MANY years, I wasn't sure what to expect out of my body, and I made sure that lack of eating wasn't going to be an issue that held me back. I will probably adjust my approach a little, next time.
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#86
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For as long as the ride lasts, which for me tops out at around 9 hours. I'll skip the gels on shorter rides of less than 3 hours.
My gut doesn't do well with real food while riding. If the group is stopping for lunch mid-ride, I might have a candy bar, but nothing more.
Based on how much I see other riders eating, I may be an outlier.[/QUOTE]
My gut doesn't do well with real food while riding. If the group is stopping for lunch mid-ride, I might have a candy bar, but nothing more.
Based on how much I see other riders eating, I may be an outlier.[/QUOTE]
#87
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For as long as the ride lasts, which for me tops out at around 9 hours. I'll skip the gels on shorter rides of less than 3 hours.
My gut doesn't do well with real food while riding. If the group is stopping for lunch mid-ride, I might have a candy bar, but nothing more.
Based on how much I see other riders eating, I may be an outlier.
My gut doesn't do well with real food while riding. If the group is stopping for lunch mid-ride, I might have a candy bar, but nothing more.
Based on how much I see other riders eating, I may be an outlier.
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#88
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For as long as the ride lasts, which for me tops out at around 9 hours. I'll skip the gels on shorter rides of less than 3 hours.
My gut doesn't do well with real food while riding. If the group is stopping for lunch mid-ride, I might have a candy bar, but nothing more.
Based on how much I see other riders eating, I may be an outlier.
My gut doesn't do well with real food while riding. If the group is stopping for lunch mid-ride, I might have a candy bar, but nothing more.
Based on how much I see other riders eating, I may be an outlier.
Honestly, there's so much variation on this that I don't think anyone is normal. You and I would definitely be at the opposite ends of the preference scale. I generally don't eat anything for the first half of a ride up to 125 miles, but at lunch and the way back, there's always room for a food break.
I've done 100 mile rides without eating (especially when everything was shut down for COVID), but I didn't enjoy it much,
Generally, if the ride is less than 65 miles (give or take), I won't take in food.
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#92
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#93
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Good, I was getting really worried about your kidneys!
My water needs are definitely dependent on weather. On a hot day, part of the route planning is figuring out where I'm going to refill the bottles.
Serious question from a non-gel user--why isn't it better just to put the sugar in the water? Does the gel provide you with something that the sweetened water would not? (BTW, "I just like it better" is a perfectly valid answer).
#94
Senior Member
So, why bother? For me, a gel is something I'll use later in a ride when I've drained my energy drinks and have refilled with water...Or, in a race, I might even pound a gel and wash it down with sports drink.
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For rides over 2 hours, I prefer both gels and a high-carb drink mix in my bottles.
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#96
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I think the closest I get to this is at the Italian bakery in Gloucester, MA where I down a few cookies/pastries and 6 shots of espresso. Exactly 50 miles from my house by bike.
#97
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#98
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Hey you are missing out on Red Dye #2 from the Red Vines. There is a line from a song which I will never forget, “maybe the preservatives are preserving you” <-I know Red Dye #2 i8s not a preservative.
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#99
I was disappointed to learn that Clif Bar is discontinuing their Clif Shots, which have been filling up my jersey pockets for decades.
I guess that's what happens when a good company gets bought out by the corporation that makes Cadbury candies.
I just bought out the last of their mocha flavor from Clif Bar website.
Got any recommendations for other decent gels?
I guess that's what happens when a good company gets bought out by the corporation that makes Cadbury candies.
I just bought out the last of their mocha flavor from Clif Bar website.
Got any recommendations for other decent gels?
#100
Senior Member