Comments on: What “eats” are in your jersey?

By: Primal

Primal — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 11:27:18 +0000

We don’t get, or I can’t find these “Shot Bloks” in Oz. Think I’ll head over to their site and see if I can get the crew to sent me a pack. On my front it’s nothing but “Gu’s” and “Leppin Power Booster” and wishing the next hill would end.

Ride on!

By: Pedalman

Pedalman — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 02:58:12 +0000

Donald
My granola consists of: oats,wheat germ,maple syrup,apple cider,dates,apricots,apples,cranberries,almonds,raisins,mango and any other dried fruit that looks good. I also eat this with milk in the morning as a cereal.
If anyone wants the recipe just drop me a line.

By: Sprocketboy

Sprocketboy — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:37:32 +0000

I am on the side of the gels–perhaps the only one so far here! I have used Hammer Gel for almost ten years quite successfully on long rides. I use the plastic washable flask, which has always worked well. My first experience with gels was a package of PowerGel. It was a bit turn-off: nasty-tasting, messy and a pain to use from the wrapper. I like the raspberry Hammer Gel the best, although the banana and vanilla flavours are okay too. I also carry some of Hammer’s E-Caps for hot days.

If the ride is shorter, I actually like to carry some real food, like a panini (apparently this is plural but nobody knows what a panino is outside of Italy) with some Swiss cheese and some sweet mustard, wrapped tightly in foil. This is actually the sort of things the pros eat as they prefer the taste of real food to gels for most of the day.

And there is always space for some Ritter Sport chocolate for a break!

In any case, what you carry in your jersey pocket is only to keep you occupied until you can reach the artisanal beer in the cooler in the car at the end.

By: Donald

Donald — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 09:26:38 +0000

Ron– Just like you and others I think I’m over the gels. The only thing that has worked really well for me with gels is emptying a couple of packs into a small gel bottle mixing with a little water and shaking. It’s easy to drink and it’s not messy. I used this little bottle when I was in duathlons and triathlons. The bottle slips into a small pouch that then velcros to your top tube.
Great story with the foot long sub bread in the jersey pocket. That’s awesome and deserved a picture! Oh well… maybe next time.

By: Ron

Ron — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:14:18 +0000

Don,

I’m a little close to Cliff Bars and Shots. Chewy and tasty.

I have an aversion to gels. They are sticky, I hate stuffing dirt in my pocket, and I’m not fond of polluting the roads either. What do you do? I’m contemplating using a flask, or even switch to organic honey which is pretty gel like, gives fast energy and has plenty of antioxidants. Honey’s medicinal effects also have been known for years.

Once on a group ride, I remember buying a huge 12 inch sub bread, stuffing it into my jersey pocket and eating along as I rode. That probably beat anything else I normally consume on rides !

By: Brian Sain

Brian Sain — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 19:06:17 +0000

Jimmy John’s subs as I Deliver them on the fixie, and Fig Newtons on long rides.

By: Donald

Donald — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 15:54:38 +0000

Chris– So that’s how you plan on finishing higher in the field on your next race.

Will– I understand the gel frustration. I gotta try a post ride Turkish Kebab.

Pedalman– Thanks for visting and sharing. Just curious now… what’s in your granola mix?

je– Tried the Carb Boom when I was doing duathlons and triathlons… pretty good. I’ve never tried the Cran Razz Bloks… I’ll them a go. Ditto on the chocolate milk… with a little added protein for recovery.

Jeff– it seems we all have issues or ways to deal with the gels. I also take out my Cliff Bloks ahead of time and put them in a zip lock. Mainly because the package is a pain to open on the road and I usually go through more than one.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 15:01:39 +0000

I usually carry some cereal bars, and a banana. I carry my gels in a zip-loc bag too so that I don’t have to litter. I usually put my phone in my saddle bag so that I don’t sweat all over it, and the same with my money.

By: je

je — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 19:02:58 +0000

I’ve grown to dislike the gels.

But I love Jelly Belly Sport Beans, the Clif Bloks (Cran Razz for me!) and a banana is a must for long rides. I also kind of like an occasional pack of nuts. Lately, I’ve been keeping hydration tablets or powders to add to my water bottles at a refilling point.

The cash I keep on hand usually gets me a banana and a chocolate milk at the convenience store.

By: Pedalman

Pedalman — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 16:28:42 +0000

I’m partial to CARB BOOM strawberry/kiwi. It’s one of the few that I find doesn’t have the consistency of cake batter and taste like flavoured dirt.
I also normally have a bannana and a small bag of homemade granola.