Raw honey a good substitute?

[sundial]

I was wondering if raw honey would work as well as Gu or Carb-boom? I am thinking about filling a flask with this and trying it out on the road. Has anyone had any luck using this in lieu of the commercial stuff? :confused:

[LBTC]

I have a friend who is a naturopath who mixes an energy drink with raw honey, lemon juice, and sea salt - so, in addition to the sugar, it's alkalizing and it replaces minerals lost while sweating. I could ask her if she's ever made it into more of a gel and what the ratios would be, if you like.

~T~

[Trek420]

I haven't tried honey but I prefer raisins to GU. The little boxes such as

www.sun-maid.com

You could go organic I'm sure. Hits me just as fast as GU and other products for that ":eek: OMG look at that hill" spurt and stays with you longer.

[sundial]

I have a friend who is a naturopath who mixes an energy drink with raw honey, lemon juice, and sea salt - so, in addition to the sugar, it's alkalizing and it replaces minerals lost while sweating. I could ask her if she's ever made it into more of a gel and what the ratios would be, if you like.

~T~

I have that idea too--to mix the 3 ingredients together and through trial and error find the right consistency.

[sundial]

I haven't tried honey but I prefer raisins to GU. The little boxes such as

www.sun-maid.com

You could go organic I'm sure. Hits me just as fast as GU and other products for that ":eek: OMG look at that hill" spurt and stays with you longer.

Trek, I'm afraid if I started eating raisins on the road, I'd have to pack a roll of t-paper. :o

[Grog]

Yes! Mix with some jam and a pinch of salt...

[Starfish]

I haven't tried honey, but isn't there a brand of gel that is basically honey? Stinger, or something?

I know you might be trying to get away from the commercial approach...just thought I'd throw it out there.

[Dianyla]

I've tried this. I found that it was a little easier on the stomach if I mixed a little bit of peanut/almond butter into it. The extra fat/protein helps tone down and extend the sugar hit. And nut butters are a good way to get the saltiness in, as well.

Just, make sure you use creamy nut butter. Chunky style doesn't dispense very well. :rolleyes:

[michelem]

This is what I found - it's supposed to mimic the ratios of GU:

Home-brew power goop:

7 and 1/3 Tablespoons of Honey
3/4 teaspoons of Blackstrap Molasses
1/10 teaspoons (just shy of 1/8 tsp) of table salt

Be sure to mix everything together well, and it should make enough to fill a 5 serving GU flask.

[RoadRaven]

Here's a take on this...

My partner finds various gu's don't sit so well in his stomach. He also has difficulty getting them open due to a hand injury which can mean keeping a tight grip on small things is very tricky.

So we tried honey in one of his water bottles, several tablespoons well diluted with water. Too sickly.

So we tried glucose. This works a treat. I put 5 heaped teaspoons of glucose (powder) in one of his water bottles when he is going on one of his long training rides (he usually does at least 1, but often 2, 100km+ rides per week - for example, on Sunday he did 130kms, on Tuesday he did aboput 110kms). The glucose is barely noticable in flavour but gives him the energy he needs to get home.

So he takes a bottle of plain water, and a bottle of glucose water, and a couple of 'bike bars' to eat. He usually stops at a school somewhere to top up his water bottle, and reserves the glucose bottle for the last leg home.

He also uses the same combination on 50-60km races because it is impossible to eat at the pace that is set (usually ending up with a 40km+average). So he takes two bottles and starts the glucose bottle about half-way through the race.

He finds the glucose water provides almost instant energy and is easy on his stomach.

[michelem]

This is what I do for energy drink:

2 qts. water
1/4 c. lemon juice (Santa Cruz Organics bottled lemon juice actually came out to be cheaper than buying whole lemons and juicing them!)
7 T raw honey
1 T organic molasses
1/8 t sea salt

[Tri Girl]

So we tried glucose. This works a treat. I put 5 heaped teaspoons of glucose (powder) in one of his water bottles when he is going on one of his long training rides.

Interesting... Where can you find glucose powder? Health food store? Is it flavored or does it just taste like water? Is the consistency the same as water?
Sorry so many questions, but that sounds like something I'd like to try.

[jobob]

Someone on the Bikejournal forum (Kin perhaps?) came up with a recipe for a gu-like substitute he calls Rocket Fuel. It uses brown rice syrup & agave nectar, which I gather are both available at health food stores.

I haven't tried it yet, but here's the basic recipe:

__________________


Kin's Rocket Fuel

3 parts Brown Rice Syrup (50% complex carbs, 40% maltose, 5% glucose, 5% water) - $3.50 for 1 lb. 5 oz.
1 part Agave Nectar (95% fructose, 5% water) - $2.50 for 11.75 oz.
salt
vanilla
a little water to thin it up

After putting each of the ingredients in a plastic GU dispensor bottle in the proper proportions, dunk it in very hot water to help it mix better.

[onimity]

Honey definitely works for me. Starfish is right, the Stinger folks make little honey snacks pre-packaged like Gu, but they are a little too much honey for me all at once most of the time. Adding honey to water would be a great idea, but glucose sounds like a better way to go if you can find the powder. I don't know where you'd get this, but you can also get glucose tablets (in drug stores, with diabetic supplies) the upside is that they hit you really quickly, the downside is that they usually have artificial flavors and aren't the *best* tasting thing (but if you've tried Gu...). Getting plain glucose powder sounds ideal...anyone know where you can buy this in the states?

Anne

[sundial]

Thanks guys for all the great tips. I will do a trial run of honey in my Gel Bot and see if it works for me. I might add a little pb to it as Dianyla suggested. The glucose tablets is a definite idea since our drugstore carries them.

I have used the Carb-boom and liked it, but the bike shop is an hour away and I don't drive there as much with the steep gas prices. :eek:

[RoadRaven]

Interesting... Where can you find glucose powder? Health food store? Is it flavored or does it just taste like water? Is the consistency the same as water?
Sorry so many questions, but that sounds like something I'd like to try.

Its at the supermarket - I can't remember if they shelve it with the baking ingredients or near the health food/tabs. My memory says its near things like yeast granules, corn flour etc, so prob in the baking section.
I imagine a health food store might stock it, though it would be more expensive I think.

No/little flavour at all, and hardly changes the taste of the water - as in (when I am getting water for my husband and forget to note which one is glucose i sip both and say...)
sip... "I think this is the glucose one" ... sip " yeah, this is it"

So its not an obvious flavour.

Yes, the powder does not alter the consistency of water at all, or the colour really... My 18year old does not like using the glucose water, he says it makes his throat feel weird. but it doesn't bother my partner at all.

Good luck, I think its definitely worth trying out (plus its a heckuva lot cheaper than gu's and gels... although they are what I use :p )

[VeloVT]

Thanks guys for all the great tips. I will do a trial run of honey in my Gel Bot and see if it works for me. I might add a little pb to it as Dianyla suggested. The glucose tablets is a definite idea since our drugstore carries them.

I have used the Carb-boom and liked it, but the bike shop is an hour away and I don't drive there as much with the steep gas prices. :eek:

Once you've found a flavor/brand of gel that you like, it's usually much cheaper to order it in quantity online than it is to buy a few in the store. Especially if you can find free shipping!

My stomach is luckily not very sensitive on the bike, but for running, GU & Carb boom gels upset my stomach but Power gel and Hammer gel do not.

[sundial]

Liza, I picked up a Hammer gel as well. I haven't used it yet but may try it out tomorrow.

I did use the honey on my ride yesterday and it's a little rich--even small sips. Luckily I had plenty of water. As for performance, it gave me a boost although my performance was lackluster yesterday. I think I might try adding a little lemon juice and salt in it as suggested.

I think I may be sensitive to red dyes. I am much more moody after drinking Gatorade than water. :(

[anakiwa]

Please post an update with what you figure out.

BF and I are contemplating doing a 2 week localvore challenge in September (eating only foods grown and produced within 100 miles of where we live in Vermont). So I may be in need of a honey energy gel recipe that only includes local foods (we'll be using the common exception for spice/salt, but lemon and peanut products won't qualify- any thoughts out there on cranberry juice instead of lemon?)

[LBTC]

any thoughts out there on cranberry juice instead of lemon?)

Cool experiment Anakiwa. Let us know how it goes.

As for the cranberry vs lemon in the energy drink - the original recommendation from the naturopath recommends lemon because of its alkalizing effect in the body, as well as the flavour. I don't know how cranberry compares to lemon, but if it is also a high PH juice, it should have a similar effect.

H&B
~T~

[Dianyla]

As for the cranberry vs lemon in the energy drink - the original recommendation from the naturopath recommends lemon because of its alkalizing effect in the body, as well as the flavour. I don't know how cranberry compares to lemon, but if it is also a high PH juice, it should have a similar effect.

My understanding of cranberry juice (the straight stuff, not sweetened :eek: ) is that the bitter tannins acidify the urine and lubricate the urinary tract. That's why it's so great at killing UTIs. But I'm not sure it would be great for balancing pH.

[indigoiis]

After reading through this post, and merging information from another post, I made peanut butter & honey sandwich on whole wheat, cut it into a bunch of little pieces, froze em, and brought them with me on a ride Saturday (30 miles - my longest distance so far! whoo hoo!)

They were yummy, and I think the honey gave me some boost.

My fellow te rider, however, reported that they made her want to vomit (it was right before a biiiiiiig hill.)

;) Try it. See if it makes you go "yum" or "yech."

[sundial]

indi, I ate pb and raw honey on a slice of wheat bread today and so far it gave me the best fuel for my ride. I haven't tried freezing the sandwich. Guess I can try that for the next big ride.

[indigoiis]

indi, I ate pb and raw honey on a slice of wheat bread today and so far it gave me the best fuel for my ride. I haven't tried freezing the sandwich. Guess I can try that for the next big ride.

I liked them so much, I now am in the market for a small zipper handlebar bag so that I can have those little buggers more easily accessible!

I'm also thinking - cut up frozen fig newtons.

Cut up frozen soft granola bars.

Cut up frozen fruit - just nothing gushy.

[sundial]

Mmmm, can I ride with you? :D

Maybe your bike should play a little tune--like the ice cream truck. ;)

[michelem]

"Cut up frozen fruit - just nothing gushy."

I learned the hard way that frozen bananas do NOT do well on long, hot rides. Unless, of course, you like to slurp black gush . . . :eek:

[sundial]

Ewwwwwwww! :eek:

[Starfish]

On Sunday's Shasta ride, I actually took a cold yogurt (and plastic spoon) in my jersey pocket with me for the first break, 10 miles in. I put some almonds in it for early ride staying power.

I am NOT a morning person, and I know that is one thing that sits well in the early morning, so I just decided to take some with! It only had to stay cold for the first 10 miles, and it worked great!

[sundial]

That sounds like a wonderful, light treat for a hot summer day.

[onimity]

I like to freeze yogurt too and eat it right as it is getting thawed. Might not want to put it in your jersey pocket though if it's a cool morning...

Pretzels are another of my favorite things to eat on the bike.

The honey & pb sandwiches sound good! My dad used to make sandwiches with honey, pb and a mashed banana for us when we were kids. Yum.

I was thinking of trying to bring along some cold pasta with a little olive oil, basil and garlic salt on my ride this weekend. I just get tired of gels, bars and sports drinks & want more 'real food' options.

Anne

[indigoiis]

Wasn't there something called go-gurt a few years ago? I remember buying them for my (then young) kid. She's way post go-gurt phase, now, but I wonder whether one of those suckers fresh out of the freezer would do well on a ride.

I will investigate.

[RoadRaven]

Go-gurt (in those long tubes) appears in the shops here every summer, but is not about during winter...

[michelem]

I saw the the Go-Gurts at Costco today. I'm allergic to dairy, so no go-gurts for me . . . Hope you find them in your neck of the woods! :p

[sundial]

OK, I mixed pb, honey and lemon juice and used it in my Gel Bot. I gave me the right combination of protein, fat and carbs. I didn't have that sugar slump and fast burn like the gels and had I carried more on me, I would have skipped the Hammer gel and such. I may have to buy a flask to carry just the honey/pb treat as it fueled me just right for my long ride.

[sundial]

I saw the the Go-Gurts at Costco today. I'm allergic to dairy, so no go-gurts for me . . . Hope you find them in your neck of the woods! :p

I don't care for dairy products, well, maybe Ben & Jerry's. I wish popsicles would last on a long ride. :cool: