Gel Flask Question

[five one]

I use GU (Orange!) in single-serve packets. How do you get the gel into the flask without making a mess? Is it OK to dilute the gel a little bit so that it will flow better?

I love my GU flasks! I have found that putting the open flask in a juice glass will keep it stable while filling from the small packets. I rip the packet top off, push the opening into the top of the flask, and squeeze the GU in from packet bottom to top. Chocolate flavor is too thick to work well in flasks, although diluting with a bit of water might alleviate that. I love chocolate, but those gels are too much like eating frosting. Bleh. I do find that in cold weather, gels don't flow too well, so diluting might help there, too. Will have to try that in the fall/winter.

I have a friend who puts several Espresso Love flavored GUs in one of her water bottles, fills it with water, and shakes it up. Looks nasty ,but she likes it.

[Eden]

Yeah - I wish GU would sell in bottles rather than just in the little packets.... I too squeeze mine into the bottle (can't tolerate Hammer ick..) without diluting it. I find I need to keep it in my pocket nozzle down, being sure to close it securely before I put it in there, or I can't squeeze the stuff out easily. (I prefer the Vanilla and Plain, which are thinner too)

[Pedal Wench]

The vanilla GU is a little thinner than the other flavors, so I just put that in first, then my Espresso Luvs, and one or two Chocolates for flavor. It doesn't seem to be too thick, but I keep it in my jersey pocket, so it's warm and melty - I try to keep it upside down to help it flow too.

[7rider]

I found that my flasks tend to make more of a mess than the individual serve packets (except when you keep a spent one in your jersey pocket when you get back in the car and it leaks onto your car seat fabric! Not that I'd know ANYthing about that! ).
My Gu flask (with a pop-up top like a water bottle) never seems to close completely, leak, and when I try to push it closed with my teeth, invariably pinches me in the lip. Ouch!
Maybe I have reject flasks. Maybe I have reject technique.
Frankly, I think the whole lot of 'em just aren't worth the effort.

[KnottedYet]

I used to do Clif Shot from the big bottle into the flask. Boy, what a disaster! Eventually Clif Shot big bottles became impossible to find, and then I discovered Clif Shot Bloks. Joy and rapture! Fuel for slobs!

My friend who is a devout gel user took posession of my flask. She has no problem. I dunno how she does it....