Which Gel or energy drink do you drink??

[Deanna]

I prefer the GU gels and G20. The chocoloat GU gel doesn't work too well in a flask, but if you mix in a little bit of hot coffee it makes it a good consistency for the flask top. For bars I use Larabars and chewy trailmix bars.

[FreshNewbie]

I think GU is one of the best tasting Gels out there (if there is such a thing), at least out of everything I tried so far. Went to a local store today and got couple of Hammer Gels in raspberry flavour, will post how I liked it if anyone interested. Luna bars are the best, i love lemon zest and lime flavours.

[Lenusik]

Clif block shots -wonderful little cubes that taste great! Gu is too sticky and hard to open. I open the block shots before the ride and put them in a small zip lock bag. It makes it much easier to reach for them. If I am going for a shoter ride - around 30 miles, I drink Propel. It has very small sugar. If I go longer - Gatorade is still the best stuff. Don't worry about sugar if you go fast and long, especially in the summer heat.

[Cari]

Blue Powerade is delicious. Gatorade tastes pretty good and you can get it in the less expensive powder form, but it has lots of sodium. Cytomax has more potassium, but it tastes soapy if you drink it alone. So I mix about 2 parts Gatorade to one part Cytomax. For very long rides, I might add some complete whey protein powder (vanilla flavor). Accelerade has protein already mixed in, but I just don't like the way it tastes and it doesn't seem to dissolve very well.

Gels: chocolate Power Gel. I really dislike the Clif gels -- too sweet. I've heard good things about Gu but have yet to try it.

Strawberry Clif Shot Bloks are awesome. They also have a Black Cherry flavor which is pretty good and has some caffeine in it. Like KSH said, they're easy to eat while riding. The Jelly Belly beans taste good, but they're pure sugar -- they give me a rush and then I crash.

For bars, I'd say Clif Bars, hands down -- chocolate chip, peanut butter, and black cherry almond flavors. I've only tried Luna Bars once (Dulce de Leche flavor) and didn't like them.

Aside from cramping, as you guys mentioned, drinks that only have very simple sugars will make your blood sugar shoot up and then plummet. If you use a sports drink or gel that has different types of carbs (which are metabolized at different rates) effect is more subtle, rising slowly and then tapering off. That's why it's also good to mix different carbs when you're eating before a really long ride -- like wheat, corn, oats, rice, etc.

[kjay]

Ginger Snap Larabars, Cytomax, and chocolate Gu. Must try those Clif block shots, though. They sound good and easy to handle.

[Dianyla]

My favorites:

Drink:
Orange cytomax (still looking for the elusive cranberry/grapefruit flavors)

Gels:
Gu Chocolate, Espresso, and Orange flavors. Second favorite flavors: Berry, Banana

Electrolytes:
Clif Blocks: Raspberry

Bars:
Larabars: Apple Pie, Cherry Pie, and Coconut Chocolate Chew
Luna Bars: Peppermint Stick and S'mores
Nature Valley: Chewy Trail Mix, Fruit & Nut

Junk:
Starbucks Frappuccino, Payday Bars, Hostess Apple Pies, Planters Honey Roasted Peanut packs

[cindysue]

Must try those Clif block shots, though. They sound good and easy to handle.

come to Danville on Saturday for a 40 mile ride and I'll give you a bag to try.....

we're meeting at 9:00 am at California Pedaler: 495 Hartz Avenue

[im4smiley]

I like the power gel's tropical fruit, strawberry banana and raspberry cream. I didn't like the tangerine as mcuh and I haven't tried the chocolate..as much as I love chocolate..I am not sure about the gel..someday i will try it.

[betagirl]

Drink: Cytomax. It tastes better than gatorade to me. But if I do drink gatorade, I prefer orange or red. Not a big fan of powerade

Gel: Gu chocolate. I found powergel to be kinda gross.

Another recent discovery are Clif Shot Bloks. The berry are good. Not a big fan of the orange. Those are the only 2 flavors I've tried so far.

[mtkitchn]

I like the banana Gu, only because I try to avoid caffeine and that's the only one I know of w/no caffeine. Any others I should try?

[Grog]

I love Clif Gel (Razz-Sorbet). I actually think it tastes good and is enjoyable to eat. (Think jam by the spoon.)

I love Clif Electrolytes (lemon preparation) but I ran out and I can't find it in Canada, not sure it's imported. So yesterday I mixed about half the suggested quantity of Country Time lemonade powder with a pinch of salt in my 600 mL bottle. Just as good, pretty much the same amount of calories, certainly pretty simple carbs. So that's what I'll be drinking for now.

[tulip]

Just a quick note for those of you (us) who ride to lose weight...all those gels and sport drinks are VERY caloric. Really, for rides of fewer than 40 miles or so, you only need water (PLAIN water) and a banana. Otherwise, you're likely going overboard with the sugar and calories.