What energy gels do you use and why??
I love energy gels and I’m never without them on my real world rides or my indoor training. When i started taking my cycling a bit more seriously years ago, they were the first thing I went to for that extra boost in my endurance. But which do you guys actually like and also, which ones have you just had to say no to?
My Personal Favorites are KMC NRG gels. They are on the expensive side, but, what a taste!! Now, if you are from the UK you probably know this company as Kendal Mint Cake and it was such an old fashioned “snack” wayyyyyy back when I was a kid and was always this sugary, minty, heavy bar which just seemed so weird to eat, well to me it did, but was always tasty. Somewhere along the line, they’ve re invented themselves as a energy supplement company and if my experience with them is anything to go off, they should be doing great!
For the life of me I can’t remember how many years ago I came across these gels, might have been an advert or mentioned in an article, but I do remember getting the taster pack ordered and when it arrived and started to use them, just being blown away by how great all of it tasted.
I really do recommend giving them a try, but also I do feel you need to like mint! it’s a totally different taste experience, for example: if you hate it when you’re on a long hot ride and your gels are warm! yuck! with these, the mint taste just makes them seem colder than a normal gel. worth noting.
PS on a side note, the recovery/protein mixes are really good as well and dissolve superbly as to not leave that bitty taste like some do, and the bars are just a tasty trip down memory lane……
get them here: Not sure if they do international delivery, you’d have to enquire
But for home training i have to try and find the best deals and taste and i always find a deal somewhere on High5! I am a big fan of High5 gels, or more specifically, the Aqua ones which go down a treat! Also love all the flavors as they all seem to have that nice, almost fizzy flavor. I know they are not fizzy but its just something refreshing about them that i only get from High 5 gels.
The good thing about high5 is you can get them pretty much anywhere:
lots of eBay sites as well but be careful on eBay as they love to sell ones that are either past the best before or very close to it.
So that’s my two favorites and both for different aspects of my riding. The KMC for my real world riding where I deserve the best, and High5 for my indoor training, looking at watts and cadence and heart rate etc etc and just need that quick gel so i can crack on!!
Have you got any favorites you can recommend or any you can recommend we stay away from? Let us know in the comments.
Nice article, I never thought of taking gels on the trainer. Now I might give it a try 🤔
I always down a gel before an effort on the trainer. but only if i know its going to be over 40 minutes, if I feel its going to be under, or just a low zone effort, i stick with just the tablet in my water. keep an eye on a seller on ebay called tri sports resort. they sell of ex wiggle parts and accessories and now and again put loads of gel bundles together, always starting at 99p as well. i always get mine from there and I think the last lot I got for about £8.50 for 20 citrus ones with a best before of a good 6 months.
But as its nearly time to get outdoors again, I will be looking to get my first KMC order in. have you tried their products at all? be interesting to get your opinion? just so you know, I am in no way sponsored or getting anything back from them, i just really rate the taste!