As a cyclist (77 to be 78 in 40 days) who bike tours all over the world unsupported and does 3-4 gravel bike events a year, I have been using GU energy gels for many years, going back to my ultrarunning days. I always found the product to give me the boost I needed when I could feel oncoming tired legs or a feeling of low energy. Found the Expresso Love flavor several years ago and it's become my favorite for the extra caffeine. I'm leaving next week for Unbound Gravel on the 30th of May as my youngest son and I are riding it this year. I'll be taking a package of 24 GU Expresso Love energy gels for the race.
A leap in the dark, I bought a large bag of the orange and one of the lemon lime; this on the strength of the reviews. As one of those unfortunate souls that cramp up in the legs and feet after even a 25 or 30 mile ride, I've obviously tried most of the formulas out there that promise to obviate the dreaded stabbing pain. 200 miles over 5 rides and (touch wood) the legs are silent. Oh yes, let this be the beginning of a long and mutually beneficial relationship. Thank you Lord, for the alchemists at Skratch Labs.
You need to find out where you are with Perpetuem. Maybe a full dose is too much? Maybe too little? I usually use HEED early on and then switch to a HEED-Perpetuem mix later on during a ride. Everybody is different. Find your mix, then enjoy the ride. Ive been using Hammer products, namely HEED and Perpetuem for quite a while (20 years) and Ive found my "mix". Once you find your sweet spot you will be good to go. I like to get my calories and nutrition from a liquid and not a solid as I don't want to have to waste energy digesting solids during a long ride. Hammer is science for endurance athletes. You do the fine tuning.
I've bought various water bottles--plain and tepidly insulated--the latter lasting about twice as long as the plain one. Where I live we have microclimates, when I leave the house it can be 63' and eight miles inland 85'. This mean my ice filled insulated bottle water starting is fully melted at the 1/2 way point and will become rather yucky on the way back (and I still have another 500 feet of elevation to climb coming back. The Camelbak Podium is an excellent way to quench ones thirst on a hot day on my return leg, as it maintains the ice cold temps for two hours easily when kept full and makes the return so much more pleasant. It's a little heavier and rattles in my plastic water bottle cage, but a thin strip of Velcro dampens out the sound.
