Hammergesl?

Anyone tried Hammer Gels for long distance multi-day rides (with emphasis on endurance)? How are
they compared to Gu or Cliff shots? Thanks

 

>Anyone tried Hammer Gels for long distance multi-day rides (with emphasis on endurance)? How are
>they compared to Gu or Cliff shots? Thanks
>

Fine...and a lot less expensive. And flasks are much neater than packets.

Might want to consider making your own stuff as an alternative if you're planning to use a qt. or so
per quarter...much cheaper than store-bought.

PH

 

"Pete Hausner" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> >Anyone tried Hammer Gels for long distance multi-day rides (with emphasis on endurance)? How are
> >they compared to Gu or Cliff shots? Thanks
> >
>
> Fine...and a lot less expensive. And flasks are much neater than packets.
>
> Might want to consider making your own stuff as an alternative if you're planning to use a qt. or
> so per quarter...much cheaper than store-bought.
>
> PH

Interesting idea - any recipes or links to such?

SB

 

"Steve Blankenship" <[email protected]> wrote in message

> Interesting idea - any recipes or links to such?

On the theory that most of these gels are geared to supply a quick rush with simple sugar (looking
at the labels of Gu and Cliff Shot; don't know about Hammergel), my stuff consists of equal parts
corn syrup, chocolate sauce, and caramel syrup. All of those are pure sugar with a bit of salt, and
fat free. As far as I can tell from the Gu label, only thing missing from my mix is potassium, which
I don't think is necessary in a gel; Cytomax etc. supplies electrolytes if you are looking for that.
I also add a tad of peanut butter to thicken the mix; though the protein is not quickly digestible
like the rest of the ingrediants, it has caused me no stomach problems. I find the taste just fine -
if you like candy, you can tolerate
it. Certainly no worse than commercial product.

I store the recipe in the fridge in a water bottle, and before a ride microwave it briefly to
soften, then pour into a gel flask.

I also have been known to grind up a No-Doz or two (pure caffeine, each pill approx. equal to a cup
of coffee) and a few tabs of ibuprofen for long rides.

This is all ignorant and amateur, but I can't really tell the difference in effect between my swill
and the commercial stuff, but can see a huge difference in the wallet.

 

Doug Taylor wrote:
> On the theory that most of these gels are geared to supply a quick rush with simple sugar (looking
> at the labels of Gu and Cliff Shot; don't know about Hammergel)...

Hammergel touts the fact that they have no *simple* sugars in their stuff. It's based on
maltodextrose. There are also claims about why this is a good thing.

> my stuff consists of equal parts corn syrup, chocolate sauce, and caramel syrup.

The reason I use Hammer gel is that corn syrup and I don't get along. Wish I did, the damn stuff is
in everything!

For the OP: The Hammer stuff works very well for me. Try the apple flavor - the orange stuff tastes
awful, but of course tasted vary.
--
Mark Janeba remove antispam phrase in address to reply

 

Doug Taylor wrote:
> On the theory that most of these gels are geared to supply a quick rush with simple sugar (looking
> at the labels of Gu

Did you actually *read* the label on the Gu? The label on the Gu I'm looking at has maltodextrin as
the first ingredient, water as the second and then a simple sugar as the third.

JT

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I'd have to disagree with an earlier post about the flasks being less messy. I've had more than a
hand full of times when my jersey pocket had its fair share of gel in it from leaky flasks. Some
were my fault when I didn't click the top closed tight and others were from flasks where the gel
leaked out through the top's threads. The minute I heard they had single serving packets I ordered
those in my favorite flavor, raspberry. Esspresso and vanilla are also good. If you use the flask,
you can also combine flavors.

Wade

"John Forrest Tomlinson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:WBrta.39420$D%[email protected]...
> Doug Taylor wrote:
> > On the theory that most of these gels are geared to supply a quick rush with simple sugar
> > (looking at the labels of Gu
>
> Did you actually *read* the label on the Gu? The label on the Gu I'm looking at has maltodextrin
> as the first ingredient, water as the second and then a simple sugar as the third.
>
> JT
>
> --
> *******************************************
> NB: reply-to address is munged
>
> Visit http://www.jt10000.com
> *******************************************

 

"Mark Janeba" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> Doug Taylor wrote:
> > On the theory that most of these gels are geared to supply a quick rush
with
> > simple sugar (looking at the labels of Gu and Cliff Shot; don't know
about
> > Hammergel)...
>
> Hammergel touts the fact that they have no *simple* sugars in their stuff. It's based on
> maltodextrose. There are also claims about why this is a good thing.
>
> > my stuff consists of equal parts corn syrup, chocolate sauce, and caramel syrup.
>
> The reason I use Hammer gel is that corn syrup and I don't get along. Wish I did, the damn stuff
> is in everything!
>
> For the OP: The Hammer stuff works very well for me. Try the apple flavor - the orange stuff
> tastes awful, but of course tasted vary.

Here's the ingredient list from that stuff: Long-chain Maltodextrin, Filtered Water, Energy Smart®
(Fruit Juice, Natural Grain Dextrins), Banana Puree, Natural Flavor, Amino Acids (L-Leucine,
L-Alanine, L-Valine, L-Isoleucine), Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid, Sodium Chloride, Potassium Sorbate
(as a preservative), Potassium Chloride.

The following link suggests why they use maltodextrin.

http://www.opta-food.com/access/glucose.html

What kind of time do you think it takes to get energy benefits from Maltodextrin , which is
apparently digested in the small intestine?

But I'd like to see something that suggests that all this stuff is better than normal food (for the
non-serious-non-competitor). Aside from being convenient forms of nourishment while on the bike, I
see no advantage to them over a normal diet. While I'm on it, what are the amino acids supposed to
do? I thought they only benefit in post-exercise recovery (anabolic).

--
Robin Hubert <[email protected]

 

Steve Blankenship wrote:
> Interesting idea - any recipes or links to such?

I make my own out of Karo's corn syrup, honey, and sometimes molassis. You can duplicate the
caffeine in Gu and Hammergel by grinding up a NoDoz pill and mixing it in.

--
Jerry Gardner [email protected]

 

Mark Janeba wrote:

> Hammergel touts the fact that they have no *simple* sugars in their stuff. It's based on
> maltodextrose. There are also claims about why this is a good thing.

Maltodextrose is available from health food shops.

--
Jerry Gardner [email protected]

 

"Robin Hubert" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:reuta.56679> But I'd like to see
something that suggests that all this stuff is better
> than normal food (for the non-serious-non-competitor). Aside from being convenient forms of
> nourishment while on the bike, I see no advantage to them over a normal diet. While I'm on it,
> what are the amino acids
supposed
> to do? I thought they only benefit in post-exercise recovery (anabolic).
>
> --
> Robin Hubert <[email protected]>
>

Its not better than "real" food, but convenience is the whole point. It can be hard to whoof down
real food during a race. The gels are easier both in the physical act of getting the food from your
pocket to your mouth and in the digestion.

Wade