Taking gels with energy drink... I thought that was a no-no

thaimai

I was just reading the 'Course Nutrition 2013 edition' and for the bike, water is not recommended.

So does that mean you either have to:

1) take the gel and wash it down with your energy drink or

2) wait to the aid stations and take your gel there and wash it down with a gulp of water from a bottle?

I always thought that taking a gel and washing it down with an energy drink was too much for the stomach to digest at one time.  

Robert Sabo

That was the old way. Many of us have been training and racing with Power gels and powerbars and washing them down with Powerbar Perform without stomach upset. It can be done succesfully but of course you must do it in training. Most of us use water to dump over our heads only.  The main reason is to not dilute down the sodium and thereby keep things moving.

Brad Marcus

I'm ok mixing gels and sports drink on the bike, however, I go to water + gels on the run as the sport drink becomes too much for me to handle at that point. However, some people feel that mixing 2 of the same carbohydrate on the bike are not good, ie (fructose, sucrose, maltodextrin), as this leads to GI issues. Therefore, they look for 2 offsetting carb types when choosing gels / food / sport drink. As Robert mentions, anything should be practiced.....I've found out the hard way!

Brenda Ross

Jessee from Core Diet explains it here: http://members.endurancenation.us/Resources/Wiki/tabid/91/Default.aspx?topic=Race+Fueling+Webinar+(Jesse+Kropelnicki)