Just Gu

michaelgasser17

I've done some searching and I'm either terrible at it, or it hasn't come up recently... I'm starting to look at where I'm going to put all of my nutrition on the bike and I've got a few questions.  I love vanilla gu and it is all I use for calories on the bike.  I have electrolyte pills and water but other than that I stick with the gu.  This is my first season switching from Olys to long course and I'm curious if anyone out there uses primarily Gu for calories, and if so, how do you store all of that gu on your bike?

15 Gu packets is a bunch and I'm not a huge fan of taping packets all the way down the top tube.  I've used a flask in the past but it holds ~550 calories of gel.  Does anyone have any good suggestions or is my switch away from the beloved vanilla gu to something like Infinit inevitable?

Nemo Brauch

If this is your first season switching from Oly's to long course, I'd recommend you keep a very open mind about your beloved Gu. While GU is a favorite for many folks at the Oly or even HIM distance, there just are not that many people who still "love" it after several hours on the bike. Plus- then you get to the run and

That said, if you absolutely must use GU on the bike. You could use a gel flask and put a second one in your SNB to pick up at about the half way point.

J.T. Thompson

I agree with Memo...as you go longer, need to think about alternatives. Like you, for Oly's I've often just gone with Gu and a sports drink, but really need more as you get into the 5 hour + range for HIM or longer....

Michele Cellai

x3 on the "long course and using Gu for that many hours makes you want to hurl". After my first HIM (2004), I couldn't drink Gatorade or have Gu for years, literally. This is the first year that I have had more than 1 Gu the entire season, since 2004. I was seriously nauseated at the smell all these years.

But if that is your nutrition plan- Practice it in your RR to make sure you can tolerate it for that many hours. Think about switching next season.

Norton

For what it's worth, there are fast guys that have gone sub-55 hours at Paris-Brest-Paris on water and GU. That's a lot of GU!

Paul Hough

I'm your GU man! I did IMFL and IMCDA with GU Roctane. I use electrical tape to lay down six on the top tube, alternating blueberry pomegranate and orange/vanilla. I don't use a bento box so that's all I had on the top tube. Went through all 6 and took a PowerGel from an aid station late on the bike. Why the heck do you need 15 packs? I'm getting additional calories from the gatorade/peform I'm drinking which I alternate with an occassional water as I feel the need to wash everything down. Then I start the run with 3 more Gu packs. For those who worry about taste on a long day, my response is: IT'S A FRIGGIN' RACE! Flavor fatigue should not be your concern. By the time I'm in the marathon everything tastes like crap anyway and all I'm fantasizing about is getting to the finish line and guzzling Diet Coke until I drown. The Roctane works for me so I'm not interested in trying Infinit. If it ain't broke don't fix it!

michaelgasser17

Thanks for the info. Like I said, I'm BRAND new to long course so I have tons to figure out in the months leading up to my first races. I figure I'll experiment with a few things like Infinit and whether or not I can handle Gu for hours and hours.

chris malone

"all I'm fantasizing about is getting to the finish line and guzzling Diet Coke until I drown"
All due respect, Paul- you gotta work on your fantasies. :}

I went with 400 cal bottles of EFS liquid shot this year. Popped them in my jersey pocket and bento box, carried them on the run. No fuss no muss. Easy way to keep track of cals. Vanilla. Disgusting but simple.

Beth_S

Yup. Race rehearsals and long bike rides will be excellent places to test Gu.

I did my first IM last month and can tell you I did it with a tested race nutrition plan, thinking I would use five gels on the run. Nope. IM marathon stomach was amazingly sensitive and delicate, so I just had lots of sports drink and chicken broth. +1 on having an open mind - while testing and racing.

 

 

rah2774

if you do stick with gels... I'd suggest multiple flasks.  one or two could fit in your back pocket.  One in a bento box... but like everyone else said, you might want to experiment with other stuff... I was fine with gels for HIMs... but started using Infinit this season based on everyone's recommendations and it's been fine... I still have a gel now and again before/during the run when I feel hungry when training, but I've been amazed that other than a gel in T2 (done this training and racing), I've not needed to eat on the run during either HIM... just gatorade and water and I'd finish fine. 

Nemo Brauch

I went with 400 cal bottles of EFS liquid shot this year.

Oh man, I tried the EFS in training this year thinking it would be a nice solution, but YUCK! I couldn't stand it, even for just a 2 hour ride!

Morale of the story- you gotta try out different stuff and figure out what works for you. If GU is it- go for it. Just be open to trying different stuff in training so you can have some options if on that first Race Rehearsal you figure out GU is not your friend.

jburbatt

I have to say, my concentrated Infinit definitely reminds me of a Gu (maybe a little less slimy). One of the other issues you might have with Gu and long-course is that without protein you may get really hungry, and that can lead to issues (you overeating, fatigue, lack of focus, etc).

Scott Alexander

You should be very open to alternatives, esp as you're moving from short to long-course.

I use only Infinit nowadays, on my bike. On the run, I use one GU/gel per hour. I'm 6'1" and ~200lbs, and my calorie requirements are pretty low, surprisingly.

Suggestion, if you do start using the flasks for gus/gels, always have back-ups; as in my experience these little flasks hopped off my bike frame easier than bottles.

And, totally agree that you should test everything in training, and by the time you get to your RRs, you should have your nutrition mostly dialed in. Then use the RRs, to perfect it.

sailnfast

 I've raced 2 IMs and 20+ HIMs on GU with the addition of whatever electrolyte drink they have on the course (preferably Gatorade).  It works for me as I've gone from sprints to Olympics to long course over the past 7 years.  I don't get tired of the taste and quite frankly don't care late in a race as I just want something that is proven to work for me.  If Gu works for ya, you might consider also taking liquid calories from the course.  This gives you a second calorie alternative (what happens if you lose your Gu for example) and doesn't require you to bring 15 Gu packets with you.

 

Good luck.

Fred 

steveperx

2 GU flasks in your back pocket holds 10-12 GU packs. This is what I did for LP (supplemented with Perform). No stops at SN. Worked great. I used honey stingers, not actual GU.