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My Winter Gel |
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Written by Jason Mahokey
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Friday, 19 January 2007 |
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In this post I'm gonna drop some knowledge on how to make up a gel using Perpetuem from Hammer Nutrition. This knowledge will be nothing too new for long time users of Hammer Nutrition products. Hammer talks of it on their web site and some of my fellow endurance racers also do it, but I think it's worthwhile sharing - because it works!
During the winter months I don't order as much Hammer Gel, Heed, and Perpetuem as I do in the spring and summer. My winter work outs are usually indoors, and not as long, so I hold off on buying the top shelf energy drinks and gels from Hammer Nutrition. It also helps to keep some dough in the piggy for race season.
December and early January's unexpected warm temps threw me an on the bike nutritional curve though. Gatorade and Fig Bars can get me through an hour or two ride on the trainer OK or even the rare outdoor winter ride, but the great temps were letting me get some big miles in and I dig the convenience of a gel and the quality calories that Hammer Gels deliver, but the cupboards were bare! Yikes!
But wait! As luck would have it, somewhere between a bag of Yams and bag of 'taters I found that I still had about 1/4 of a big tub o'Perpetuem left over from race season, Sweet! Now it was time to mix up some high octane Perpetuem "gel".
Here's what you need: Get yourself a fork or wire whisk, Perpetuem, a mixing bowl and water.
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Slowly add water as need until you reach your desired consistency. I like mine about like pancake batter. It will take some mixing to get all the clumps out. A blender or that "as seen on TV" Magic Bullet would probably work best, but jeeez we're just making a gel here, not margaritas.
Pour into a Hammer flask and you got yourself a nice big chunk of calories, carbs, and protein to spread out over about 2+ hours of riding.
I find that I really dig the taste of my "maximum strength" Perpetuem gel. Sometimes I like it more than the regular gels and much more than taste of two scoops of Perpetuem per bottle of water.
Obviously I could have taken a bottle of Perpetuem and been fine, but in the concentrated gel/paste form I can stash it in my jersey pocket and leave my bottle cages open for plenty of liquids.
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This recipe is similar to the big ol' calorie/carb/protein cocktail that I mix up the the night before multi hour races. I use 4 Scoops of Perpetuem, water, and a nice dose of Vanilla or Banana Hammer Gel. Mix it up in a blender and sipped out of a water bottle during the race. Just remember to shake your bottle well, before the race since over night much of the Perpetuem and gel can settle.
I find this easier than carrying a bunch of different bottles and flasks during the race and a bottle can lasts for about 2 hours or more. I also find that I'm more prone to take on the needed calories when it's in an easy to grab bottle rather than trying to reach in my jersey pocket, eat, and pedal, and steer at the same time, often in a haze of hours on the bike.
Hope this helps if you ever find yourself with limited supplies or you just want to mix things up a bit.
Winter has returned to Western PA, so I'll be back in the basement, on the trainer and downing my Gatorade for a while.
Good luck!
Jason
"The Soiled Chamois"
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