By: Jenn K.
I believe that nutrition is important while enjoying the outdoors, especially when I am cycling or hiking. There have been numerous times (too many to count) that I have been taking in too little calories, water, or electrolytes. And what happens is I hit the wall, my performance drops, and I end up with a severe headache. Hopefully these GU products will help me meet my nutritional needs.
GU has several products to meet the needs of an athlete. I will be reviewing the GU Roctane Gel, GU Energy Gel, GU Chomps, and GU Brew over the next two months in an assortment of flavors.
The GU Energy Gels have a patented carbohydrate blend (70-80% maltodextrin and 20-30% fructose) to deliver high-quality, easily-digested and long-lasting energy for athletes in every sport and at all levels. They also have the needed electrolytes to replace those lost from exertion. The GU Gels come in a foil package with a tear-off top. They have 100 calories, 40-65 mg of sodium (varies by flavor), 35-60 mg of potassium (varies by flavor), vitamins C and E, and calcium. It is suggested to consume one pack 15 minutes before exercise and then again after every 45 minutes of exercise. It is also indicated to drink fluid after consumption. I will be reviewing the GU Energy Gels in Espresso Love , Lemon Sublime, Mint Chocolate, Peanut Butter (new flavor), Peppermint Stick (seasonal flavor), and Vanilla Bean.
If you need to rev up performance the GU Roctane Ultra Endurance Energy Gels may be for you. They have the same properties of the GU Gels, but they have a special added amino blend for higher performance. They are available in caffeinated and non-caffeinated flavors. I will be reviewing the Blueberry Pomegranate (2x caffeine), Chocolate Raspberry (2x caffeine- and new flavor), Island Nectars (2x caffeine), Pineapple (no caffeine), and Vanilla Orange (2x caffeine). Each of the Roctanes come packaged in a foil pouch, designed to rip off the top to squeeze out the gel. The Roctanes have 100 calories each, sodium (90-120 mg/varies by flavor), potassium (50-55 mg/varies by flavor), vitamin E, calcium, and the Roctane Amino Blend. The Roctane amino Blend has Histidine, Leucine, Valine, and Isoleucine. Per the manufacturer this blend: “Acts as a fuel source for working muscle and helps promote muscle recovery following exercise. Importantly, the amino acids in Roctane gel are branched chain amino acids that have been shown to help prevent central fatigue by competing with tryptophan for transport across the blood brain barrier.” It is suggested to consume one pack 15 minutes before exercise and then again after every 45 minutes of exercise. It is also indicated to drink fluid after consumption.
If you are sick of using gels or need a change in nutrition the GU Chomps may be the answer. They are small chewy energy chews. I will be reviewing sample packs of these products. Each package contains one serving of 4 pieces and 90 calories. The Orange and Watermelon flavors lack caffeine and the Strawberry flavor has added caffeine. Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system, increases the release of adrenalin and helps the body metabolize fat as fuel. The Chomps have amino acids for added focus and energy, vitamin C and E which are antioxidants to combat tissue breakdown, sodium (55 mg) and potassium (40 mg) to restore electrolyte balance, and a blend of complex (maltodextrin) and simple carbohydrates (tapioca syrup and cane sugar). The Chomps come in a foil bag with some air space. There is no tear notch in the packaging.
GU Brew Tablets are marketed as being a light tasting and natural electrolyte drink tablet. One tablet is to be dissolved in 16 oz. of water. The tablets seem convenient instead of carrying powders on the bike. I have sample packs of Lemon Lime, Orange, and Peach Tea. They are manufactured for the retail market in a slender tube. Each tablet has 10 calories, 320 mg of sodium, and 55 mg of potassium. I believe hands down that drinking electrolytes is more beneficial than plain water. Generally I use an electrolyte powder while I am cycling. I will have to see what I think of the tablets.
Check back next month to see how I am enjoying these nutritional products. For more information please visit www.guenergy.com
Update 3/13/12
I find that having good nutrition is important while riding my mountain and road bikes for recreation, while racing, and while completing long endurance events. It is sometimes difficult for me to find a balance of what works best for me nutritionally and for performance.
I am pleased with the GU products I have tried in this sampler pack. I have used these products while mountain biking during short rides of 9-10 miles and on longer endurance rides lasting 30 miles. I also used these products while road biking over 20 miles. In February I finished the Palm Springs Century (100 miles) with my best century ride time using these products and in early March I completed the Solvang Century (100 miles). The products have been used over a total of 16 rides. None of the products made me queasy or sick to my stomach, nor did I get tired of the taste.
The GU Gels have been used on both mountain biking and road biking adventures. On long distance rides I would consume one GU Gel or Roctane Fuel every 45 minutes to 1 hour. There were times I would time the consumption by the terrain ahead. If I knew there was a strenuous hill climb ahead I would consume a Gel or a Roctane about 5-10 minutes before reaching the hill. Also I used the Gels before and during the mileage range I struggle with on my century road rides.
The tops of the Gels are easy for me to rip off while riding, but I wish there was a tab to keep the top from being completely free when it is opened. Since the top comes completely off I have to store it in my pocket or the Bento Bag on my bike. Also these Gels need to be completely consumed not only for nutritional purposes, but to prevent the gel from oozing out of the package. It is recommended to drink water after consuming the GU Gels and Roctanes; the gel is thick and needs to be washed down or it feels like something is stuck in my throat. And if I do not put some water in my mouth after consumption, my teeth feel coated. The Gels and Roctanes fit easily in my jersey pockets, Bento Bag, or my pack. None of packets punctured while I was storing or them. They are small enough that I can cram multiple packets in my pockets without excessive bulk.
With the GU Gels the Vanilla Bean had the least flavor; it was plain with a slight taste of some flavor, but I cannot say it was necessarily a vanilla flavor. I really enjoyed the Espresso Love, Lemon Sublime, Mint Chocolate, Peanut Butter (new flavor), and Peppermint Stick (seasonal flavor). I would have to say the Lemon Sublime is my favorite followed by the Peppermint Stick and Peanut Butter. The Peanut Butter has a light peanut butter type of taste and another flavor that I cannot pin point. The Lemon Sublime has a lime and lemon flavor that is sweet. And the Peppermint Stick tastes like pure peppermint and has a strong flavor. The Espresso Love has a moderate coffee flavor.
I noticed more of a performance punch with the GU Roctanes. So I saved them for times I that I knew my body would need an extra push. All these flavors rock! My favorite is the Blueberry Pomegranate (2x caffeine) followed by the Chocolate Raspberry (2x caffeine- and new flavor). I cannot say I can distinguish the pomegranate flavor in the Blueberry Pomegranate, I just know the flavor is not overly powered by blueberry. The Chocolate Raspberry has a distinct chocolate and raspberry flavor. The Island Nectars (2x caffeine) flavor is on the mild fruity side. The Pineapple (no caffeine) flavor has a moderate pineapple type of flavor. And the Vanilla Orange (2x caffeine) has more of an orange taste than vanilla; I think the vanilla tones the orange flavor down. The Pineapple Roctane was the only one I tried without caffeine. And actually I could tell that this gave me a slightly less energy surge, but other factors could have been the culprit.
The GU Chomps have been used on the bike when I felt hungry and needed some substance in my tummy. The Chomps satisfied my hunger cravings, and they do not stick to my teeth excessively. I have enjoyed all the flavors I was able to sample (Orange, Strawberry, and Watermelon). If I had to pick my favorite flavor it would be the Watermelon and second would be the Strawberry. All the flavors have a true taste and are lacking a sugary and salty taste. The Strawberry Chomps have added caffeine, but I could not tell that they were caffeinated, as they did not make me super energized.
I like the size of the GU Chomps; they are small and enjoyable to snack on. However, the packaging could use an overhaul. There is no tear notch to open the package, there is some dead air space inside, and the package is virtually impossible for me to open while I am riding (mostly because of the lack of a tear notch). So, if I want to open a bag of Chomps I have to stop riding. Once I get the package open I can squeeze some out of the bag into my mouth, but at times they will fall out onto the ground if I do this while pedaling. It is challenging to get the Chomps out of the package while riding due to the amount of air space in the package in relation to the size and volume of the Chomps. They cannot be easily squeezed out while I am in motion. There has to be a more user friendly type of package for this product.
The GU Brew Tablets have been carried with me on my rides and consumed with 21 oz. of water. At times I only used one tablet for a lighter taste. When I needed more electrolytes I used 1 and ½ tablets in my 21 oz. water bottle. The tablets are great for use out on the trail; they take up much less room than my powdered electrolyte mix and are less messy. I just dropped the tablet in the water and watched it fizz while it was dissolving.
The only issue I had with the tablets is when I closed the valve on my Podium Water Bottle and reopened it after the table was done fizzing some of the pressure escaped. It is just something I need to be aware of, so I don’t open the bottle too close to my face. It only happens when the bottle is nearly or completely full and the tablet just recently finished dissolving.
All the flavors were tasteful and not overly flavored; they also had a good content of salts to prevent dehydration. The tablets provided just enough flavor to help me to hydrate properly and the flavoring did not make me thirsty immediately after drinking the mixture. I found the Peach Tea to taste more like a plain ice tea flavor, as I could not really taste the peach flavoring. The Orange flavor and the Lemon Lime were my favorites. Both the Orange and the Lemon Lime has a true taste.
I have enjoyed trying out all these GU products. I hope you will give them a try.
For more information on these GU products please visit www.guenergy.com.
[...] GU Products (GU Roctane Gel, GU Energy Gel, GU Chomps, and GU Brew) [...]
[...] GU Products (GU Roctane Gel, GU Energy Gel, GU Chomps, and GU Brew) [...]