Sportive Etiquette

are gels mandatory with/for/on (delete as applicable) sportives?

They shouldn't be fucking mandatory for anything.

Someone gave me a gel on the way to Dunwich.

I was very grateful for the snack; though it reminded me of childhood Calpol and I ended up with a sticky carbohydrate lining in one pocket of my shorts.

I'm reminded of the fact that Sainsbury's offer of half-price Dorset Cereal bars ends a week today. They're well posh.

Gels are meant to be used for racing when your effort is such that digestion is a problem (because all da blood in your legs innit). You can use them for sportives but at the pace most of the field rides, solid food is probably just as good and a damn sight nicer tasting.

And I'm sure this will be common sense, but don't litter. I fucking HATE the cunts who do this. Use gels and just discard them on the road. Horrible human beings. This happens frequently on sportives (the few I have done) and its fucking poor form.

It's particularly distressing to see the shameful state of the feeding stations on Alpine sportives. I know that the organisers organise a clean-up, and I understand that people don't want to carry unnecessary weight when climbing 5000+ metres, but it really is beneath contempt to throw plastic away in these locations.

Gels are meant to be used for racing when your effort is such that digestion is a problem (because all da blood in your legs innit). You can use them for sportives but at the pace most of the field rides, solid food is probably just as good and a damn sight nicer tasting.

For value, and calorie content, I don't think dried bananas can be beat.

59p!

http://www.goodnessdirect.co.uk/cgi-local/frameset/detail/151857_Whole_Sun_Dried_Bananas__250g.html

They have one drawback, people think you are eating cat poo!

You wouldn't have to share.

True. But that applies to gels too.

They have one drawback, people think you are eating cat poo!

Yeah, but when you are eating gels, you really are ingesting poo!

not sure what gels you have bill

most of the ones i have tried are body temp, gelatinous and salty,

fruit flavour spunk

You are truly gross.

but energy gels are worse

not sure what gels you have bill

most of the ones i have tried are body temp, gelatinous and salty,

fruit flavour spunk

what a gourmet!

Anyway, if you don't want to eat dried banana for fear of public ridicule, dried figs are an option (mind you, no doubt James will describe them as looking like scrota).#

are delicious and well thought through....
recommended.
also:

I quite liked the "Ride Shot" sweets from yesterday's event. Dry to touch, easy to eat in bits, not too sickly, and presumably they don't present the digestive system with a lot to do.

^Those Shot Blok ones are also quite good.

My paws ended up slightly sticky yesterday afternoon, after digging around in my jersey for half a Powerbar.

Surely for the sportive market, you should all be going for the most expensive option, with poorly signposted ingredients?

those powergel shots had me grinding my teeth. horrible.

i've had to hide them somewhere in the house incase 'er indoors finds them, eats the whole pack and goes batshit bananas on them.

gels/energy bars/recovery drinks/nune tablets are all great.

why try to save a couple of quid on food for long hard rides? you pay all that money on a bling bike and an entry fee and start mixing up foul tasting liquids with salt and lemon juice because you don't want to pay a fiver for a tube of nuun tablets.
same goes for bikes. i find it odd that people will spend extra for a shiny deep section wheel or a bit of carbon on their rear mech yet scrimp on important things like tyres, bartape, shoes, pedals and shorts.

Who are you talking to?

Who are you talking to?

your mum. she said to remind you to do something about the junk you left at the house.

+

+

=

WIN

your mum. she said to remind you to do something about the junk you left at the house.

Random ranting. Mum gags.
You need to get out of the office/house into some sunlight and eat a kebab, quick.

Random ranting. Mum gags.
You need to get out of the office/house into some sunlight and eat a kebab, quick.

i'm just off out to buy 3 50cm squares of 5mm black perspex. is that random enough for you?