How often should I take energy gels when cycling?

If you’re cycling for 90 minutes or more, consume a small amount of energy gel every 15-30 minutes. After 60-90 minutes your body has used up most of its stored carbohydrate (glycogen) and research suggests that you need to replace that carbohydrate to maintain energy and maximize performance

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A good rule of thumb is to aim for roughly 30-90g/ hour if you’re cycling for more than 90 minutes

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. Most gels have about 20-30 grams of carbs, so that equates to 1-3 packets per hour. Bananas, sports drinks, sports chews, and honey sticks can also be used to meet carbohydrate needs during a ride. The longer and hard you cycle, the more carbohydrates you will need during a ride. Tolerance varies from cyclist to cyclist so don’t forget to experiment in training!