We are excited to bring you Part 2 of Bobby Julich's Pursuit of Performance. Bobby is contributing to a three-part series focused on testing various fueling methods to improve performance – all reinforced by blood glucose monitoring. This time, he tests out how gels affect his performance.
During Part 1, we dove into Bobby’s first two of six weekly rides where he tests new fuel and monitors his glucose. The first was oriented around hydration and drink mixes, this time he tests various gels.
In case you need it, here's a bit of background on Bobby: after a stellar career that saw him grace the podium of the Tour de France in 1998, Bobby didn't just fade into the background of retirement. Instead, he plunged headfirst into the realm of coaching, consulting, and media, carving out a niche that blends all facets of his expertise. As a columnist for Velo, a podcast host, and a host for weekly Zwift rides, he's plugged into the sport and performance world in a variety of ways. Bobby is constantly pushing the boundaries of metabolism optimization for improved performance.
For six weeks, Bobby was out there testing new fuel from The Feed. First, he tested hydration and for the next two weeks, he tested gels. We’re here to reveal what he found out.
Week 1:
First up, Bobby fueled with SiS Beta Fuel Gels on a Level 1 60 minute ride.
Priming Meal: 9:30 a.m. or 3 hrs prior to workout
2 pieces of dense rye bread with peanut butter, cream cheese, and apricot preserves with medium-sized banana on top
Coffee with half and half and monk fruit as a sweetener
Fueling strategy: ½ gel at 0min, 15min, 30min, and 45min
80g carbs per hour in the form of 2 x SiS Beta Fuel Neutral Gels + 1 x 750ml bottle of water
Comments:
“Felt very good with light legs and was able to sustain a high rpm throughout the workout. I have been happy with SiS products in the past, but this was the 1st time that I used only gels to fuel my effort. Took 20g at 0-min, 15-min, 30-min, 45-min for a total of 80g/hr.”
Week 2:
Next on the agenda: 6d Ultra Gels for a Level 2 90 minute ride.
Priming Meal: 9:00 a.m. or 3 hrs prior to workout
1 piece of dense rye bread with peanut butter, cream cheese, apricot preserves and 1 fried egg, 1 piece of turkey sausage, 1 potato latke
Coffee with half and half and monk fruit as a sweetener
Fueling strategy: ½ gel every 15 minutes
90g of carbs per hour in the form 3 x 6D Sports Nutrition Peach Ultra Gels
1 x 750ml + 1 x 500ml bottle of water (normal sips every 5 minutes)
Comments:
“I felt very good during this effort from start to finish with a much lower RPE compared to last time doing the 90 minute workout. I was able to sustain high rpm through all the efforts of +/-100rpm, which is a good sign. This was my first time using 6D Sports Nutrition Ultra Gels and consuming 90g of carbs per hour in such a structured fashion, and only the second time using only gels for a workout. This product kept my average glucose much higher (and less stable) than the SiS gels that I tested last week, but I was consuming more carbs per hour. I didn't feel the drops in glucose I noticed on my glucose monitor.
I am not sure I would use this product as often due to the fact that it kept my levels so high. I know that may sound crazy when I said I felt so good, but I was "on the pedals" with 4x15min efforts with only 5 minutes of rest in between which rarely happens in the real world.”
Not every product is a one-size-fits-all solution and it’s important to listen to how your body responds, both on how it feels and by using any tools you have available to you as well. Even as a professional cyclist, Bobby's still out there testing products to find what works best for him - and that’s how you can find what works best for you too.
If you have any questions on products to try or how a product is affecting you, you can reach out to our coaching team at coaching@thefeed.com.
Stay tuned for the third and final part of Bobby's experiments!
