All Fueled Up with SiS

Disclaimer: I received a supply of Science In Sport gels to review as part of being a Bibrave Pro. Learn more about becoming a Bibrave Pro (ambassador), and check out Bibrave.com to review, find, and write race reviews.

Ever find a product that felt like a perfect fit, right from the start?

As a runner, I had my go-to brand of gels that I used for fuel. I used them for many training runs and races, for many years, with never any glitches. I don't know if their formula(s) changed, or if my body chemistry (for lack of a better metaphor) was altered...but in recent years, those gels were no longer compatible with me or my fitness needs.

It felt like starting over when I began my quest for a new fuel. You know the drill...trial and error with various other forms of fuel (different gels, chews, powders), some with water (and some without), before running (or during a run). Yadda Yadda Yadda.

I had tried the SiS gels a couple years ago, and was really excited to try some new varieties. Let me sum this up in four words...These Gels Are Great!

A unique feature about these gels is that they are isotonic, meaning they do not need additional water for your body to absorb them. Most other gels (at least the plethora of ones I have tried) need water to accompany the gel. The SiS gels are much easier to swallow, even with a dry mouth, since they are a much "thinner" consistency. 

 I was given three varieties of gels to try. Since I'm currently entertaining #RunnerSidelined status, I had to sample all of these via the bike (instead of on foot). 

The first gel I tried was the berry-flavored Caffeine SiS Gel. This was the perfect fuel for one of my post-workday 10-mile bike rides. Incidentally, this particular ride was after an unusually long and stressful day at work. I was meeting a friend for a ride, so I didn't have time to eat anything, and my energy level was MIA. The berry flavor was on-point, and my ride went well...I'd call that a success! 

The second gel I tried was the salted strawberry-flavored Electrolyte SiS Gel. We were going on a mid-morning 20-mile ride, and the temps were rather balmy, so I anticipated some "glistening and glowing" would be happening (spoiler - I was correct LOL). This sustained my energy and helped in keeping me hydrated on a hot morning under the sun. OMG, the salted-strawberry flavor was nothing short of a-m-a-z-i-n-g!  

Finally, the last one to try was the tropical-flavored SiS Gel. This was another after-work ride for me, on a hot day, and this gel kept me going strong for 17 miles. The flavor was refreshing...kind of mix of pineapple and coconut. Yum!

All three varieties of these SiS gels worked well for me. My energy felt good, and my tummy didn't have any post-workout distress. Believe me, I've used other gels for fuel and it hasn't been pretty, nor the least bit pleasant, afterwards.

So, in summary, I have to give these a thumbs-up. My only regret, and it's a miniscule one, is that I wasn't able to test these new (to me) varieties while on a run. I didn't have especially hot conditions (but it always feels cooler on the bike LOL), and these rides, while longish, weren't super intense endeavors.  

By the way, if you're interested in trying any of these for yourself, check out the Science in Sport site HERE (not an affiliate link), and code BIBRAVE20GEL will save you 20%.

What do you use for fuel on your long runs or bike rides? Have your fueling needs changed over the years? Have you tried SiS gels before?

Here's some more reviews of the SiS gels from fellow BibRave Pros:

Steph, Sara , Amanda , Scott, Shannon, Ken, runirvana, Megan, Kim

I'm linking this with Kim and Zenaida for the Tuesday Topics Link-Up

I'm also linking with Debbie, Deborah, Lisa, Laura and Jenn for the Runners' Roundup

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