Gel-bot Water Bottle Review

As we all know by now, nutrition plays a very important part in endurance sports.  When those sports last several hours refueling is even more important. As endurance athletes we need to keep our hydration levels up and consistently keep our bodies feed with an energy source like gels.

Personally I have always disliked individual gel packets. Mostly because I despise littering and it always just gets my blood boiling when I see gel packs and bar wrappers when I am out on the trail or during a race.  Wouldn't it be nice if there was a product that allowed easy access to your gels and allowed you to keep hydrated?  Well now there is - The Gel-bot Water bottle.

Truth be told, I actually came up with this idea about 15 years ago.   I need to start patenting these ideas I come up with.  I did not, but thankfully the folks at Hydrapak did. The idea is very simple.  The gel is stored in a inner plastic chamber that is attached to the bottle cap.  A small plunger is placed on the bottom of the chamber and allows the user to draw out the gel through the inner part of the dual valve on the cap.  The unit is perfect for about an hours worth water/fuel - 24 oz of H2O and ~ 2 gel packs.

For the past six months I have been using the Gel-bot.  I have really enjoyed the product during my rides and runs.  The quality of the product is very good.  No leaks and the spout is just soft enough.

I usually try to consume one water bottle an hour and about 200 to 250 calories.  The Gel-bot has worked out very well on my normal 2 hour training rides.  On longer rides/races like my upcoming Ouachita Challenge, I plan to just grab two new bottles at each checkpoint that Carolynn will be at.  This will allow for a really fast pit stop and keep me hydrated and fueled up. 

Cleaning the unit.  It is very simple to use and cleans up well (if you clean it after each use and not let the gels dry out).  I personally story the cap/gel unit in the refrigerator so no bacteria grows in it .  I clean it once a week with warm water and a small amount of  bleach. The unit is dishwasher safe, but I stick with my old fashion method of cleaning.

I could see the Gel-bot being used most of the year except for really cold days.  When the temps are really low the gel is hard to suck out.  I cold days I have used warm water in my bottles with great success.  I normally use warm water on cold days to keep my water bottle from freezing and it appears to work will for at least most of the ride.

I hope you enjoyed this little review.  Stay hydrated and fueled up

Thoughts of Dan in the Night.

Last night I went out on a long ride which ended in darkness.  The thoughts that come into a man's mind during a peaceful night ride vary. On this night all I could think about was Dan. 

6 years ago today a very special person was taken from us all.  Daniel Tenaglia passed from injuries he sustain when he was struck by a vehicle.  Dan truly did make a difference and still does today.

As I silently rode along the floodplain area just outside of Parkville, MO (a route that what will soon become part of the Northland Trail System), thoughts of "what if" crept into my mind.  What if I had never given Dan that old Trek MTB bike of mine?  Would he had still been riding on that Alabama road back on February 11, 2007?  What if I would have never climbed on a motorcycle?  Would my little brother John still have passed oh so early in life?

I continue to work my way along the route which flows with the Missouri River.  It is very dark by now as I stop to rest and refuel.  A large log that had been washed up on the river banks provides a welcomed resting area. I sit and look around at nature.  Dan is with me and we both watch the herd of deer approach.  They do not notice either of us for several minutes.  Wildlife and nature are so beautiful and I am glad that we can see them together.

As the deer meander across the field I  think about continuing along into the night. I think about the camping and hiking stories Dan used to tell me.  I wonder if I could be like Dan and just be riding along and then just stop and camp out - no tent, just nature and him. The short stop has caused my body temperature to fall.  I start to shiver due to the cold temperature.  It was just above 40 degrees when I left, but as darkness fell so did the temperatures.  I decide it is time to head home.  I say good bye to Dan as his image fades into the dark river. Just as in life, tonight we only shared a small amount of time together.

Today I replanted one of the many plants that Dan gave me.  Ironically, yesterday someone at work knocked the plant off the window ledge causing it to break. I have faith that it will continue on for many years and will never be forgotten.

Rest in Peace
Dan Tenaglia
1969 - 2007









 

A Day at Slaughter Pen

While we were down in Belle Vista, AR enjoying a fine weekend of mountain bike riding I recorded some video.  Below is my first attempt at video editing and combining my Go Pro files.  I think I can get the hang of the program I am using and look forward to creating some cool movies from races, gravel grinders and life...

Down and Out

The family took advantage of some dry single track and milder temperatures up in Smithville today.  We all really like the trails up there and usually have a very fun ride.  I know the trails like the back of my hand and at times I seem to push the pace and ride on the edge because I feel so comfortable out on the trails.  Today I went over that edge.

Things started off a little slow for me today, maybe my age is starting to show.  Christopher on the other hand was out of the gate and attacking Lakeside Speedway like it was a race.  His new Anthem 29er was just floating over the rocky sections of this part of the trail.   He actually had to wait up for me a couple of times.  Once we got through Neal's we took the pavement back up to join into Posson Trot (basically we were running the old Bone Bender course).  By then I was really warmed up and passed Christopher and started to pace us.  I wanted to do a tempo ride anyway.  Once we crossed the paved trail and bombed down to the creek bed Christopher got a stick in his rear wheel and had to stop.  I continued on and actually picked up the pace because I really enjoy this part of Posson Trot.  Well, I guess I got carried away and ended up going down really hard and hitting my head.  I do not remember everything, but I do remember wheeling over the large log and beginning to lift my rear tire over to clear it.  I guess I started pedaling a little too soon and clipped the log which catapulted me into the air and over the bars. I hit the right side of my head really hard.  I have a nice big dent in my Rudy Project helmet to prove it.  Luckily the helmet did its job and protected me from serious injury, but I was unconscious for about 20 to 30 seconds.  I think the last time I broke a helmet  and was knocked out was during the Branch Oak 12 Hour Mountain Bike race up in Nebraska.  You can see the results from that crash below.

Back to today.  Christopher catches up to me after he removed the stick from his wheel set. When he gets to me I am laying flat out on the ground.  He thinks I am playing around and asked if I was "Taking a break"  I am starting  to come to at that point and slowly get up and check to see if I have any serious injuries. I did not, but what if I did.  I asked Christopher what would he have done if I did not get up.  He said he did not know. He would most likely move me to the side of the trail and then go get help.  What if I had a broken neck I said?

What do you do?  Heck, I do not know either.  It has been many, many years since I attended any CPR/First Aid training.  As I started to feel a little better we continued on with the ride.  We met up with Shane and Cliff and stopped for a few minutes.  Cliff asked me if my eyes where dilated.  Cliff is a Trail Patrol member so he knows a thing or two about first aid.   After we left them I decided that I was going to become a Trail Patrol member this year.  With some of the stuff we do I need to be able to handle emergency situations and be able to administer first aid to a fallen rider, especially if that fallen ride happens to be a family member.  

MTB Winter Training Camp

The family took a short trip south this weekend for our annual winter "MTB Winter Training Camp".   Not  many better places around here to ride than Arkansas, especially in the winter.

Christopher just picked up a new Giant Anthem X29 from The Wheel Cyclery.  He has abused my old Anthem 26er for the past year and it was time for him to get his own rig.  He absolutely loved it which was painful for me.  I honestly could not keep up with him on the up hills and when things got really technical. 

He wasted no time in testing to see if it would hold up to his abuse.  He hit every drop off Slaughter Pen had to offer.  Me, I took the Sally line most of the time around these drop offs.  It is very funny to him that I will not ride off and/or jump my bicycle, but will jump just about anything or drop down near vertical wall on my motorcycle.  I do not understand it either.  All I can say is I feel in control on a motorcycle.

Saturday was spent riding Slaughter Pen.  We got in several hours of great training for our first big MTB test of 2013 -  The Ouachita Challenge. 

At the suggestion of my friend Tim Greene, we headed to the Blowing Springs Mountain Bike Trails on Sunday.   What a great trail system.  The trail has great views and a wide variety of terrain.  Carolynn had a blast and rode well the entire weekend.  We might have to sign her up for the OC instead of having her work the sag crew. 

If you are ever down in Bella Vista, AR, be sure to hit the Blowing Springs trails.  We plan to ride them again in April on the way down to Oden.  Here is the complete Slaughter Pen and Blowing Springs photo album.