I’ve seen a lot of posts here from people who try to get used to GEF just before a race because it will be on the course. Does anyone here use it all the time? If so, what has been your experience?
I used to use GEF when the weather got hot, but moved to Hammer in order to avoid the simple sugars in Gatorade. Does this really matter all that much? I love the Hammer stuff, but I’m considering a return to GEF so that I don’t have to keep switching back and forth.
i like it aside from two things. 1, once it gets warm, it tastes like ass to me, and 2, whenever i use it i have to piss every 20 min it seems like.
Yup. I’ve had overall a very positive experience with it. I started using it because I get it for free through Team Timex, but I have found it work very well. Given how important hydration/nutrition is, I wouldn’t use it just because it is free. But I have nothing but positives…
I use it regularly with no problems. I prefer the orange flavor. But would I use it if they had something different in many races? I do not think it makes a world of difference which sports drink you buy. (I am sure there are some bad ones out there)I believe that there is not a lot of differences in the long run, so you should use the one that you like the taste or will drink most frequently. Infint gets a lot of good press here, I may try that after my races are over.
I am lazy to mix my drink and I can get the endurance formula here in every grocery store bottled. Even sometimes they go on sale for a $1 per bottle.
I can only use it when it’s hella hot. If it’s <75 it’s too salty for me and my legs swell up. But on really hot days I like it.
Jodi
works well for me, I sweat like a cold coke can on a sun porch, so I need the extra sodium. I can even use it without diluting it. I used to do that with the regular gatorade, maybe I’ve just found the right flavor that doesn’t make my mouth crave water after a slug of it - lemon lime for me or even orange.
Barry
No. I bought a container of the powder to test for IM Wisconsin. It makes me incredibly thirsty. I prefer plain water. At IM I’ll be drinking water and using Lava Salts.
I have to admit I never tasted ass. Must be an acquired taste 
Yes, I love it and can’t get it in my area, I always pick some up if I see it when traveling.
At first glance at the posts above if you are viewing in flat mode, it looks like
“Yes, I love it and can’t get it in my area, I always pick some up if I see it when traveling”
… is in response to …
** “I have to admit I never tasted ass. Must be an acquired taste ;-)”**
Yes, I use it by choice and love it!
I use Cytomax as my “bread and butter” drink of choice. But during the summer(hot) months I will use GEF as the 2nd bottle on my bike. I have found the extra sodium helps me greatly.
ST—I use it when I can find it, but here on the outskirts of the Illadelph, Genardi’s and Acme don’t sell it.
IronRod–i’ve tasted ass. It tastes like shit.
I use Gatorade End. or regular Gatorade when preping for an IM NA race.
My preferrence is Motortabs and CarboPro.
Everything Hammer makes me sick.
Black: where do you live that you can get it bottled in stores? I was able to do that when it first came out, but now it’s disappeared. Anyone know of any grocery store chains in the Northeast US that still carry it?
Everything Hammer makes me sick.
I’m glad I’m not the only one! I swear there is a genetic mutation in some people that allows us to taste something severely nasty in hammer products. I really want to like the stuff because they seem to have really solid science behind their products, but it tastes like vodka to me. I’m sure that people who like it must not be able to taste that weirdness in it…
Jodi
Black: where do you live that you can get it bottled in stores? I was able to do that when it first came out, but now it’s disappeared. Anyone know of any grocery store chains in the Northeast US that still carry it?
I’m glad I am not the only one. Used to find it in the grocery store and in Walgreens here in Wisconsin. No one carries it anymore. Even those listed on Gatorade’s store locator do not carry it. Couple stores said they stopped carrying it to make room for Gatorade Rain, which they were required to carry. I just wrote Gatorade this weekend to ask where the hell I could find it.
Same as Jordan.
MissP has several barrels of the stuff via Team Timex. It’s what we both have been using all season long for long rides and it seems to be working well for me. Rode a hard 100K yesterday on three bottles of the stuff and and two Power-gels and felt great the whole way.
I use it on days when I’m running during the summer here, and I need the extra electrolytes.
I can still find the bottled version at my local Publix.