GamJams Tech: Premes, Picks, Promos p/b November Bicycles — 4-28-11

As a cyclist, the search for newer and better gear is constant — there's always something else out there. Premes, Picks, Promos will highlight both the next big thing and the sleeper deal.

I've been on a real-food kick lately. Part of it stems from not wanting to send in shop employee forms to get a pile of energy gels and chews and stuff like that. But the other part of it is taste — actual food tastes really good. Energy gels — even the best ones — don't compare.

A couple of weeks ago, as I meandered through the aisles of Costco (cheapest package of organic lettuce in town), I happened upon a package of Belgian waffles from a company called Julian's Recipe. The bit that caught my eye was the "Liege Style" tag. I like waffles, I like the idea of Belgium and I certainly like Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

They were 58 cents apiece (more grocers need to break down prices by units), meaning they were 20 cents cheaper than Honey Stinger waffles, and have 250 calories per waffle (90 more than a Stinger waffle). They're not that big, so they fit easily in a jersey pocket.

And they taste awesome. There's a bit of pearl sugar on top that, assuming you actually cook the waffle, makes for a crunchy outer crust. When pulled from a pocket in the middle of a ride (they're individually wrapped), you lose that, but you keep the great taste.

Since the waffles are pretty high in fat, I only take them with me on longer rides. I figure at that point I'll actually be hungry, plus I can burn off those fat calories a little more readily.

There are downsides to Julian's Recipe waffles. One is that, as mentioned above, they taste awesome. That means they're automatically a target when I'm in need of a snack at home. A little 250-calorie bomb is OK sometimes, but usually not when I really want one.

The second downside is the bulk. While they're small enough to put in a jersey pocket, there's room for two at most. I've been able to put nine Stinger waffles in a single pocket. (These are the things you do in winter at bike shops.) This bulk isn't a horrible thing, though, since I can't imagine fueling a long ride on waffles alone, anyway.

While it's on my mind, here are three other good things about Costo: cheap beer (cheap good beer), Mexican Coke on an 18-bottle flat and giant jars of Nutella.

Fizzy-fizz follow-up

In last week's GJ Tech column I mentioned GU Brew electrolyte tablets. At the time, I wasn't a fan — the flavor was too light and the fizz was off-putting.

For better flavor, I dialed back the amount of water to the recommended 16oz. (Side note: Most water bottles are 20oz. Why not make a tablet that's good for 20oz of water?) It tastes better, to be sure, but that fizz ... . I'll probably go back to the regular stuff next time I need a little extra in the bottles.

A dissolving tablet is a great idea — they're quite portable, for one — but it's not for me. If you're cool with fizzy bottles, check 'em out.

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In addition to publishing GamJams Midwest, Bryan Redemske manages the Trek Bicycle Store of Omaha (Midtown), is a professional writer and a Cat 3 racer. He drinks a lot of coffee.

 

 

 

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Sheesh, some of that stuff is expensive. Good thing you get your frames and wheels at Pro Deal pricing. Wait — you don't? You might want to look at November Bicycles. They've got a new racer-specific model designed to strip unnecessary pricing out of the cost of your new bike. It's like a Pro Deal for everyone.

November Bicycles. Race Smart.