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OTE Energy Gel

7
£1.35

VERDICT:

7
10
Distinctive flavour, fair price and all natural ingredients, plus some clever packaging
Weight: 
56g
Contact: 
www.otesports.co.uk

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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OTE is a new range of nutrition products aimed mainly at cyclists and triathletes, including these energy gels. They're entering a crowded market place but the OTE gels do stand apart from some competitors thanks to their distinctive taste, the fact that they're made from all-natural ingredients, and their neutral PH balance to help reduce the stomach discomfort.

OTE stands for On The Edge, a new company aiming 'to be the brand that delivers both functionality and taste', as previously reported on road.cc, and they certainly do that with these gels.

On taste, the flavours available are Vanilla, Lemon & Lime and Orange. We tested the latter two. The taste is pleasant and distinctive, not strong, bitter or acidic, and not as tangy or zesty as some other brands. Whether that's a good or bad thing comes down to personal taste. Personally, I found it just right.

The consistency is on the liquid side; not as drink-like as High 5 gels but not as thick as, for example, ZipVit or Mulebar Kick gels.

On functionality, each gel contains 20.5g of carbohydrate, and provides 82Kcal. Depending how hard you ride (and on other factors such as physiology) that's enough carb to keep you going for about 20 to 40 minutes. I tested the gels on a long hilly ride around Cornwall (and, boy, was it hilly), taking one every half-hour, and found they powered me along nicely.

The neutral pH recipe seemed to work as well. After consuming a few of these gels, there was no sign of any bloating or other stomach discomfort.

According to the packaging, the main ingredients are water, maltodextrin, fructose and fruit juice concentrates. The gels also contain 'balanced electrolytes' - a pinch of sodium and magnesium – which 'help to promote fluid uptake, so you remain hydrated during exercise'.

So far so good, but it's worth noting that the gel itself weighs 56g, so for every 20g of carb you're carrying another 26g in your back pocket. OTE gels are not unique here - the same kind of ratio is found in some other very popular gels - while others have a much higher carbs-per-gram ratio, which other riders prefer.

The OTE energy gel is also available in a pineapple flavour, with the same carb content plus an additional 50mg of caffeine. The favour is mild, and not surprisingly doesn't have the citrus notes of the Orange and Lemon & Lime gels. I was expecting a coffee taste, but it doesn't have that either; the caffeine is derived from guarana – a South American plant, with beans that have a higher caffeine content than coffee. I used one of these caffeine gels on the last few miles of my Cornwall test ride (that monster out of Newlyn, for those that know the area) and it definitely gave me an extra kick.

The OTE gels are free from artificial flavouring, colouring and sweeteners. They're also gluten free, dairy free and kosher, and suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

Finally, a note about the packaging. OTE gels have two openings: a small one if you prefer to sip or you're refuelling on the go and don't want gel all over your track-mitts; and a large one if you're off the bike or just prefer to get the stuff down in one gulp. It's a small touch, but an excellent idea.

On price, these energy gels retail at £1.35 each on the OTE website. The caffeine version is £1.75. This is roughly on a par with the price of gels from other manufacturers, and somewhere half-way along the scale on a crude carbs-per-quid basis.

But as with all energy products, for most cyclists is doesn't just come down to price or the carbs-per-gram ratio. It comes down to more personal considerations such as taste, texture and impact on the stomach – all positive in my opinion, and on that basis I'd recommend giving OTE gels a try. If they work for you, stick with them. If they don't, then no harm done.

Verdict

Energy gels with distinctive flavour, fair price and all natural ingredients, plus some clever packaging.

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road.cc test report

Make and model: OTE Energy Gel

Size tested: n/a

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

This product is a carbohydrate based energy gel, designed to refuel cyclists on longer rides (ie over an hour or two). The manufacturers website says OTE gels are

'...easy to use, contains carbohydrate and balanced electrolytes to deliver energy to your working muscles when they need it most. Professional athletes use energy gels when they need 'instant' energy or when the intensity of the exercise requires more carbohydrate. OTE Energy Gels have been designed to be light on the stomach; made with real fruit concentrates, they not only energise and taste delicious, but also prevent stomach discomfort caused by many other commercially available gels.'

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

The OTE website highlights the key features as:

Ready to drink

Maltodextrin and Fructose

Neutral pH

Balanced Electrolytes

Light on the stomach

Natural, delicious flavouring

Free from: artificial sweeteners and colours

DualDelivery packaging system

20 to 30 minutes of energy

As always when trying a new product, test these gels while training first (don't use them for the first time during an important race or sportive) just in case they don't agree with you.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

The packaging is a stangard gel sachet, with the clver addition of OTE's "Duel Delivery System" - fancy name for two different openings ('sip' or 'gulp'), which is a very neat idea.

Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10

Performance is very good: Each gel delivers 20g of carb, which was enough to keep me going for about half-an-hour's hard riding befor needing another.

Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
7/10

Each gel weighs 56g, and contacts 20.5g of carb. This means you're carrying 25g of water or other stuff in your back pocket, alongside the carb you need. This is no problem if you like a gel on the liquid side, but it's a lot of extra bulk if you're carrying enough gels for a long ride, and some riders may prefer a higher carbs-per-gram ratio.

Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

On price, these energy gels retail at £1.35 (or £1.75 for the caffeine version) which is fair, but not a bargain. It's roughly on a par with the price of gels from other manufacturers, and somewhere half-way along the scale on a crude carbs-per-quid basis. By way of comparison:

OTE (56g gel, 20g of carb, £1.35)

High5 (38g gel, 20g of carb, £1)

ZipVit (60g gel, 51g of carb, £1.50)

Sponser Liquid Energy Long (40g gel, 23g of carb, £1).

Mulebar Kicks (37g gel, 27g of carb, £1.50)

Nectar Fuel Cell (40g gel, 20g of carb, £1.50)

Bike Food Pure Energy (40g gel, 30g of carb, £1.45)

[all prices approximate]

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

The product performed very well, in that it tasted very nice, caused no stomache issues, and powered me along very nicely

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Taste, texture, no stomach issues

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Personally, the carbs-per-gram ratio is a bit low for me. I prefer to use gels which deliver more carb and have less extra ingedients in my back pocket. While the liquid may be a useful addition to that in the bottles, on a long ride it's a simple matter of space.

Did you enjoy using the product? yes

Would you consider buying the product? personally no - I prefer a higher carbs per gram ratio

Would you recommend the product to a friend? yes

Anything further to say about the product in conclusion?

The OTE gels enter a crowded market place, but their distinctive taste, pleasant texture and use of natural (and pH neutral) and ingredients set them apart from some competitors. The dual oening is also handy. As a very good provider of carbohydrate there's no argument, and these gels would score 9 on that basis, but the carb-per-gram ratio is a bit low and the price isn't a bargain, meanining a couple of points docked, giving an overall score of 7.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 51  Height: 5ft 10 / 178cm  Weight: 11 stone / 70kg

I usually ride: an old Marin Alp, or an old steel classic  My best bike is: an old Giant Cadex (can you see a theme here?)

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: A few times a week  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: touring, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding,

 

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6 comments

Avatar
mingmong | 10 years ago
0 likes

Caveat Emptor to people with fillings. Don't shove the gel packet too far in your mouth as an electric shock will follow  40

Avatar
VeNT | 10 years ago
0 likes

Dude, all of Cornwall's like that  3

Avatar
toetruck | 10 years ago
0 likes

I live on 'that monster out of Newlyn'  103 Glad you enjoyed it. Maybe I need some of these gels!  4

Avatar
Peter Slater | 10 years ago
0 likes

I can confirm that the OTE Caffeine Gel contains 50mg of Caffeine from the natural ingredient Guarana. 50mg is about the right amount of Caffeine to provide a pick me up during exercise. OTE Gels are designed to be used during training or racing when you need 'instant' energy or the intensity of the exercise requires more carbohydrate. Our drinks and gels have each been designed to contain 20g modular servings of carbohydrate to help you achieve your correct fuelling and hydration strategy throughout the duration of your event.

Avatar
Canis Cibo | 10 years ago
0 likes

I'm not surprised you got a kick, if it has 50g of caffeine in it. And also palpitations and twitching. I think you missed the 'm' for milligram (1/1000g)out.

Avatar
David Else replied to Canis Cibo | 10 years ago
0 likes

> I think you missed the 'm' for milligram (1/1000g)out <

Ah yes. Sorry. Mea culpa. 'mg' is is. I've made the change to the review.

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