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Gel Bot. Is it a waterbottle, a gel flask or both?

(July 27, 2010)

I remember being young and naïve (some would say I still am), thinking that I could survive an entire XC race fueled by one water bottle and one gel packet. After learning the hard way numerous times—bonking in the worst possible places and DNFing on more than one occasion—I have learned you need calories during an endurance event, no matter the length.

Energy gels have become the leading way to refuel during a race, although convenient, gel packs can be hard to access in a true race situation. Plus, shoving a used gel packet in my pocket offers an unwelcome surprise come laundry day.

Seeing gel packets littering race-courses everywhere, I have always hoped for a solution to disposable packages during races. Hydrapak has come up with a clever way to move away from the gel packets with their new Gel Bot water bottle, featuring an internal reservoir to store up to three gels.

Gel Bot not only eliminates race-course litter, but having easy access to those much-needed calories makes it easier for riders to get the fuel they need while on the bike, Gel Bot makes gel use as easy as taking a sip from your water bottle. With the top nozzle closed, a light squeeze on the bottle forces gel through the center of the nozzle. Pull the nozzle fully open for that quick swig of water recommended by all gel companies.

If you’re looking to eliminate the desperate-fumbling necessary to locate a gel pack in your back pocket during a race, help reduce accidental trail litter, and guarantee yourself adequate fuel during your ride, the Gel Bot is a great upgrade from that smelly old water bottle you’ve got fermenting in your bottle cage now.

3 full gels fit in the gel reservoir. Enough for a long XC race, plus you can mix and match... Allowing for interesting flavors such as Vanilla+Espresso or Chocolate+Banana or whatever else you decide to dream up.	Adjusting the reservoir cap allows for use with smaller amounts of gel with out a change in functionality.	Featuring a a soft rubber bit valve, the Gel Bot offers quick water flow to follow up the shot of gel. The inner green plastic allows for the gel to be extracted.	Gel Bot fits in your cage like any standard 24oz bottle.

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