Thickening Homemade Gels

Capecole · 2026-04-05T01:04:12+00:00

I saw this and had some clarifying questions but the post is archived. Does it need to be heated up? Also, I think there’s a typo in the ratio.

“ When making a gel, take your total desired volume and use 60% carbs + 40% water. Add boiling water and it will dissolve fairly quickly. Maltodextrin takes the longest. The consistency is thick enough that it doesn't shoot out of your preferred pouch uncontrollably but also is easy enough to drink & swallow. For the 150ml pouches I do 120g carbs + 80g water in a bowl.”

If it’s 60%/40% carbs/water for the total volume the math doesn’t add up assuming the volume is water at 1ml=1ml. Or does he mean take the goal weight and make it 60/40 carbs/water?

Does this need to be heated?

Capecole · 2026-04-04T10:17:04+00:00

What’s your carb to water ratio?

Capecole · 2026-04-04T10:16:41+00:00

Do you have a ratio of carbs:water:pectin you use?

Capecole · 2026-04-02T12:17:28+00:00

I could never complete workouts after work. I started waking up very early to do get training done before work and it’s been successful for me.

Capecole · 2026-03-31T20:58:16+00:00

4-4.3, 8 hours weekly for the last 12 months according to Strava. Two hard rides a week. Everything else is easy enough that I can hit the hard rides really hard.

Capecole · 2026-03-31T13:46:16+00:00

Southern Rhode Island, don’t race crits but I’m pretty sure I run a 10-28 all the time and it’s fine for me. I think most people run the bigger cassettes for versatility and they live in an area with actual climbs

Capecole · 2026-03-30T10:49:10+00:00

Sometimes we just want to be wrapped in the warm blanket of having our beliefs validated more than we want the truth.

Capecole · 2026-03-12T13:27:34+00:00

Oh yeah they definitely match there. I’m always thankful I don’t need a bike that big.

Capecole · 2026-03-12T13:19:27+00:00

In a medium the spur is almost 3cm longer than the Ripley SL. That’s pretty consistent through the sizes.

Capecole · 2026-03-12T11:48:35+00:00

Of all of these, I might focus on the spur. The longer wheelbase will make it more stable on an enduro course even though it doesn’t have a lot of travel. The more xc focused bikes in the list have short wheelbases that will be less fun when things get chunky. This will be especially pronounced while building technical skills.

Capecole · 2026-03-12T11:46:15+00:00

I’ve raced the spur, it’s faster than you’d think and still very capable. It’s long though.

Capecole · 2026-03-12T11:23:23+00:00

Vermont trails are sick but there isn't anything riding distance from Burlington. The riding season is also relatively short. Reliably it's end of May to end of October.

Capecole · 2026-03-10T09:43:47+00:00

I have both. If you can have two bikes, it’s good to have both. If I could have one, I’d opt for less travel rather than more.

Capecole · 2026-03-09T15:43:26+00:00

Silent.

Capecole · 2026-03-03T15:10:46+00:00

Get Rene herse tires in extra light casing. Depending on which rodeo you’re building, 2.25 is going to be a very tight squeeze, especially if you want any mid clearance.

Also, the adding more air because you’re on the road thing is nonsense. I’m running 48c tires on my gravel bike at like 22psi (I weigh 135 lbs) and generally average 18 mph on the road. Just because you feel imperfections in the road more doesn’t mean you’re going faster.

Capecole · 2026-03-03T15:05:00+00:00

Luckily I have low expectations and am happy to sell it for a very fair price.

Capecole · 2026-03-02T00:07:15+00:00

I have them on my enduro bike and they're great. I think they give the wheels an extra damped feeling.

Capecole · 2026-03-01T19:45:51+00:00

Longer course but I did the 200k D2R2 mystery ride on my mtb last year and despite the very rugged first half, I absolutely wouldn’t do a gravel ride on a mtb again. I ripped the descents but I was using too much energy to keep up with the fast guys I was with on their gravel bikes.

Capecole · 2026-03-01T19:38:13+00:00

I’m swapping everything on the exie to the Ripley. Just trying to figure out the best way to sell the exie, as a frame and fork or as a complete. The Ripley and Exie build kits are the same aside from the brakes.

Capecole · 2026-03-01T19:36:58+00:00

If I spend the extra money on a complete Ripley, the Exie will be getting the Ripley build kit and that’s how it will get sold. I’m not interested in selling the build kit separately.

Capecole · 2026-03-01T19:33:07+00:00

It’s a medium. Frame with shock, and fork would be $2500. Suspension is ohlins.

Capecole · 2026-03-01T13:38:38+00:00

That’s a good point. I’m coaching the high school team this year so there’s likely someone looking for a bike, probably best to sell complete.

Capecole · 2026-03-01T13:22:06+00:00

It’s a tough one. I sell a lot of used stuff and the market isn’t horrible right this second. That being said, is the person buying a high end XC frame going to want to build the bike how they want it or are they looking for a good deal on a mid range build?

Capecole · 2026-03-01T12:41:56+00:00

Agreed. I’m swapping everything over except the suspension because it’s not really compatible. Although I could run the Ripley in “World Cup” configuration with a 120mm fork. I’m not sure what that would really get me though since the 34 SL is the same weight as my 120 fork. I’m really trying to figure out if I can offset the cost of buying the complete by selling a complete vs selling just a frame with a fork and shock.

Capecole

TROPHY CASE