Maple and honey and sucrose/dextrose/malto mixes have all been discussed. Has anyone tried candied ginger as a homemade/cheap/natural fuel source?
I like candied ginger but it can be pretty strong. Tying to eat the amount required to hit carb targets could be too intense. I could see myself including it in small amounts. Might be a nice palette cleanser.
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Wouldn’t nearly all the carbs just be from the added sugar from the candying?
Not sure how that would make it any more natural than just putting that same sugar in a bottle, certainly not cheaper.
Cheaper and more natural than some gels? probably. But probably hard to get down the quantity you’d need.
Like BlueHeron I like candied ginger just can’t see myself taking in enough on the bike.
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Ginger is pretty fibrous, isn’t it?
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2g per serving I think it said when I was checking on the carb content. That would add up FAST when you were trying to consume enough to get the carbs you’d need.
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I don’t think that’s a great source for carbs. You’d need to eat a lot to take in a meaningful amount of carbs, and candied ginger has a strong flavor. I can see it as a substitute for a chew in case you want to eat something solid. Moreover, it contains lots of fibers.
And would it be cheaper? Doubtful.
I think it’s actually pretty low in fiber compared to dried fruits (which I have tried with terrible GI effect). Like somebody said, all the carbs are from the sugar it is soaked in - So I’m not sure one is actually getting all that much ginger 
I am very prone to cramping and ginger is one of the ingredients in that hot shots product… So the strong flavor may actually be useful for someone like me.
I think I may try it for a week or two. I will report back 
I’ve tried candied ginger for cramps after Jonathan mentioned it some time ago. It hasn’t help my cramps, but so far, nothing else has, either… 
But to your first point, dates (without the pits). 
Dried fruit has too much fiber to deliver high carbs. Dates are another example. I like adding a little for variety.
Have you tried the Hotshot shots or the Pickle Juice shots? I cramp so badly. In life, in races, I just seem to be prone to it. I still haven’t raced with the Hotshots yet but I recently did my upcoming 50k MTB race course (PRing it, on a training ride - but that was because my time didn’t include 10 minutes off my bike unable to stand up due to cramps…) with it and I didn’t cramp. Today during a VO2 workout I used one of the pickle juice ones just to try it and I felt markedly better after it and got a 2 min power PR on my 6th 2 min effort on day 2 of back to back VO2 workouts… We will see if it helps at race effort soon enough but I’m feeling at least a little hopeful.
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Thanks! I have tried the pickle juice shots several times. They may dull things for a minute or two, but they really haven’t helped so far. I have not tried Hotshots, yet, but I’m open to it. After hearing Chad’s experience with it a few years ago, I was very uninterested, but I’m willing to try!
I’ve never tried the pickle juice for the same reason. I hate pickles, or anything sour really, so I can imagine tasting that coming up the back of my throat for the rest of the ride.