When companies ask me to review one of their products I always tell them that it takes about 30 days for me to evaluate the product and publish the article. Last week I was sent a few boxes of Vi Fuel Endurance Gel to review and it only took one bike ride for me form an opinion about the gel—it’s great! In fact, I started writing the review in my mind halfway through the ride. Let’s cut to the chase: Vi Fuel is a great tasting energy gel that is easy on the stomach and delivers a steady stream of carbohydrates to your body. At the end of this article I’ll tell you how to get a great discount on Vi Fuel so you can try it for yourself—and some lucky reader will end up with a three free boxes of Vi Fuel (see details below).
Vi Fuel Endurance Gel
Vi Fuel is a carbohydrate gel designed for endurance athletes like cyclists, triathletes and runners. Vi Endurance, the company that makes the gel, is fairly new so don’t feel bad if you haven’t heard of them before. They spent a lot of time researching what it takes for athletes to achieve optimal performance and I believe they have developed a product every endurance athlete needs to try.
One package (32g) of Vi Fuel delivers 100 calories with 23g of carbohydrates. The main source of carbohydrate is maltodextrin, and dextrose is the secondary carb source. This blend of carbs makes for very easy digestion. A lot of energy gels just fill you up with simple sugars that gives you a quick burst of energy, followed by a crash, and ending up with stomach distress. The Vi Endurance Website claims that Vi Fuel “has allowed people with Crohn’s Disease to resume training, as their systems can handle the digestion process of Vi Fuel with no trouble.” Each package of Vi Fuel also has a small amount of taurine, citrulline malate, magnesium aspartate, and potassium aspartate to reduce muscle fatigue and aid in muscle recovery.
Vi Fuel has the consistency (or viscosity) of honey and is available in three flavors: Chocolate, Vanilla, and Peach Cobbler. Since I am a cyclist and not a food critic I always dread attempting to describe the flavor of food products, but let me try. The chocolate gel is made with pure, organic cocoa powder and has a smooth chocolate flavor—it tastes like dark chocolate. The vanilla gel is made with real vanilla—not the cheap imitation vanilla a lot of companies use. The peach cobbler gel is my favorite and it is made with organic peach extract (and a hint of cinnamon).
When the folks at Vi Endurance first approached me about writing a review they asked if I would be willing to include a special discount code in the review for my readers. They also inquired about me offering a product giveaway (something I’ve never done before). However, I did not want to commit to either of their offers until I tried their product. Now that I’ve had a chance to use Vi Fuel on several rides I am willing to highly recommend to other athletes (if you’ve read many of my reviews you know I seldom “highly recommend” anything). So here’s the deal: Vi Fuel is not available at many bike shops yet, so the best way to order it is from their Website. A box of 24 packages of gel sells for $32 (a very competitive price). When you place your order just enter the code listed in the graphic above and you will receive a 25% discount on your first two orders (sales tax is added only for orders shipped to a Colorado address). The discount code is placed inside the graphic to keep Google from reading it and giving it to the whole world. It is obvious that the code can be traced back to this blog, but I assure you that I have absolutely no financial interest in the company. For those not familiar with this blog, I have no sponsors, paid links or advertising.
Special Discount Code Listed Above
Now for the product giveaway! Vi Endurance is going to give one box of each flavor (three boxes total) of Vi Fuel to the winner of this contest. To enter all you have to do is pick a number between 1 and 200 and enter it in the comment section below (you don’t actually have to make a comment). On November 30, 2012 I am going to have a friend of mine, a local business owner, use of random number generator to pick the winning number. If no one has the exact number the person with the number closest to, but not over, the winning number will get the box of Vi Fuel. In case two or more people chose the same number the first person to pick the number will be the winner. This contest is for U.S. residents only and only one entry per household allowed. When the contest is over I will publish the results in the comments section of this article.
Chatter
November 16, 2012 at 8:26 AM
98
Bonnie Cunningham
November 16, 2012 at 8:38 AM
99
John
November 16, 2012 at 8:57 AM
105
Joboo
November 16, 2012 at 9:03 AM
125
And thanks, to you and Vi Fuel!!
Peace
Cary Gossett
November 16, 2012 at 10:03 AM
13
Carrie
November 16, 2012 at 10:59 AM
Hip hip hooray for a giveaway! Going with 25, my old basketball number. Good luck, everyone!
Carrie
November 16, 2012 at 11:00 AM
Woohoo for a giveaway! I’m going with 25, my old basketball number.
draconianstylist
November 16, 2012 at 11:04 AM
Wow, high praise from you. I have always hated the taste of most energy products for me it has always been find the one that tastes the least horrible.
113
Papi
November 16, 2012 at 11:09 AM
42. Gotta love a giveaway!
Dave Buscarello
November 16, 2012 at 11:10 AM
133
Joanna Broadbent
November 16, 2012 at 11:30 AM
13 Love that you are doing it this way!!!!
anniebikes
November 16, 2012 at 12:04 PM
50
spoonfuloflentils
November 16, 2012 at 12:06 PM
166
brotherelwood
November 16, 2012 at 12:31 PM
147
Zeus Adventure
November 16, 2012 at 1:18 PM
I’m currently researching gels and other “snacks” to take while riding… I guess I have to give these a try… as the giveaway goes… I’ll take good ol’ #5
Be Safe and Be Green
CentralArkansan
November 16, 2012 at 1:22 PM
Since it’s random: 171
Tracy Wilkins
November 16, 2012 at 1:25 PM
172
Lisa
November 16, 2012 at 1:50 PM
7. Someone took 42 already. I haven’t seen this is stores here yet but I’ll be looking for it. Peach Cobbler? I need some new things to try during long runs this winter.
All Seasons Cyclist
November 16, 2012 at 2:27 PM
Peach Cobbler — this is the only gel I know of in that flavor — you need to try it!
IowaTriBob
November 16, 2012 at 3:04 PM
67 – Good review and come on lucky number 67.
the drunken cyclist
November 16, 2012 at 3:53 PM
114. I just won, right?
John Pedit
November 16, 2012 at 4:58 PM
133
elisariva
November 16, 2012 at 5:09 PM
Sounds like a good product. Thanks for the review! My guess 66
Carl
November 16, 2012 at 6:06 PM
164
Rob Z
November 16, 2012 at 6:59 PM
115
Dan
November 16, 2012 at 9:27 PM
Number 162
dougmasten
November 16, 2012 at 10:02 PM
168
runcolbyrun
November 17, 2012 at 5:41 AM
17! I won right? And thanks for stopping by our blog!
Mark K
November 17, 2012 at 6:17 AM
132. Thanks!
SeaDog
November 17, 2012 at 8:49 AM
54 !!
stagewest
November 17, 2012 at 11:30 AM
71
Chris Buchanan
November 17, 2012 at 12:45 PM
88
womencyclists
November 17, 2012 at 12:57 PM
Cool! A giveaway! My number is: 100
ironwomom
November 17, 2012 at 3:37 PM
40
Mt Lemmon rider
November 17, 2012 at 8:51 PM
I just rolled the dice and it came out: 153
College Tri
November 17, 2012 at 9:58 PM
55!
Jrakai
November 18, 2012 at 4:47 PM
69 – i’ve tasted many, held on to a couple. I’m always interested to try another if it would give me the energy I need.
doug hemmer
November 19, 2012 at 1:24 AM
134
spicyhomemaker
November 19, 2012 at 6:18 AM
Who can say no to a giveaway?!!
37
Warren
November 19, 2012 at 6:45 AM
193 to win
Josel
November 19, 2012 at 8:21 PM
113
tyson.longhurst@facebook.com
November 19, 2012 at 9:58 PM
77
Kenny
November 20, 2012 at 3:34 PM
61
adventurefoot
November 21, 2012 at 9:36 AM
I love that you reviewed VI here! I tried VI for the first time this winter and think it’s a great product- much better than GU IMO. The chocolate is my favorite flavor- but the Vanilla is good too. (It’s just me, but I’m not crazy about peach. My husband likes that one though… lol) Great new company.
Oh.. .my number… um… 33!!
All Seasons Cyclist
November 21, 2012 at 10:42 AM
Where did you find the Vi Fuel to begin with?
adventurefoot
November 21, 2012 at 11:16 AM
Actually, the brother of the founder lives in my town here in Central IL and is in the Heartland Roadrunners Club with me. I was kind of skeptical (a gu by any other name…??) but it really is better on your tummy- especially if you’re like me and get nervous before big rides or runs!! Our local bike shop is being remodeled but is probably going to be carrying VI going forward
adventurefoot
November 21, 2012 at 11:18 AM
*Actually, I am not 100% sure.. but pretty sure… the reason you got samples might be because I recommended your blog to the founder’s brother as a possible place to publicize- since you do great reviews
Small world after all!
All Seasons Cyclist
November 21, 2012 at 4:29 PM
Well, if that was the case, thank you VERY much! Ride safely!
adventurefoot
November 21, 2012 at 11:29 AM
*Yep. On further review of an old email- I recommended you to them on November 1st
robert frazier
November 21, 2012 at 5:39 PM
76
Questionably Texan
November 23, 2012 at 7:11 AM
Someone already took my first choice, so I’ll go with 121.
Andy Heuser
November 23, 2012 at 8:39 PM
179
krisklotzbach
November 26, 2012 at 8:39 AM
97
All Seasons Cyclist
December 1, 2012 at 11:45 AM
THE CONTEST IS NOW OVER. The winning number was 103, and the closest person to this number (without going over) was “womencyclists” who had selected 100. I’ve sent her a note already and three boxes of Vi Fuel will be on their way to her very shorty.
Michael Hodges
December 2, 2012 at 10:45 AM
Congrats womencyclists! Enjoy the Vi Fuel and let us know what you think! And to all… thanks for participating! Don’t forget you can still use the discount code for 25% off your first 2 orders! Just enter ‘AllSeasonVi’ during the check out process! And keep an eye out for our new and improved website coming very soon! Thanks again!