226ERS High Fructose Gel Review: Cola & Strawberry Flavours on the Road

We’ve used a stack of energy gels over the years—some too thick, others bone-dry, most leaving our stomachs unhappy. So when we tried the 226ERS High‑Fructose Gel in Cola and Strawberry, we didn’t expect fireworks. Just something solid, tolerable in long days. Here’s our take. Some tangents, some hesitations, but all real feelings.

Inside the Sachet

Each stick (80 g) contains 55 g of carbs, ~25 g of sugar, and 250 mg of sodium, plus 100 mg of caffeine in the Cola variety . The carb mix is maltodextrin and fructose at a 10:8 ratio, designed to hit max absorption rates without gut flare-ups—says their formula notes and nutrition research references Jeukendrup and Jentjens among others.

It’s vegan, gluten- and lactose-free, with minimal ingredients: maltodextrin, fructose, water, salt, natural flavor, gelling agent, acidity regulator, preservative. Simple is good. No hidden sugars, no weird additives.

They recommend max 2 gels per hour with ~300 ml water; higher doses risk overloading digestion systems, though through proper gut traning intake could support up to ~90 g carbs/. Us personally 55g in a gel is enough to go with our carb bottle mix.

First Impressions: Opening & Texture

The stick is large, 80 g—not the usual 30–40 g. That felt odd at first, but opening it even with one hand is easy. The packaging is sturdy doesn’t tear or drip. Still, if you’re used to ultra compact gels, these take more pocket space.

Texture is runnier than expected. That meant easy swallowing. We could take it on climbs without flinching. Cola feels thinner; Strawberry is thicker but not gluey. No chewing required. Less stickiness in mouth unless we skipped water. Water chaser helps.

Flavor wise, Cola tastes like flat soda barely sweet, a touch tangy. It took a few uses to appreciate it, but once you’re deep in an effort, it’s oddly nice. Strawberry is sweet but not sugary sweet, like gentle jam diluted, for me its a bit to sweet but Eva loves it. This flavour is fine in humid rides or long sessions.

Our only gripe: edges can snag mesh pockets minor, but worth noting.

Mid-Ride Effects: Energy & Digestion

We tested them on rides from 90 minutes to nearly three hours, interval sessions, altitude climbs, coastal humidity, Pyrenees heat. Took one gel around 60 minutes in, chased with water.

Within 10 to 15 minutes we felt a gentle surge legs didn’t suddenly jolt, but they hummed along better, steadier. Cola version felt slightly quicker, maybe due to the caffeine. Strawberry was smoother and slower onset but both sustained energy for 30 40 minutes. No crash afterward.

Other endurance gel users say these fructose blends ease digestion. We never felt cramps, bloating, or gut block during or after. Could we push three gels in a row? We did, but that crossover into jitter territory on Cola. That said, no worse outcome beyond mild buzz.

Worth noting: Cola contains caffeine; Strawberry does not, so no extra stimulation there. A bit of a contradiction maybe, because sometimes we wished Strawberry had a caffeine boost too. But maybe flavor balance is fine that way.

Scientific Reality: Why It May Work

The carb ratio maltodextrin to fructose at ~1:0.8 splits absorption via separate intestinal transporters (SLGT‑1 for glucose, GLUT‑5 for fructose), allowing more than 60 g carbs/hour absorption without heavy GI burden. That math helps explain why our stomachs stayed calm even when riding hard.

With sodium at 250 mg per gel, electrolyte balance felt decent too, no cramps or brain fog on hot days. The high-sodium content is quite helpful, especially as sweat rates climbed.

The brand markets it as part of the Cologne List. tested to be doping‑free and WADA‑compliant. That matters if you race or care about supplement safety.

Real (Imperfect) Usage Notes

After one interval block, we felt alertness and no heavy stomach. Later grabbed Strawberry and the lighter sweetness helped offset mouth dryness. Took gel, chugged, continued.

Some of us noticed slight jitter if we doubled up Cola within 30 minutes. Moderate doses felt safe though—not edgy energy.

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

• High carb density (55 g) ideal for sustained efforts.
• Efficient double-transporter absorption.
• Easy to open one-handed.
• Flavour balance workable in heat & effort.
• No digestive drama even when pushing limits.
• Cola offers mild caffeine boost.

Limitations

• At 80 g pack they’re bulky and didn't fit our area jerseys so well when having to put multiple, specifically hard in our aero jerseys.
• Price is mid premium; regular use adds cost.
• Sticky mouthfeel if not hydrated enough.
• Mesh snag from edges.
• Risk of overstimulation if you overdo the caffeine one.

Compared to Homemade Kits & Other Gels

Some endurance athletes mix their own maltodextrin:fructose gels at ~2:1 or 1:0.8 ratios with salt and flavour additives for low cost and tailored taste. That gives more control, cheaper bulk, but hygiene and quality vary.

We do use our own homemade high carb mix of Malto Dextrin and Fructose, we top this up with pure ultra concentrate cherry juice for more carbs. We use this on top in our drinks though and the gels are super for fast carbs.

Against top-tier gels like Maurten or SIS Beta Fuel those are smoother, more neutral in taste, and sometimes isotonic. But often less sodium, less carb-per-stick, more bland. The 226ERS gels feel purposeful, meant for riders who push hours, need carbs fast, and don’t want GI surprises.

What We’d Do Next Time

1. Use our water bottle to rinse hands before touching face, especially after Cola.
2. Maybe pack a smaller snack after 3+ gels—a cereal bar or fruit—because we felt hunger creeping.
3. Alternate flavours gel-by-gel: first Cola for kick, next Strawberry for smoother follow-up cadence. Cola + Cola is a heart stopper.

Final Thoughts (With Some Hesitation)

We’re not wowed by every gel. Some feel like sugar bombs, others feel bland. These especially Strawberry hit a sweet spot for mid-ride feeding: dense, palatable, digestible. Cola is useful when we’re flagging, or need a little alertness; Strawberry is the calmer companion.

Would we buy them again? Yes—but in moderation. Probably reserve them for long, high-intensity rides or race simulations. We wouldn’t use one for easy endurance spins or short efforts. Too much.

If your gut’s sensitive or you hate gelatinous textures, this may still be too sweet or thick. But if you want performance fuel that doesn’t feel harsh, these fit real‑life demands: you tear, you sip, you push. No overthinking.

How to Use Them

• Open one gel around 45–60 min into exercise.
• Drink ~300 ml water afterward.
• One gel every hour; max two if necessary.
• Alternate Cola and Strawberry if using two in a row.
• Monitor how stomach feels—don’t push if you sense discomfort.
• Store in cool, dry place to preserve consistency and flavour

Bottom Line

The 226ERS High‑Fructose gels offer high‑density carbs, solid sodium content, mild caffeine in Cola, and a science-backed absorption formula. Combined with practical packaging and tolerable flavors, they work when it counts.

Not perfect—but they’re solid. If you need mid‑ride fuel that works, without upsetting your stomach, these gels belong in your kit. For longer rides, alternate them with other fuel sources to keep variety and energy levels stable.