I found Veloforte energy chews which I’ve been loving for a couple years now. I’ve never had a single issue and all the flavours have a fantastic taste. I got to the point in my running journey where I needed to find a solution for my long runs and half-marathon races, as not fuelling was impacting my progress.

When you’re going long, you’re going to get to know your bike pretty well. So it’s important that you work with your bike — choose efficient gear to save your legs. A 100km cycle isn’t just a challenge on the legs. It can be a real test of mental strength too. So it’s always good to go together, especially if you’re new to long rides. Don’t underestimate the mood-boosting properties of having somebody to share the experience with, and drafting other riders will save you a lot more energy. It’s only a few weeks ago that I decided to finally get over my fear of energy gels and to start practicing with them ahead of future half marathon races. Wider tyres with lower pressure are much more comfortable over long-distance, they are also proved to be faster when paired with a wider rim — aerodynamically and with a lower rolling resistance.These gels taste “natural” like fruit syrup, and yoou can tell that they don’t contain any artificial stuff that might make it taste too sugary. Personally, I'm all about the Doppio flavour – the mix of caffeine and maple, with a hint of guarana, is a great combo, and there's no weird aftertaste. But, let’s be honest, it is easier to swallow a gel texture then chewing when you’re running fast during a race and don’t want to slow down.

Gareth works to a simple principle: “If you’re hungry, it’s too late”. Make sure you’re properly fuelled with a carb-forward breakfast before you start, and keep regularly topping up during your ride to avoid the bonk down the line. You need to be careful because a lot of recovery drinks are quite low in carbs,' she warns. 'If they say they’re sugar free, there’s no point having them.' This is largely due to their formulation, with natural ingredients only and no artificial additives that can sometimes make your gut feel uneasy. I had a fear of taking energy gels for the first few years of my running journey, because I was scared of having an upset stomach when running and had heard many runners’ stories of issues with gels. It’s wise to pedal with a higher cadence in a lower gear, which will cause less resistance — and less muscle soreness over the duration of your ride.You need a lot of carbs. Sometimes it’s hard to keep eating, so don’t be afraid to drink your carbs too. Train with your fuel. Get used to opening and eating your energy bar or gel while pedalling. Find your favourites and learn how frequently your body needs to fuel. I had such a positive experience with all the other Veloforte products I tried that it was the only brand I was willing to trust with gels, and I’m so glad I did. Taste and texture Make sure your brakes are working, whether you use rim brakes or disk, make sure they are clean and the pads are in good condition. I clean my brake bads and rims with isopropyl alcohol to make sure they operate at full stopping power without any grease or dirt contaminating the brake surface.