The Science Behind SpeedON
SpeedON gels are built on a single principle: remove every friction point between athlete and fuel. That means formulating for absorption speed, gut tolerability, and palatability under race conditions — not just lab conditions.
Aqueous Formula
Traditional energy gels use a thick, syrup-like base that requires significant water to dilute for absorption. SpeedON uses an aqueous (water-based) formula — a thinner, more liquid consistency that begins absorbing faster, requires less water to wash down, and sits significantly lighter on the gut.
The practical difference is meaningful: athletes can take SpeedON gels at higher frequency with less water requirement, and report far less GI distress across long-duration events — even at the tenth gel.
Dual-Source Carbohydrates
SpeedON gels use a blend of glucose and fructose in a 2:1 ratio — the same ratio underpinning decades of sports nutrition research into multiple transportable carbohydrates (MTC).
Why it matters: glucose and fructose use different intestinal transporters (SGLT1 and GLUT5 respectively). By using both, SpeedON saturates more absorption pathways simultaneously — allowing higher total carbohydrate uptake than glucose alone, without proportionally increasing GI load. Research supports absorption rates of up to 90g of carbohydrate per hour using this dual-transporter approach vs. 60g/hr from glucose alone.
Electrolyte Profile
Every SpeedON gel contains a baseline electrolyte profile to support hydration and muscle function. The SALTED CARAMEL variant carries an elevated 800mg sodium per 100g carbs — specifically engineered for high-sweat athletes and hot weather racing where sodium depletion is a primary performance limiter.
Specific Formulas for Specific Athletes
Low Fructose (4:1 ratio) — MILD CITRUS is reformulated at a 4:1 glucose:fructose ratio for athletes with fructose intolerance or malabsorption. Same aqueous base, same performance output, reduced fructose load.
Caffeinated — MILD BERRY carries 200mg caffeine per 100g carbs. Caffeine has the strongest evidence base of any ergogenic aid in endurance sport, with effects on perceived effort, focus, and muscle contractility. Dosing at 3–6mg/kg body weight, timed to the latter half of an event, produces the most reliable performance effect.
Anthocyanin-Boosted — BLUE BOOST introduces anthocyanins from blue/purple fruit extracts. Anthocyanins are associated with reduced oxidative stress and muscle damage markers — particularly relevant in ultra-endurance and back-to-back training days where recovery is as important as performance.
MTC Drink Mix
The SpeedON Drink Mix uses three carbohydrate sources — HBCD (Highly Branched Cyclic Dextrin), maltodextrin, and fructose — each with different molecular weights and absorption kinetics. HBCD in particular has a low osmolality that minimises gastric emptying delay, making it especially suited to high-intensity efforts where gut blood flow is restricted.
The combination provides a sustained, high-flux carbohydrate delivery system that integrates directly with the gel range — allowing athletes to stack fuelling sources without stacking GI risk.