13 Comments
User's avatar
Ming's avatar

First heard about openfuel from women of distance podcast; and now heard more about here! Like the visions! Keep it sustainable, focus and simple, environment and health friendly.

Seth LaReau's avatar

Exactly! Glad to see the word is getting out :)

Wilhelm Reich's avatar

Thank you for highlighting a new, small brand that tries to take a different approach. Best of luck to them! Hopefully we can try the products in Europe soon.

Quick question: is the price comparison chart public or something you would be willing to share?

Zach Hauer's avatar

Hey Wilhelm, happy to share the chart! https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-5n_0HQ-VUYx7h1howUd2nyYXLnfsc1zi8qTG9H7sjQ/edit?usp=sharing

I update it every couple months so there's a chance the prices might be out of date (though doesn't seem like anyone is lowering their prices right now so if anything they've likely increased)

Seth LaReau's avatar

Thanks, Zach! The screenshot in the article was a previous tracker (also a Google sheet) I put together that I updated with data from your chart.

Women Can.'s avatar

Great article. Big fans of what Zach is doing with OpenFuel and appreciate the shoutout to Ultra Uncovered!

Seth LaReau's avatar

Thanks! I listened to the podcast over the weekend (really enjoyed it!) and also linked it in the article :)

On the product and mission, I agree as well. I really vibe with the values and the product tastes great.

Women Can.'s avatar

Thank you for listening!!!!

Thomas's avatar

Are we ever going to get to a point where people stop buying branded sugar and just use the sugar in their pantry? It’s bonkers how much people pay for fuel.

Zach Hauer's avatar

It's objectively different fuel, and the sugar you buy at the store is also branded yeah?

I agree that there is a big gap to close in how something goes from the point of harvest to our shelves, how much waste it creates, and how much it costs.

Thomas's avatar

It is objectively not. Sugar is sugar. If you want a different ratio of glucose:fructose that’s fine but 1:1 is going to be ideal for 99% of consumers and that’s what table sugar is.

Zach Hauer's avatar

My dude, you just made two contradictory statements. The different ratios is precisely why it is different fuel, along with maltodextrin being easier to digest/make isotonic. I'll never dog someone for going the DIY route but there are reasons why fuel companies exist and have tons of customers. Better to improve how those companies operate than expect everyone to pour table sugar into their flasks before a run or ride

Thomas's avatar

I’d bet over 80% of people buying gels haven’t the slightest clue what we are talking about and would be more confused if we tried to tell them about glucose:fructose ratios. Agree we should improve how the fancy sugar companies operate but it’d be even better if everyone knew it was all just sugar and we could stop with all the single use plastic waste we generate.