It’s no secret that CycleHub is a big fan of Australia's nicest cycling influencer, Josh Kwan.

One of Josh's obsessions is getting enough fuel on long rides. So, let's look at Josh Kwan’s tips for fuelling up!

"Sometimes I just hate eating gels on the bike," Josh says in his video on the subject, "opening the wrappers, getting all that gooey goo all over me."

His first tip for getting all your nutrition on the bike without having to open a single gel is…

Drink mix

"Drink mix is a fantastic way to get your carbs in," says Josh. "You can easily get about 80 to 100 grammes of carbs per bottle and stay hydrated at the same time as getting electrolytes in."

The Lick and Stick Method

Josh's next tip for avoiding gels is to eat Clif Bloks. They're not my favourite, but some friends I ride with love them because they are so easy to handle.

If you've never had a Clif Blok, each one is a little cube-shaped gummy lolly that is super high in carbs and even contains a touch of caffeine.

"There's six of them in a packet," explains Josh. "If you eat a whole packet, that's equivalent to two gels."

One reason Clif Bloks work is that they're a little bit easier to handle while you're pedalling.

And here's Josh Kwan's pro tip. Lick the bottom of each Clif Blok and stick them wet side down onto your bike's top tube. They will stick there as long as you need them to. Just remind yourself to eat one every 10 or 15 minutes.

Gel Flask

Josh's last tip for avoiding the mess and difficulty of opening and eating gels while riding is to use a gel flask.

"I've been emptying my gels pre-ride into a flask," he explains. "I can fit about five or six gels in the single flask, which is enough to keep me going for hours and hours."

Flasks have a one-way valve, so nothing leaks out when you don't want it to. Whenever you need a shot, just pull the flask out of your pocket, squeeze, and get a squirt of gel into your mouth.

"No wrappers, no mess, and your hands are clean," says Josh.

This $3 reusable flask from Aid Station holds four gels and can easily be stashed in your pocket or on-bike storage. You can load it with store-bought gels or make your own.

Easy Access Gels

Josh doesn't share this last tip. It comes from Inside Endurance Sports. And it's for those riders who absolutely must have gels no matter what.

Here's how to make gels as easy as possible.

On your top tube, just inches away from the stem, lay down a gel, and wrap electrical tape around its tear-away tab.

Repeat the process for as many gels as you want for the ride.

Then, when you need a gel, just rip it away from the electrical tape, and it will be ready to eat. The tab stays attached to the bike until you remove the tape.