Which Energy Bar???

*Pez*
*Pez* Posts: 112
edited June 2008 in Health, fitness & training
Bars or Gels ??

Which energy bar is best?
Which taste good without making your jaw ache??

Ideally without spending over a pound a time !!

I'm normally in the saddle for a 3hr (ish) xc ride, so need 'something' half way around.

Or is there a better solution to hollow legs and a lack of energy - Any tips appreciated!!


Thanks,

Pez.
Speed is your friend

http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/2642911/

Comments

  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    Experiment and try a few different ones. Everyone has different tastes. Go with the
    one that tastes best. They are all basically the same thing. Gels are ok but I'm not a big fan. Give me a good carrot cake Clif Bar and I'm ready to hit it.

    Dennis Noward
  • Dazzza
    Dazzza Posts: 2,364
    Yup, just go with whatever your body gets along with best, those cadbury brunch cereal bars work great for me, i know of others that swear by nutri grain bars but i find them too heavy for my liking.
    The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it.
    Giant Anthem X
  • Mytchett Mike
    Mytchett Mike Posts: 175
    GEO Fair Trade bars are always in my bag - til I've eaten them :)

    Mike
  • JasonRwmb
    JasonRwmb Posts: 268
    edited March 2008
    For energy bars I think Torq are the best ones on the market, they taste good and are easy to eat, the words 'Soft & Chewy' spring to mind for some reason. However you will struggle to get them for under £1 each.

    For gels I like High5 products. High5 will send out a sample pack for £2 with 5 gels and a few different drink sachets. http://www.highfive.co.uk/free%20sample/freesample.html It is pot luck what flavours you got, one of the gels they sent me was chocolate which was a bit odd.

    Given the choice I would always go for bars, however gels are good for long rides when I really can't be bothered to eat proper food.

    For a 3 hour ride, I would say that sipping a decent energy drink on the way around may be a better option.
    http://www.tunnelhilltrolls.co.uk
  • *Pez*
    *Pez* Posts: 112
    Thanks Guys.

    Jason, I'll definately try the samples. Many thanks for the link.

    I decided to give the clif bars a try. Found them at a discount and with free P&P from Active8...
    http://www.aktive8.com/p/Clif-Bar-Organ ... clif7.html

    We'll see how they go.

    Energy drinks are a good idea. Do they turn your camelbac mouldy????
    Speed is your friend

    http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/2642911/
  • JasonRwmb
    JasonRwmb Posts: 268
    Just changed the High5 link so that it works.

    I just keep water in my camelbac, and then put a bottle on the bike with energy drink in.
    http://www.tunnelhilltrolls.co.uk
  • Georgeb
    Georgeb Posts: 315
    Its really down to personal preference like said above, torq bars are nice and soft, but go bars are very sticky and chewy.

    I suggest you just keep trying loads until you find some you like.
    [url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/16262159@N02/2343081823/DMR Sidekick
  • ride_whenever
    ride_whenever Posts: 13,279
    I prefer gels, as they get into you more easily.
    Neeermad
    Carbon 456
    456 lefty
    Pompino
    White Inbred
  • simon_e
    simon_e Posts: 1,707
    I like Tropical Wholefoods bars. Cheap and contain no rubbish (and there's no sports jargon/hype).

    Have tried a Torq bar, which went down well. Not cheap, though.

    Didn't I read on here recently that Tesco had gels for 49p?
    Aspire not to have more, but to be more.
  • BlackSpur
    BlackSpur Posts: 4,228
    If you properly cleam your camelback after each ride you should be OK with other drinks in it. I can't be bothered to clean my camelback though, so I just use water in it.
    "Melancholy is incompatible with bicycling." ~James E. Starrs
  • Steve P
    Steve P Posts: 15
    Personally I like the Jordans Nut bars. I just go for whichever are cheaper / gram when buying. ANd watch out 'cause some are packs of 3 and some are packs of 6.
  • beanston1975
    beanston1975 Posts: 66
    I have tried Torq bars and they were alright. I also like the Eat Natural bars you can get from the supermarkets, although they are pricey. Gels are horrible.

    If I am organised I make flapjacks (there was a recipe for them in WMB about 2 years ago) and they are well tasty and give a great boost! If anyone wants the recipe, just ask and I'll post it on here.
    My Build is almost complete - I just need some wheels and pedals!
  • endurojcb
    endurojcb Posts: 170
    Personally I don't like bought energy bars. My favourite is some nice homemade Banana bread! Tastes great and fills you up more too, without felling heavy inside you or repeating on you!
    2007 Merlin Malt 4
  • robmanic1
    robmanic1 Posts: 2,150
    I agree with Dazzza, the Cadbury brunch bars (choc/raisin) are tops, I hear Lance used them in all of his TDF victories.........or not.
    Pictures are better than words because some words are big and hard to understand.

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/34335188@N07/3336802663/
  • batch78
    batch78 Posts: 1,320
    I get on well with Science in Sport gels and recovery drinks, tend to take a 'normal' bar of something with me though aswell just because you then feel like you've actually had something to eat and it stops your tummy rumbling!
  • FENNER
    FENNER Posts: 94
    What exactly do I need to look for in an energy bar ? I tried a high5 energy bars and they rock but are a bit pricey :cry: so what do I need to look for in a cheaper bar that will have the same efect ?? Also tried wielder strawberry bars of some description and they left me feeling sick for about 2 hours :oops:

    Laters
  • Chaka Ping
    Chaka Ping Posts: 1,451
    Torq bars win hands down for me.

    Clif bars are OK but too expensive, Powerbars just about acceptable - but SIS bars are one of the least pleasant things I've ever eaten.

    Usually make do with a couple of cereal bars if it's a local ride and energy bars if it's a longer or "proper" ride. And a sandwich, of course.
  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    FENNER wrote:
    What exactly do I need to look for in an energy bar ? I tried a high5 energy bars and they rock but are a bit pricey :cry: so what do I need to look for in a cheaper bar that will have the same efect ?? Also tried wielder strawberry bars of some description and they left me feeling sick for about 2 hours :oops:

    Laters

    Energy bars are a kind of weird thing. The only real advantage that they have over real
    food is convienence. Bananas, fig bars, bagels, and stuff like that will take you just as far
    as any bar will, if not further. I used to carry fig bars and bananas all the time in the
    era before energy bars. It's just easier with bars. Either that or I'm just to lazy to pack up anything decent before a ride. I don't think any one bar is any better than another in
    getting you down the road. Your body is just looking for fuel to burn and probably doesn't care if it's a ham and cheese sandwich or the very latest, "must have", nutritionally
    perfect, do all, energy bar. Now taste, that's what I want. And something that doesn't upset my stomach.

    Dennis Noward
  • FENNER
    FENNER Posts: 94
    dennisn

    Love fig rolls and just got a camelbak mule so loads of storage :D game on. Going to give it a try as loads cheaper that specialist bars

    Laters
  • Langers
    Langers Posts: 95
    dennisn wrote:
    Energy bars are a kind of weird thing. The only real advantage that they have over real
    food is convienence. Bananas, fig bars, bagels, and stuff like that will take you just as far
    as any bar will, if not further.
    Dennis Noward

    Don't think my stomach could handle a bagel in a race. No where to store it either :P
  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    Langers wrote:
    dennisn wrote:
    Energy bars are a kind of weird thing. The only real advantage that they have over real
    food is convienence. Bananas, fig bars, bagels, and stuff like that will take you just as far
    as any bar will, if not further.
    Dennis Noward

    Don't think my stomach could handle a bagel in a race. No where to store it either :P

    That's what I meant by convienence. They are easy to use.

    Dennis Noward

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