ZipVit too expensive, alternatives?

Muztard

ZipVit energy bars/drinks are getting too expensive, can anyone recommend an alternative?

Pretre

There's loads of them - SIS, High5, Torq, Powerbar, etc
None of them are cheap so I'm sure someone will post with recipes for making your own..

jibberjim

You can just make your own, see http://jibbering.com/sports/

Monty Dog

It's not the cost, it's the taste and ZipVit are far too sweet IMO. I use High5 4:1 and never dose as high as recommended.

PhilofCas

good old fashion banana's and diluted fruit juice ?

racingcondor

The humble banana is a great cheap alternative to energy bars (especially if you take both on long rides). Otherwise they're all pretty pricy but I'd advise sticking to whatever you know you can digest.

senoj

Porridge oats,mixed with honey,small mount of butter,raisons and chopped nuts.
Bake for 10 mins,let them cool down a little,cut them in to squares,wrap individually in grease proof paper,seal the open edge with masking tape.
I used these all last year through long training rides and sportives instead of energy bars.
They cost next to nothing and are full of fuel.

Jungli

You can get 10kg of unflavoured carbs from Torq for a fairly reasonable sum compared to most and then just add a bit of orange squash or whatever to flavour and add however much you want. If I think I am going to sweat loads add some elete drops.

I munch on fig rolls or alpen bars or soreen if I need to.

For recovery drink, I use 80g of the above Torq carbs, 30g of chocolate flavoured protein powder (I use Natures Best Whey Protein) and if after a long ride add a few grams of glutamine (also Natures Best). Works out much cheaper that way and you can play with amounts to suit.

J

jibberjim

Jungli wrote:

You can get 10kg of unflavoured carbs from Torq for a fairly reasonable sum

TORQ carbs are outrageously expensive for what is nothing but Maltodextrin!

grahamcp

jibberjim's site is very good. I had been using the SIS stuff, but hated the sticky sweetness. Now I simply use the maltodextrin (and electrolyte) from myprotien. It's not sweet and barely tastes any different to plain water (I normally adding a splash of red grape juice). Works out dirt cheap compared to the branded stuff.

For solids I agree with the others on bananas, but also rate trek bars (http://www.naturalbalancefoods.co.uk/st ... fault.aspx) or failing that clif bars.

clu

Had a sample taste of the different bars at the cycleshow at Earls Court at the weekend and found they were very sickly. Didn't like the idea of having a bar covered in chocolate in the back pocket of my s/s shirt while I'm out on a ride. It'll melt and turn into a gooey mess, not nice.

Instead I prefer fig rolls or the Kelloggs Elevenses Bakes. I find the Bakes are a bit large on their own, so I cut them in half wrap each one in foil and pop them in my shirt pocket for when I'm out on a ride. They're not as expensive as the ZipVit bars, won't melt (not covered in chocolate) and all the supermarkets sell them.

TheStone

I just use various cereal bars. A few different ones for long rides. I found with the energy bars, I didn't eat as much as they're all so horrid.

I do use the High5 drink, but I'm sure squash wouldn't make that much difference.

But I swear by the recovery drinks. SIS Rego for me. Really does work. And always have a couple of gels for emergency.

Gazzaputt

Honey Stinger bars are lovely in chocolate and peanut butter. Mule aren't to bad either.

Zipfit are awful along with Torq and High5.

Muztard

senoj wrote:

Porridge oats,mixed with honey,small mount of butter,raisons and chopped nuts.
Bake for 10 mins,let them cool down a little,cut them in to squares,wrap individually in grease proof paper,seal the open edge with masking tape.
I used these all last year through long training rides and sportives instead of energy bars.
They cost next to nothing and are full of fuel.

Thx Looks like I'll try making my own. And I always bring at least on banana along when doing over 30miles.

clx1

I don't find the Zipvit any more expensive than the others at £1.10 a bar if you buy 20. Having said that they are all expensive. Clif bars are great but they work out at £1.13 per bar if you buy a box of 15.
I have just calculated how much energy bars, gels and energy drink is costing me and it's pretty scary, as much as £60 to £80 a month.
Think I am going to go down the fig roll and orange squash route!

Muztard

CLX1 wrote:

I have just calculated how much energy bars, gels and energy drink is costing me and it's pretty scary, as much as £60 to £80 a month.!

You could get a new bike for that

PhilofCas

CLX1 wrote:

I don't find the Zipvit any more expensive than the others at £1.10 a bar if you buy 20. Having said that they are all expensive. Clif bars are great but they work out at £1.13 per bar if you buy a box of 15.
I have just calculated how much energy bars, gels and energy drink is costing me and it's pretty scary, as much as £60 to £80 a month.
Think I am going to go down the fig roll and orange squash route!

Christ almighty :shock:

AndyF16

Tried the Torx stuff at Cycle Show and wasn't impressed, sampled various ZipFit bars and although fairly sickly I liked them and bought 3 to 'scientifically test' on my next rides

Keep it to yourselves, but all the top pro teams use Robinson's Lemon Barley squash, mixed 7:1 with tapwater

Peddle Up!

Pretre

AndyF16 wrote:

Keep it to yourselves, but all the top pro teams use Robinson's Lemon Barley squash, mixed 7:1 with tapwater

Where did you get that "fact" from?

simon_e

Some suggestions:

Tropical Wholefoods fruit bars (40g, 164 kcal)
Traidcraft Geobars (32g, 145 kcal)
Eat Natural -yoghurt-coated Apricot (50g, 228 kcal)
Jordan's / Dove's Farm / Carman's / supermarket own-brand cereal bars
9bar (50g, 277 kcal)
Snickers (64g, 323 kcal) or Aldi's smaller version, Racer bars

Mule bars summer pudding (65g, 210 kcal) - ToB and Tour Ride sponsors, I've not tried these yet but they look good. Tesco apparently stock them in packs of 3.

There's no substitute for trying a few for yourself

GemmaAtkinson1

Im currently testing out some Multipoweruk supplies. They have quite a few offers on and work out great value. The ISO energy drink and recovery bars are pretty good actually!

genki

Fruit squash (make sure its not sugar-free) and a dash of salt to drink. Bag of mixed dried fruit to eat.

I gave up all the fancy drinks and gels this year and can honestly say it's not had any negative effect. If anything, on my longest rides (100miles+) its been better becuase some of those carb- drinks and gels used to bloat me. This year I've had none of those problems on the low-tech diet.

SteveBowen

I have found Natures Best orange energy drink quite good, £8.95 for 1kg.
Don't think much of their energy bars though.

imagine17

Flapjacks, bananas and orange squash. As has been mentioned. Energy bars say £1.30 ave price. Box of 6 Fabulous Baking Boys flapjacks bought for £1.00 in Sains tonight in prep for Saturdays ride. Taste bettter and does just as good a job. Whack in a couple of bananas....job done. Agree on previous comments, not using energy specific stuff hasn't had any negative effects on rides.

Think the energy stuff is a bit of a con really and lets be honest, most taste pretty foul. One of the Mule varieties tastes like sick. Think it is apple and mango or something.

AndyF16

Pretre wrote:

AndyF16 wrote:

Keep it to yourselves, but all the top pro teams use Robinson's Lemon Barley squash, mixed 7:1 with tapwater

Where did you get that "fact" from?

Erm, I pulled it out of my bum (made it up) y'know, like as a joke - sorry :P