I have bought a few energy bars in the past and normally go for the Powerbar Ride. I checked out the energy in them and they have around 260kcal. Out of interest, I thought I'd check the energy in a Snickers and was suprised to find it had more energy, holding 290kcal. Similar ingredients in them both but the energy bar is double the price? Are we being conned? Lately I have switched to Flapjacks which seem to do the same.
I've also heard that Wine Gums, Jelly Babies and Jelly Beans provide a good boost when needed. Anything else?
Very little advantage. Flapjacks will have more fat and also be longer lasting carbs mainly - snickers bar is much of a muchness with energy bars
Jelly babies are almost pure glucose and thus very similar to most energy gels - remember maltodextrin acts like glucose in the body.
Makes you look pro (or kinda dumb). Never really understand it when people have like 3 gels or something on a club ride or whatever.
Out of interest, can you buy unwrapped Opal Fruits, i much prefer those to Jelly Babies or Marathon?
Home made flapjack with chocolate protein powder and maple syrup gets me up hills fast. Haribo or jelly babies gets me home on a long ride. Orange squash with a little salt keeps me hydrated.
RealMan - Member
Makes you look pro (or kinda dumb).
Bit like wearing a replica KotM jesey then?? 😆
I've found that eating chocolate on rides gives me horrible cramps, whereas energy bars/gels don't. Jelly babies/fruit pastilles also don't, which is nice 🙂
Never really understand it when people have like 3 gels or something on a club ride or whatever.
So they can keep up with your awesomeness.
HTH
(Has Jimmy had his refund yet?)
I love cinnamon flavour gourmet jelly beans. I think they also make the lucozade beans (which are more expensive).
If i consumed 3 energy gels an hour like the manufacturer recommends i would be spending a fortune!
Don't Jelly Babies contain laxatives?! I swear I heard that somewhere?!
Makes you look pro (or kinda dumb). Never really understand it when people have like 3 gels or something on a club ride or whatever.
I'd rather look dumb than do someone over on here. But that's your choice.
I had to LOL at all the folk with hundreds of tiny gel tubes strapped to their belts at the marathon on Sunday, each one must have contained about 20gm, WTF do those idiots think they do?
Personally prefer a carb drink to eating, but if I eat will be something like a nutrigrain bar or bananna
snickers is ~20% fat. fat slows down energy absorbtion.
depends if you are going full out or you just need some extra fuel imo.
+1 for choclate bars containing fat which is rubbish during exercise.
Energy drinks/gels usualy contain a mix of maltodextrin and fructose, maltodextring doesnt tase as sweet as glucose so is more paletable, and the mix of sugars gets them into your blooodstream quicker as they travel by different pathways.
Whether its worth it is a different matter, I find energy drink in my camelpack gives a bit more endurance, i.e. where I'd normaly ride for 2 hours then bonk, I can go for 3, so in that case its worth it.
Jelly babies are almost pure glucose and thus very similar to most energy gels - remember maltodextrin acts like glucose in the body.
Yes but lacking whatever it is in gels which stops me getting cramp.
Some gels contain electrolytes some do not - and its very debatable if they have any effect on cramp at all
The carbs in a chocolate bar are mostly refined sugar but sometimes it hits the spot. Yesterday I had a Kit Kat Chunky in the afternoon then later on absent-mindedly opened another one.
I had no choice but to eat it nom nom nom
energy bars that are oat based, with nuts and fruit in them are pretty good, and don't melt in a jersey pocket like chocolate, or turn to a solid brick in sub zero temps. Those powerbar ones refined crude oil are disgusting.
Trouble with flapjacks is making a small enough batch, make enough for 3 weeks and they seem to disappear in a couple of days anyway, I swear there is someone else hiding in my apartment eating my flapjacks 👿
http://www.220triathlon.com/train/nut-and-cherry-energy-bars
+1 for choclate bars containing fat which is rubbish during exercise.
That statement needs to be qualified by stating what level of exercise, intensity and duration. Otherwise it's just bollocks. You may quote your experiences, I could quote mine that exactly contradict it. Peer reviewed scientific sources to back it up please.
I'd say the one "advantage" of the energy bar is it doesn't taste as good as the snickers. You won't be as tempted to eat two.
&Flapjacks will have more fat
snickers is ~20% fat. fat slows down energy absorbtion.
Fat is long chain molecule & will slow down your uptake of carbs. Avoid anything with more than 6% fat if you want good carb absorption.
I had to LOL at all the folk with hundreds of tiny gel tubes strapped to their belts at the marathon on Sunday, each one must have contained about 20gm, WTF do those idiots think they do?
Uh give them energy when they want it rather than having to wait for a feed station? They also have the benefit of knowing that what they are using wont upset their stomach. I for one dont like using anything else other than Torq as its very gentle on me. Getting a gastric upset mid-marathon/race/ride isnt very pleasant...
That statement needs to be qualified by stating what level of exercise, intensity and duration. Otherwise it's just bollocks. You may quote your experiences, I could quote mine that exactly contradict it. Peer reviewed scientific sources to back it up please.
Its a well documented fact that fat slows down carb uptake. Try Google for answers.
edit: heres a link to the Torq website, specifically energy bars. Scroll to the bottom for the peer reviewed blurb.
[url= http://www.torqfitness.co.uk/nutrition/torq-bar ]Torq linky[/url]
I'd say the one "advantage" of the energy bar is it doesn't taste as good as the snickers. You won't be as tempted to eat two.
Some of the mule, oatpack and cliff bars are rather nice, I would eat them in preference to a snickers bar.
A big advantage would be taste and texture, most energy bars taste rank, saying that a whole snickers would leave me feeling sick and too many sweets can gives me short sugar rush, followed by an intense low and headache, but then again I'm a sensitive soul. I think most use it as an excuse to eat sweets, nowt wrong with that, but yes on the whole we are being conned.
Pick the sugar you like and consume when necessary, but I'd start with a banana or flattened malt loaf.
I quite like to use electrolyte tabs in my camelbak on big rides but don't bother with energy bars or gels. I have tried gels because I got some free from crc but I don't feel that they did anything. I would rather spend my money on a couple of bags of starmix.
Electrolyte has the added benefit of helping you not get a hangover or greatly reducing it. So on a weekend away when all the other lads are rolling around in bed moaning I will be up and ready to go.
I think there is some value in bought energy bars being edible but not so nice as you'd eat them with tea before the ride. The also last well in jersey pockets. I kind of agree with the fat content thing for hard excercise it doesn't agree with me. If i was on a very long, slower paced rider it's a bit different.
I tried making my own energy bars a few times to a similar recipe as the bought ones. Suprisingly easy, takes 15 minutes prep and 30mins to bake. They taste absolutely fine and are cheap to make (a mix of oats, rice crispies, syrup, honey, dried fruit, jam, sugar and maltodextrin.
...also you get to drop a more niche type of litter 😉
WTF do those idiots think they do?
If they have red wrappers, then make them go faster obviously.
I'm not a fan of energy bars I think they taste horrid. The only ones palatable are zipps, but then I don't eat them either. In the past I've been forced to eat them and probably overdosed on them in replacement for proper food, so for the last 15yrs I've either made my own flapjacks or nabbed at a snickets.
I sreer clear of energy gels too as I don't feel any benefit at all from them.
The only "sweets" I take with me are old skool pear drops, they're the only thing that doesn't give me the shits.
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That statement needs to be qualified by stating what level of exercise, intensity and duration. Otherwise it's just bollocks. You may quote your experiences, I could quote mine that exactly contradict it. Peer reviewed scientific sources to back it up please.
I'd go for it being a useless thing to eat on the simple basis there's always going to be >2kg of the stuff in your body even if your a 50kg wippet with 4% body fat. So no point eating it as a fuel, better to just concentrate on eating carbs which deplete with exercise, if nececary.
since i realised that i do not give 110%, i do not live on the edge and i often dont just do it
i realised that paying way over the odds for a bit of mid ride nutrition was daft.
my camelbak contains only water, if i require a carb drink, there are several tasty options served by the pint in public houses.
i like to eat my homemade flapjack - to the point that i cant make it too often as i will just trough the lot.
i like a few tangfastics too, gotta be half price mind.
Depends how long you're riding for IMO, over 4 hours or so at a decent intensity and you need to think more about what you're eating otherwise you'll not keep up with the amount of energy you're burning and bonk. As a quick boost on a short ride then something like a Snickers probably works as well as anything but it's not what you want on long rides as there's too much crap in them you don't need for energy but will still need to be digested and therefore slow your ability to absorb the carbs you need (2:1 for maximum gains as well which you won't get in a chocolate bar either).
Homemade stuff done well can be every bit as good (or better) than commercial energy bars but can be a faff some people don't want to bother with.
Personally I generally always carry an emergency gel with me if going out for over an hour (but almost never actually use) and if on a long ride without planned cafe stops I'll take an energy bar or two as well and usually eat at least one of them.
Are flapjacks easy to make?
Yes very easy. Just mix oats and whatever else with buttery syrupy mix and bake. Energt bars are pretty much flapjacks without the butter so more chewy. Although I find when you make something from scratch it's always surprising how much sugar / butter is in it. Makes you think what goes into a lot of processed foods.
Energy bars have the advantage that you dont have to carry the wrapper home. Just throw it over your shoulder. Same principle as cigarette butts.
There is a lot of snake oil involved in the Sports Nutrition industry. If you're a highly trained athlete, competing absolutely on the rivet where every second counts, then there is a place for a finely worked out nutritional regime.
If you're a mid 30's STW lurking Audi driving IT professional out for a bike ride of a weekend, then a Snickers is probably fine for that mid-ride snack stop.
Personally I opt for whichever cereal bar is on offer at the shops and some sweets. But then I don't drive an Audi 🙂
I'd agree with the above, if you're a top flight athlete then I think you've already got the diet sorted and these bars and energy top ups are fine and dandy, you're gonna burn the stuff off in a matter of Km's anywhoo's right.
As for the taste of some, jeeze I remeber PowerBars all those years ago, we got a sponsor deal with them and there were boxes of the things, made me hurl once or twice and yet they were still handed out like "it's da nu ting, n , all"
I get the runs with Bananas too, far too many rides eating warm, squidgy, bruised or vomit unripe green hard as nails things.
Not touched one in 15yrs. Hate em.
Cake beats gels
Proper gels have 60g carbs, enough carb for an hour and proper+ ones have 160mg caffeine as well.
If you're not a top flight athlete, you're more likely to need additional energy but less likely to have got used to taking enough during hard exercise. Bear in mind the 'idiots' running a marathon with lots of gels may be on the move for 5 hours or so, the elites for 2 and a wee bit.
If you're a mid 30's STW lurking Audi driving IT professional out for a bike ride of a weekend, then a Snickers is probably fine for that mid-ride snack stop.
IHN - the only thing you got wrong there was the IT Pro bit, I do work heavily with computers though so well done! Can't wait to hit the Quantocks at the weekend.
I'll have to have a go at making my own flapjacks I think.
Pork pies for me.
during a ride i like
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i mean....
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do have to wash them down with some plastic tasting camelback water as they get a bit claggy in the mouth
ime energy bars are disgusting
Fat is long chain molecule & will slow down your uptake of carbs. Avoid anything with more than 6% fat if you want good carb absorption.
carb absorption does not equal energy absorption.
it is a means to it. it is not the only means. it should not be considered as the end goal.
the best way of achieving the end goal depends on the intensity and duration if exercise, hence my request for clarification. On a steady endurance ride you want slow energy release from your food to sustain you instead of hit/crash of simple carbs. (IIRC simple carbs cause insulin spikes that cause you to start creating glycogen instead of using the energy).
carb absorption does not equal energy absorption.it is a means to it. it is not the only means. it should not be considered as the end goal.
the best way of achieving the end goal depends on the intensity and duration if exercise, hence my request for clarification. On a steady endurance ride you want slow energy release from your food to sustain you instead of hit/crash of simple carbs. (IIRC simple carbs cause insulin spikes that cause you to start creating glycogen instead of using the energy).
See my earlier post with the link to the Torq website & peer reviewed info. Youll find all the answers you want there.
I'm sure gels n' stuff have got their place - like when you're putting in an effort like this:
for everything else, there's:
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Am I alone is finding any kind of energy bar (for me SIS/Cliff mainly) very difficult to consume mid event? I mainly do longer endurance events these days and need to be able to eat easily. Energy bars make me gag all the time which is not nice for the runners/riders behind!!!
Nice with a cuppa though!
tut tut... no excuse to litter.
Anyone tried these? [url= http://www.isoactive.com/hs/index-1.html ]Honey Stinger[/url] Owned by Lance apparently.
They get OK reviews but pretty sweet (unsurprisingly). For bars I like to vary between Zipvit (more traditional old-school style bar but still easier to eat and better flavour than the original powerbars), Clif bars and muesli bars (the powerbar natural ones are nice but a bit of a rip-off)
If I'm going out for 3-4 hours, decent intensity, and I can't or won't take half an hour midway through to rest a bit and eat something substantial (no chippys in the forests) I be sure to try and pack some gels and maybe one energy bar.
I find the gels really hit the spot, work fast and don't take up much room in my camelback. Zipvit caffine gels pack a massive punch, so make a conscious effort to carry a few. The energy bar I usually carry just so I feel like I am actually eating something substantial, probably more for psychological comfort more than anything, but I also find mars and snickers etc very hard to palette when excercising and much prefer cliff bars.
If I was running a marathon I'd be carrying a fair few gels.
I'm a bit delicate when it comes to eating during a race/long ride and chocolate/fatty stuff gives me really bad stomach cramps.
In a race (say a two hour + enduro) I'll have a gel or two as a) they're easy to eat unlike a chewy bar that takes ages to consume and b) they give me a bit of a pick up after an hour or so on energy drink. A caffinated one before a race does wonders too
I only ever use Torq ones, SIS/GO/Zipvit taste rank!
I'm doing the inaugral Tour de Lauder this weekend (86 miles of being a roadie gimp) and will be on Torq energy drink and fig rolls - works for me.
Snickers - too much fat and simple sugars.
Yup, i use honey stinger bars and chews. The chews are great, a real boost both physically and mentally. Can't wait til they start selling their gels over here again.Anyone tried these? Honey Stinger Owned by Lance apparently.
I've dabbled with energy gels recently for a couple of road races and TTs, after realising everyone else does and I was the only one with sticky Jelly Babies in my jersey pocket.
Not sure if they've had a noticeable effect compared to the JBs, but the one thing I do like is that they're easier to consume when riding at race pace, you can just swallow them. Can't shake the feeling that its in some way cheating. And it seems ridiculous when people bring them out on chaingangs, but each to their own I guess.
Anything below race pace and I'm sticking with a Jelly Baby/fig roll/Soreen combo. Homemade flapjack chunks if I've got the time. Bit of maple syrup in there.
Anyone really traditional and go for Kendal Mint Cake?
KMC is lush
too expensive for me tho. besides i thought that only worked for walkers?
Am I alone is finding any kind of energy bar (for me SIS/Cliff mainly) very difficult to consume mid event?
No. Thats why I've stopped using them for longer (>12 hour) rides. Now I eat what my body craves, which is invariably savoury and high protein and/or fat. Tuna or egg mayo, chicken, chorizo, cheese, nuts... Oddest one was yoghurt. I suffer less bloat, less sore mouth (drinking/eating too much sweet stuff destroys the lining, gives me a sore tongue, and kills taste), but best of all less energy peaks/troughs.
To add - check out the diet section in this...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0941950131
I used to use Torq products myself. The older I get and the more experience I have on endurance rides the more I think that the old way was better.
Caffeine, caffeine, caffeine......!!!
Good job you guys are mentioning it. Caused me to just check the gels CRC has been sticking in parcels and the Orange flavoured one says "with caffeine" on them 🙁 I'm extremely sensitive to it, makes me quite ill, so I'll be tossing them to someone I ride with instead.
I thought these things were supposed to safe, not say daft stuff on them like "not suitable for under 15's and pregnant women."
I'll stick to high calorie cereal bars from the supermarket and jelly babies then.
mrdestructoI thought these things were supposed to safe, not say daft stuff on them like "not suitable for under 15's and pregnant women."
They are safe. Just not safe for children, pregnant women, and pussies.
Ooh oooh! Wait till you grow up and suddenly develop allergies/intollerances, then you'll see the other side of the card.
mrdestructoOoh oooh! Wait till you grow up and suddenly develop allergies/intollerances, then you'll see the other side of the card.
I'm nearly 35. At what age do these "suddenly develop"?
I guess it depends on if you are doing a race or a ride. I think they are totally different things.
I eat what my body craves, which is invariably savoury and high protein and/or fat. Tuna or egg mayo, chicken, chorizo, cheese, nuts.
Yes, just sugars is horrible!
My fave combo is oatcakes and cheese, washed down with lucozade, and maybe a chocolate bar after. That is on longer / all day rides, where I'll have had a massive bowl of ready brek for breakfast, and likely a big bowl of pasta the night before (and beer).
I had to LOL at all the folk with hundreds of tiny gel tubes strapped to their belts at the marathon on Sunday, each one must have contained about 20gm, WTF do those idiots think they do?
I had to LOL at you for saying that.
Lots of riders seem to have delicate stomachs! Me - I can eat at any time! Thanks for all the input chaps. I think I'll give the bars a miss from now on and stick to sweets and flapjacks! Mmmm.
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Heads up...
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Mars triple choc bars with 2 days left on the date in the local shop for 16p each.
Thats wreckless indangerment:-)
If you just want choc some petrol stations are doing two for £1.20 on Mars Duo/Snickers Duo/Bounty triple at the moment.
Soobalias
Massive stock up at Aldi today in the KMC. Thanks for posting that. The lady at the checkout was bemused at my arm-fills of KMC packs. Stocked up for the year!!!