Cycling Bars, what are you eating?

Non of them because I've never found one that tastes like food or is actually palatable.

Is it too much to ask?

Kellogs breakfast bakes, in either chocolate or blueberry varieties.

Snickers

Banana and peanut butter in a tortilla wrap. Add jam if you're feeling fruity.

Mini malt loaves.

I like the Torq flapjack ones: https://www.torqfitness.co.uk/product-category/nutrition/explore/explore-flapjacks

I did go through a phase of making my own stuff - sort of date and nut "cold flapjack" things, got the recipe from a Velochef book. Now I tend to just stop at cafes! 😆

Home made biscuits or flapjack, Stoats (only some flavours...), then anything on offer.

there's a Decathlon next to work so mainly their own brand date bars. But as above, stop more at cafes now there's usually some kind of vegan cake on offer these days!

Belvita soft bakes

Usually Cadburys Brunch bars. If I'm doing a big event-type ride I might get a couple of 'proper' sports ones, although I suspect any benefit that might come from this is more psychological than anything else.

When I went to the Pyrenees I took some Veloforte ones, they actually pretty tasty IMO.

The Lidl version of RAW fruit bars. No idea if they are in any way healthy (probably not) but they're easy to chew!

Full sized malt loaf, sliced up and buttered.

The home made and malt loafs... Can't do that as I'll just pig out and eat them all within 24 hours!

Torq are a bit pricey but I'll take a look at the Raw ones.  Thanks

Quaker Porridge-To-Go bars, they are actually really nice. Especially microwaved for 10-15secs after the commute.

Cheap multi—purchase deals in Asda when I go in there.

Torq flapjacks are lovely, but expensive enough I daren’t eat them unless I’m really struggling. I ended up with some Strykr bars (posh rice krispy cakes) at one point too - they were decent.
Generally I’ll either stop for proper food from a cafe or village shop; or have mini soreen bars or a big bag of mixed dried fruit/nuts/m&ms/candied ginger.

PB&J sandwich (with homemade jelly) or homemade banana bread / ginger cake. If I’m on a US trip I’ll probably buy a box of Clif bars.

https://www.blackfriarsbakery.co.uk/whats-new/apple-and-salted-caramel-porridge-oat-bar/

https://www.chiacharge.co.uk/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA9vS6BhA9EiwAJpnXwzMFQKaEH1dfMdmcVkfo5E2SAPugkCZTzW5ZXNyuzQbTotEzRn6gvRoCEYQQAvD_BwE

or whatever is on offer in the supermarket is normally ok for low intensity stuff.

Panatonne Stoats bars right now. ZOMG

Meh, Any old Flapjack, a mini soreen or a handful of trail mix will do.

All the various bars sold as being special sports/cycling fuel are little better than any of those above in terms of carbs/sugar/protein etc, and tend to be pretty piss poor VFM...

My suggestion is to just read the Ingredients/nutritional info on the back of your posh bars and then compare it to the less artisanal options, or some recipes for homemade snacks (that you can find free on the old interwebz). Most of what you're paying for is marketing and packaging...

The bakeries in Sainsbury's, Co-Op, (other brands available) do packs of 4 v nice Granola bars (similar to a flap jack but containing nuts, other grains, raisins and better taste).

Only downside is they have suffered badly from shrinkflation over the last few years 🙁

Oh and my wife has been known to snaffle one before I set off  😀

Gave up on cycling food, never tastes great, now i tend to not bother eating on the bike if im doing less than 50 miles

More than 50 miles ill do a cafe stop or pop into a shop with the bike for something mid ride

Over 100 miles and ill stop at a burger van near the end of the ride as a reward

Cherry Bakewell Torq flapjacks are my favourite. Perfect for the commute home.

Air fryer flapjacks. I could never be bothered to bake them in the oven, but it takes about ten minutes prep and 15 mins 'baking; to turn out a batch with the air fryer. You can buy silicone bar baking trays, which add neatness and save mess and you get to choose what actually goes into them.

A lot of the commercially-produced ride bars / sports nutrition contain a whole load of additives / preservatives / flavourings / oils that you'd never add yourself. TJhe Torq flapjacks seem to be a notable exception, but not at that price for me.

Also, trail mix and, at this time of year, Christmas cake 🙂

Styrkr ones are alright

Not Maurten they are rank

Never buy any "cycling" bars or gels. Just buy any old flap jack or make you own and homemade gels from maltodextrin in a reusable soft bottle. Job done. If that fails visit a cafe or a shop.

Veloforte or homemade.

I actually really enjoy eating the Veloforte bars, and their ingredients seem better than most, but homemade is definitely the way to have control over what you're eating... but its more faff.

These are delicious, and so easy even I can make them. The only problem is I sometimes eat them all as soon as I've finished.

<b>HOMEMADE CHERRY BAKEWELL NAKD BARS RECIPE</b>

Makes quite a lot, approx 12 to 14, size dependent

You will need a food processor or feisty blender and a lined loaf tin or baking tray or plate.

<b>225g cashews, almonds, pecans or a combo of all of these</b>

<b>265g dates</b>

<b>60g raisins or sultanas</b>

<b>60g dried cranberries or cherries</b>

<b>1 teaspoon vanilla extract</b>

<b>1 teaspoon almond extract</b>

<b>1/4 teaspoon salt</b><b></b>

Take a kilo loaf tin and line with cling film or line a baking tin or plate with cling film if rolling into balls not bars.

Add the nuts, dates, raisins or sultanas, cranberries or cherries, vanilla and almond extracts and salt to the bowl of your food processor.

Process until you have a rubble like but soft doughy texture. The mixture will easily form into a ball shape when it’s ready, this may take a couple of minutes to come together in your food processor. I find it better to process the nuts first, then add the fruit.

Press the mixture into your lined loaf tin and flatten out the surface. If you would rather, you could just roll the dough into large walnut sized balls and leave to set in the fridge like the bars. Pop in the fridge to firm up for at least 2 hours. Once set, cut into bar shapes, wrap in greaseproof paper and store in the fridge for at least two weeks. For the balls, simply store in a food bag and store in the fridge.

I generally take a couple of Nakd bars. Stock up when they're on offer.

Drink? Just water. If it's more than a pootle I'll throw a High5 or SIS tab in the water.

Sucker for Clif Bars if the ride is big enough. But also:

Luchos energy blocks - https://luchos.com/shop - mainly in papaya flavour. Tasty wall of sugar wrapped in a leaf you can just chuck. Really refreshing, far too sweet to snack on when not doing exercise.

If you like OTE but want to spent 25p/bar instead of £2 then Kelloggs Squares are great! Full of all the same crap

I personally just use cheap cereal type bars - carbs/fats/salt are what your body needs; your body doesn't care how fancy the label is! I also find wine gums dissolve in your mouth really easily and can be a nice treat

SIS go electrolyte carb mix in bottle

Gels for racing

Like sharkattack said, tortilla wrap with peanut butter, chocolate spread and banana inside. Rolled up tight

just hits the spot and doesn’t make me feel horrible like bars or gels do

Of the few proper sports bars I’ve tried none of them have been nice enough to bother with. My staple now is Cadbury brunch bars with whatever cereal bars take my fancy for variety. A few jelly sweets here and there and the odd gel for when I don’t feel like eating but should.

Sometimes I do homemade stuff but find packaging a hassle so have never got into the habit

The only bars I can stomach are the Eat Natural Fruit & Nut Bars Protein Peanuts & Dark Chocolate etc

Aldi's snickers knockoffs. They're called Racer bars so they make you go faster too.