Gconan

Larabar. Coconut cream .

Bent Bill

Snicker's bar so I dont get hangry lol

canklecat

Think Thin for awhile, but sugar alcohols like maltitol make me gassy. Not fun for anyone behind me. But they're a good value, easy to chew with a reasonably good texture and flavor.

So I've switched to bars that use regular sugar, at least if I anticipate a group ride. I'm gonna burn up those calories anyway.

Over the past year, mostly whatever Clif bars are on sale. They're occasionally available at the dollar store for a dollar a box. I'm not picky about flavors so the winter holiday spiced Clif bars were available cheaply for a few months. They usually contain 3-5g protein, plenty for bike rides.

And Clif Builder's mint chocolate high protein bar for occasional snacks on harder full body workout days. Tasty, good texture, costs about the same as candy bars or less.

And Clif mocha gels. Tasty, caffeine boost, no digestion problems. On some high intensity workout rides up to an hour (including warm up and cool down) I'll carry one or two in case I feel bonky after 30 minutes of hill intervals. But after losing about 10-15 lbs since last year I seem to be metabolizing fat more efficiently so I rarely feel bonky anymore on 60-90 minute hard workout rides, or moderate effort rides up to 3 hours.

For just a cheap change of pace, sometimes I'll buy a carton of sugar wafers packed 3 cookies each in plastic wrappers. Small, weigh nothing, and the crunch is satisfying after too much chewy or gel stuff. There are lots of cheap sugar rush snacks individually packaged for lunches at dollar stores. For most healthy folks there's no harm in an occasional sugar rush during a hard workout.

Darth Lefty 

Any kind of dark chocolate nut clusters. The darker and nuttier the better. Maybe salted. Trader Joe's has a bunch like this.

Lots of the nut bars I like I discovered have chicory root fiber. It's kind of a hidden binder, taking the place of the caramel in a Payday or the sugar in a homemade granola bar. But it seems kind of weird to be eating so much of an ingredient you couldn't find anywhere in the store by itself.

I think you could make something pretty good with glorified GORP, ie mixed nuts and dried fruit, and the same marshmallow-butter binder as in rice crispy treats.

Machka 

These ...



And these are nice ...



I just noticed these. I wonder if my store has them ...


https://www.tasti.co.nz/products/nut-bars

tagaproject6

Payday.

indyfabz

Man Card revoked!

justtrying

Good post, thanks op. I don’t care for nuts and want to keep the sugar level low for health reasons . Any store bough suggestions Thank you in advance.

csaxby

I have this same problem! So many of their flavors contain chocolate. I stick with the blueberry crisp and oatmeal raisin. The nuts and seeds one is pretty good, but none of the stores where I live seem to carry them.

indyfabz

Same here. The carrot cake (Do they even make that anymore?) is/was a bit too sweet for my liking. When I do a week to two-week tour I will start out with three or four because I am not always certain I will be able to find non-chocolate flavors along the way.

Jarrettsin

Another vote for Cliff bars, easy enough to find.

livedarklions

I like any bar that serves a good burger. If I'm riding a solo century, I stop for a meal in the middle.

kbhenze

Do any of the bars have caffeine in them. Sometimes I need a little bost

DrIsotope

Clif Peanut Toffee Buzz is caffeinated, and pretty good. A little more dry than some others, but I've definitely bought it more than once. Supposedly, about the same caffeine as a can of coke.

cthenn

Hmm, a buck at Grocery Outlet? Wow I'll have to check that out. I thought $1.69 at TJ's was a good deal, considering I've seen them for upwards of $4 in some stores.

devianb

I used to do Clif Bars and fig bars but I get tired of sweets all the time on rides so lately I have been getting munchies crackers, usually the Cheetos flavor.

canklecat

ThinkThin or any energy bar/snack that substitutes sugar alcohols for sugar -- maltitol is most common. But it can cause some digestion problems with some folks. Gives me gas.

Without some form of sugar that can be converted to quick energy, they aren't really energy bars. Protein, vitamins, electrolytes, more complex carbs, etc., sure. But the sugar or sugar alcohols give a quick burst to prevent or alleviate bonks from low blood sugar.

Traditionally, rice cakes were among the earliest "energy bars" for cyclists. I see 'em often at the dollar store. They use just enough sweet stuff to stick the popped rice together so it's easy to handle while riding.

canklecat

Clif mocha gels also contain caffeine. So do a few other gels and powdered mixes for adding to water, including MiO Energy black cherry.

livedarklions

If I am really feeling the possibility of a bonk, I just cut out the middleman, and eat candy like Swedish fish, basically going for the sugar. This only happens a couple times a year, and always on the back end of a double century weekend.

indyfabz

PSA: I got a couple of Dang Bars at Whole Foods last week. Lemon flavor. Tried one on Saturday. Instantly realized why they were on sale. DO NOT waste your money. They are nasty.

bakerjw

Cheetos.
But I only eat when I'm riding something like the Tour Divide. Burning 4,000+ calories a day means that I can indulge in a guilty pleasure now and then.

PickleRick

Thanks for the warning!.....what not to buy is just as important as what to buy.

Phil_gretz

Fig Newtons
Peanut butter and honey sandwiches
Bananas
Cliff Shots (Cappuccino?)

ironnerd

I would like to appeal!


That's right... They're MEAT BARS!
And the link ► LINK

77Eric

Powerbars. The original, not the high protein ones that are more common these days. They pack well in a jersey pocket and digest well, at least for me. Can’t stand Clif bars.