Training & Nutrition - what's the difference btw energy bar & chocolate bar

What's the difference btw the energy bar that sells in a bicycle shop and a chocolate bar besides costing 3 times more?

Usually the 'energy bar' will have something besides the carbs and fat of a simple candybar. They often have some amount of vitamins and minerals and often other suppliments in them.

That being said... some of them are not nutritionally worth much more than a candy bar.

Personally I go for bars that are less 'candy', and more 'food'. I like ones with low sugar, higher complex carbs and moderate fat content with NO transfats. I don't usually like bars with candybar like chocolate coatings since they don't survive the environment of my jersey pockets well. ;) So I usually end up with the more 'granola-y' sorts of bars. Lower glycemic index foods tend to last me longer and don;t drop me as hard when the sugar energy runs out.

But I spose this is personal preference. Currently a major objective in my cycling is weight loss... So I tend to eat stuff on my ride that will keep me going without giving me lots of fast sugars to burn... but like I said.. I don't like a sugar rush (and crash) for energy anyway... I want stable long lasting burn with the abilty to push into power now and then.

And, no offence to the revered LBS, but I wouldn't buy food from them. ;) Your local grocery store pobably has better prices on the same bars, and if you really want the specialized types of 'sports' bars you would be better off in a health food store or suppliment store pricewise I think.

cAPS

in reality most energy bars rival if not exceed chocolate bars in the amount of sugar that is in them (remember there are a couple hundred different names for sugar) I was reading the back of a power bar package today on the ferry and noticed although it was not listed as the number one ingredients on the back there were several different types of sugar in the mix. ANd if you totaled the amount sugar would be the nubmber one ingredient. Though energy bars usually do have more complex carbs in them you have to be careful with some a Snickers bar would be more healthy for you.

seems like a candy bar plus some beef jerky would be the perfect carb/fat/protein on-bike fuel!

Candy bars taste better.

Don't know for sure, but I'd guess the candy bar would have more fat, which would slow down digestion.

candy bars just aren't that practical for riding, although i'm sure they'd give plenty of sugar...er, carbo/glycogen (to use the non-threatening terminology). just too messy and a bit too intense to eat while riding. i think i'll save it for rest days.

fig newtons however might be the perfect low-tech riding fuel. lots of carbs, comes in a small, stable size. i wrap six or so in aluminum foil (steel foil is too heavy, and i can't afford carbon) and eat them as i go.

Originally posted by roadbuzz
Don't know for sure, but I'd guess the candy bar would have more fat, which would slow down digestion.

yup exactly... you want to eat something that is digested quickly... that is in and out of the stomach into your intestines as fast as possible....

a chocolate bar has tons of fat... your stomach will be churning away at those fat globules until it is solubilized by bile, after which it can finally leave the stomach.

energy bars are engineered specifically for rapid digestion and absorption

Originally posted by spinner5339
What's the difference btw the energy bar that sells in a bicycle shop and a chocolate bar besides costing 3 times more?

I prefer Clif Bars. While taste is very subjective, they do taste "better" than the others. Many have an OK taste, but the consistency is gross. So, too, are at least the Green Apple Power Gel. The vanilla one wasn't too bad, but still pretty gross.

Also, when I eat a candy bar, I feel guilty and almost as a matter of course, tack on an extra 15 minutes of riding. Since a Clif Bar doesn't taste that smashing - and even though I may be getting more sugar - I don't fee guilty! The extra 50 cents is worth that feeling.

Originally posted by rippo
i wrap six or so in aluminum foil (steel foil is too heavy, and i can't afford carbon) and eat them as i go.

I think that wins the funniest thing I have read today award. ;)

cAPS