big_biker

I don't see why not. I also like TastyKakes, Little Debbie's and Snickers.

velocipedio

Why not? Because the carbohydrates they contain are mostly pure sugar and high;y refined flour. This makes them highly glycemic -- they'll get into your bloodstream real fast -- and likely to cause a spike and crash. One of the nutrition paradoxes is that high-glycemic foods are very likely to cause a bonk. The only time when you should be eating them on a ride [or any other time, for that matter, but I would belabour the point] is when you actually are bonking. The high-glycemic carbs in that case will close the glycogen gap and give your liver time to catch up to depleted blood sugar.

You consume raw glucose at a risk.

JaredMcDonley

For me its all about the gels. you will see me with 6 at a time taped to my top tube!!!

Jared

grego262

Cool Mint Ice Clif Bar
Chocolate Chip Clif Bar
Chocolate Power Bar Harvest

Guest

Uuuuugh....

Reading about those gels made me shudder. I am not a gel person at all!

I love those Balance bars. They have a chocolate and peanut flavor that takes just like the Reeses Pieces bars. They also have brownie flavored, I think and chocolate flavored. I just love the taste.

I can deal with the chocolate flavored power bar. I am not brave enough to try the harvast bar. It sounds too much like wheat fields, which sounds grody. I can only go so far sometimes with the healthy foods/all-natural crap. Gimmie some artifically flavored food anyday over that stuff!

Balance bars, baby....

Koffee

The Rob

The new Pria PowerBars are the tastiest 'healthy' thing I've had so far.

Total Fat: 3g Total Carb: 16g
Sat. Fat: 2.5g Sugars: 10g
Sodium: 80mg Protein: 5g

I'll leave it to the resident nutritionists to rate these bars for value. All I can say is that all flavors I've tried are great!

-Rob

Guillermo

Those are tasty, but may be a little light on the calories/carbs for the larger folk, and those needing more energy?

The Rob

Possibly so, and then there's the other extreme to consider as well: the things taste so good you could easily compromise the alleged benefits of eating one by eating another six!

-Rob

Guillermo

LOL..that's the only bad thing with these bars: you could eat a dozen without getting full. By then, you've eaten a day's worth of calories

Dax

roadbuzz

Only for pre-ride carbo-loading. :thumbup:

Personally, I've decided all the power-***** ride food is not for me. I'm not talking about any particular brand. Basically, anything that is stoked up with vitamin E, etc. I guess I'm just weird, but too much Vitamin E and my energy level goes kaput. And then there's the goo-type ride food w/caffeine. Now, I'm pretty much of a seasoned caffeine junkie, but after about 3 of those I'm reduced to a cackling ****. And after the energy bubble bursts, it's like trying to pump water from an empty well. Not a good feeling when there's 40 miles left in the century.

So now, I'm back to bananas, fig bars, and nutri-grains. And at mile 80, when things are starting to drag, then I pop a caffeinated goo. That gets me far enough that the lure of sitting on something with a little more surface area can get me to the finish.

orguasch

almost forgot to mention Fig Newton, it has the complete food supplement

Natophelia

Soy bars are pretty good. Can't remember what the actual brand name is, but it says "SOY" really big on it! Any of the chocolate or the mocha flavored ones are good. Apple something or other flavor too... Zone bars are good, but they feel so dry in my mouth when I'm riding that I have to swallow some bites with water like a pill. Viactiv bars are good although they're 'made' for women. Spirutein bars are good. I'd prefer fresh, non-prepackaged food, but it's hard to squish a big banana under my seat. Which reminds me..banana Power Bars are actually good, even though that sounds incredibly disgusting!

vlad

my favourite energy bar is beef jerky

I fashion steak fingers of ground beef round, sprinkle on ground cayenne, and leave them in my food drier until they suitably dry.

the shelf life of this jerky is about 20 minutes, unless I manage to hide it from the rest of the family

PS

I confess to being fond of milk shakes of two oz sunflower oil, unsweetened cooking chocolate, ground cayenne and milk.

refined sugar kills.

Raiyn

I won't touch powerbars because they consider the insect larvae in the Harvest Bars (yes it's true) to be extra protein. But for my money as a post ride bar I like Gatorade bars especially the Orange and Chocolate ones!

Inkwolf

Eeeeeewww! Don't know if I believe that, though.

Anyway, I tried a Chai Tea flavored bar (think it was a Luna bar) and it was great--tasted like brown sugar and spices. Now I suppose I'll have to drink some Chai tea and see if I like it.

gmitchell

Powebars - Lemon Crisp and Vanilla Crisp. My 9 yr old loves them too and they have to be healthier than the other junk he likes to eat!

Guillermo

I have fallen in love with Luna's tropical Crisp. Also just tried Harvest Carrot Cake which is pretty good.