ctpres

Are there any Clif bars that don't stand up well to hours in a jersey pocket on a hot day. Looking to buy a large quantity and don't want to handle sticky or gooey bars during a ride. I had great results with the chocolate chip but would like some variety.

BigAura

Try these, they may melt, but all the better

Carbonfiberboy 

Don't know of any. They're survivors.

MEversbergII

I'd skip the Clif bar entirely. A Larabar might be a good substitute, though I've never tried heating one in my pocket before.

M.

Carbonfiberboy 

Larabars run ~170-220 calories, 80-110 from fat
Clif bars run ~220-250 calories, 30-50 from fat

unterhausen

I've never had any problems with Clif bars other than sometimes it's hard to choke them down. I usually keep one or two on the bike as backup for when I run out of food. The ones from last summer still seem to be in good shape

RPK79

+1

Takes me a half a bottle of water to get a Clif bar down.

Shimagnolo

I'm still peeved Clif only released the "Gary's Panforte" flavor for a limited time a couple years ago.
Omigawd, those were tasty!

Roarau

Clif bars have a lot of ingredients, a few of them processed (although all organic). Personally, I try to stay away from soy protein isolate.

I'd take a Larabar, ProBar or Organic Food Bar over Clif any day of the week for sustained energy on longer rides.

carnivroar

Cliff bars are highly processed and contain toxic soy protein.

Larabar is better but I prefer making my own low-carb coconut bars using this as a base. They don't melt.

Weatherby

Is all soy protein toxic?

Carbonfiberboy 

Actually, you want to use a whole bottle. 1/4 Clif bar every 15 minutes if eating on the bike, one bottle of water/hour.

Soy protein is good for you:
Health Effects of Soy Protein and Isoflavones in Humans
Studies regarding the efficiency of... [Rev Roum Physiol. 1992 Jul-Dec] - PubMed - NCBI
Soy protein isolate increases urinary estrogens and t... [J Nutr. 2007] - PubMed - NCBI
Is <strong>soy protein</strong> bad for your health? | Hammer Nutrition

carnivroar

Soy is just marketing.

Newest Research on the Dangers of Soy

Here's the deal. If something is super cheap, mass produced, GMO'ed, and sold as expensive "health food" - you should probably avoid it.

Vlaam4ever

They taste equally bad after 4 hours in my pocket as they do fresh form the store. I dont like the taste but my stomach handles them them well and the packaging holds up. they are winners.

asque2000

The new "Sierra Trail Mix" I think would be ok. Not too much chocolate so they could stand the long hot rides. My personal beef with Clif Bars (don't get me wrong I like them) is that they make your farts smell HORRIBLE!!!! I mean to a degree that I've never experienced with any other bar. I don't get it.

Roarau

+1 to this.

Just watch out for soy protein isolate or any processed soy, raw/unprocessed soy is all good

wolfchild

If I was going to eat some processed food bar, I would just eat snickers bar instead of cliff bar...Snickers tastes a lot better and are much cheaper...If you riding hard on your bike your body doesn't really care if you feed it cliff or snickers, both of them will provide energy...I am not a big fan of anything that has sugar, so it's an occasional treat for me... I think the healthiest thing to do is to make your own energy bars at home, it's very easy.

wolfchild

Raw unprocessed soy is worse the processed soy...Soy shouldn't be used as a main source of protein or as food.. The only safe way to consume soy is after it's been naturally fermented into miso or soy sauce...Use soy as a condiment and flavouring not as a food source.

Roarau

Where are you getting this info WolfChild? I eat a ton of naturally fermented soy (natto) and agree wthat it should never be a main source of protein. But the idea of it not being consumed as a "food" and that unprocessed is worse than processed is news to me.

carnivroar

Thank you. That was exactly what I came here to say. Tempeh (a fermented soy product) is okay, but I haven't touched it in years.

MEversbergII

What's your recipe? I like trying out new things in the kitchen.

For meal replacement bars, the only one I use is Met-Rx's cookiedough one. Ingredients are not so sketchy, though it does have a tiny bit of canola oil...meaning to figure out how to make my own.

M.

raqball

Breathing air is bad for you..

I shall continue to snarf down a Clif bar and won't stress on it..

carnivroar

I know you didn't ask me, but I have a recipe to share.

Melt one of these in a pan under low-heat. Make sure you don't burn/toast it (don't let it turn brown). This will be the base of the bar. You can add anything you like to it. I added cacao nibs, coconut sugar, a little coffee and salt.

Dump the mixture in a tray such that it's at least 0.5 inch thick. Put it in the refrigerator until it hardens, then cut it into pieces. This is the hardest part as it breaks easily. I'm going to try using this next time: https://www.amazon.com/Freshware-12-C...Y6915SHWCXAHHV

Here's how it looks: https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/...00795434_o.jpg

JamesRL

In ancient days, I rode double metric centuries, with camping gear, fueled by apple juice (diluted 50:50), fig newtons and bananas. Of course if you are pushing for peak performance, you can look at the latest and greatest. We did have gatorade back then but I didn't like the taste, so I was more likely to drink when I like the taste. I think the same would go for an energy bar - find what tastes good to you.

wolfchild

The basic ingredients for homemade energy bars are: some type of nut butter, you can use almond, cashew, tahini, peanut...You will also need honey or blackstrap molasses and rolled oats which have been powdered in a blender... If you wish you can also add some protein powder or powdered milk...Mix everything into a very thick stiff dough, form into balls or whatever shape you want, wrap it in some wax paper and keep in the fridge...