Bars vs. Gels: When to Use Each
Gels deliver carbohydrate faster (no chewing, minimal digestion), making them better for high-intensity efforts where blood is diverted from your gut. Bars are better for steady endurance rides where you have time to chew and your gut is under less stress. Most riders use bars in the first 2–3 hours and switch to gels when intensity rises.
The key metric for bars: carbs per gram of product. A 68g bar with 38g of carbs delivers 56% carbohydrate. A 45g gel with 25g of carbs delivers 56% too — but with zero chewing required. Bars that are more than 50% carbohydrate by weight are genuinely useful; below that, you’re carrying a lot of non-fuel mass.
Quick Comparison
| Bar | Weight | Carbs | Calories | Carb % | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clif Bar | 68g | 38g | 250 | 56% | $1.50 / €1.40 |
| Maurten Solid 160 | 55g | 40g | 160 | 73% | $4.00 / €3.70 |
| Skratch Anytime | 50g | 33g | 220 | 66% | $2.75 / €2.50 |
| SiS GO Energy Bake | 50g | 30g | 190 | 60% | $2.00 / €1.85 |
| Veloforte Mocha | 70g | 37g | 310 | 53% | $3.50 / €3.20 |
| Homemade Rice Cake | ~60g | ~35g | ~200 | ~58% | ~$0.40 |
Editor’s Picks
Best Carb Density
Maurten Solid 160
$4.00 · 73% carbs
Best Value
Clif Bar
$1.50 · 38g carbs
Best DIY
Homemade Rice Cake
$0.40 · Pro team favorite
Individual Reviews
Clif Bar
The default cycling bar for 30 years. 38g of carbs from oats, brown rice syrup, and cane sugar in a 68g bar. High calorie density (250 kcal) with 10g protein and 5g fat, which means slower absorption but better satiation. Dozens of flavors. Available literally everywhere.
The downside: at 68g it’s the heaviest bar here, and the texture gets tough in cold weather. The protein and fat slow carb absorption — not ideal for high-intensity fueling, but perfect for steady endurance rides where you want real food that sticks.
Verdict: Best value, best availability. The bar you grab at any gas station when you bonk. Not the fastest-absorbing, but reliably effective.
Maurten Solid 160
Maurten’s hydrogel technology in bar form. 40g of carbs from 55g of product — 73% carbohydrate density, the highest on this list. Split into two 20g pieces for easy dosing. The oat-based texture is soft and chewable even in cold weather. Minimal fat and protein means fast absorption.
At $4 per bar it’s the most expensive option. The taste is deliberately bland — Maurten prioritizes function over flavor. For race day and high-intensity riding where you need maximum carbs per gram of food weight, nothing else delivers this density.
Verdict: Highest carb density. Best for race day and high-intensity fueling. The price hurts for everyday training.
Skratch Labs Anytime Energy Bar
Real food ingredients: organic oats, almonds, figs, rice crisps, and brown rice syrup. 33g carbs, 8g fat, 4g protein. The texture is chewy and satisfying — closer to a granola bar than engineered nutrition. GI tolerance is excellent — the natural ingredients digest easier than heavily processed alternatives.
Skratch’s philosophy is “real food, fast.” The bars deliver on that promise. Not the cheapest or most carb-dense, but the most pleasant to eat on a 4-hour ride when you want variety beyond gels.
Verdict: Best tasting bar on this list. Real ingredients, good carb content, easy on the stomach. The premium you pay is for enjoyable eating.
SiS GO Energy Bake
A filled pastry-style bar with 30g of carbs. Softer and easier to chew than traditional bars — the bake texture works well at speed. Low fiber, low fat, designed for easy digestion during exercise. The filling (usually berry or citrus) adds flavor without adding GI stress.
At $2 it’s good value. The 60% carb density is middle-of-the-road. Best for riders who find traditional bars too dry or hard to chew while breathing heavy.
Verdict: Most chewable option. Good for riding at tempo where you can’t stop to wrestle with a Clif Bar wrapper.
Veloforte Mocha
Italian-inspired real food bar: dates, hazelnuts, cocoa, brown rice syrup, and pea protein. 37g carbs with 14g fat and 10g protein — the most calorie-dense bar here at 310 kcal. The texture is soft, fudgy, and genuinely delicious. The espresso variant has 40mg caffeine per bar.
The high fat content means slower absorption — this is a “meal replacement on the bike” bar, not a fast-fuel bar. Best for endurance rides over 3 hours where you want something substantial in your stomach. At $3.50 it’s premium-priced.
Verdict: Most satisfying bar. The espresso variant doubles as a caffeine source. Best for long, steady rides where you want actual food, not fuel.
Homemade Rice Cakes
The pro peloton secret. Sticky rice, brown sugar, almond butter, and a pinch of salt, pressed into bars and wrapped in foil. ~35g carbs per serving at roughly $0.40 each. Easy to customize: add bacon, dates, coconut, or whatever your stomach tolerates.
Skratch sells pre-made versions ($3.50/bar), but the whole point is making them yourself. A batch of 12 takes 30 minutes and costs ~$5 total. The Feedzone Portables cookbook has the definitive recipes. The texture is soft, the absorption is fast, and the taste is surprisingly good.
Verdict: Best cost-per-calorie by a huge margin. Requires kitchen time. The objectively smartest fueling choice if you’re willing to prep.
What We’d Buy
Best carb density: Maurten Solid 160. 73% carbohydrate. For race day when every gram of food weight matters.
Best value: Clif Bar. $1.50, available everywhere, 38g carbs. The reliable default.
Best DIY: Homemade rice cakes. $0.40/serving, 30 minutes prep for a week’s supply. What the pros actually eat.
Know exactly how much to eat before you ride
Paincave shows fueling recommendations for every workout — carbs/hr, fluid/hr, and total fuel based on duration and intensity.