Food For Energy! 4 Best Trail Snacks For Mountain Biking!

picture of cycling snacks at owenhouse cycling in bozeman montana
Aug

Trail snacks are essential to any mountain biker’s epic day on the trails! These tasty and sometimes odd snacks can be a lifesaver when exhaustion, cramps, and bonking begin to set in. Ride food doesn’t have to be limited to stick gels, energy blocks, or drink mixes. There is a version of trail food for every personal preference! This month, we break down 4 of our favorite snacks for long days on the trails!

#1: Eat On The Run With Spring Energy

Are you looking for a trailside energy boost that isn’t going to punish your stomach on those long rides? Spring energy gels are a gluten-free, organic option that can be used as a quick and easy source of carbohydrates on the go! These convenient energy gels are composed of 100% natural ingredients, minimal processing, and no artificial components.

How do they do it?

Spring Energy uses a balanced mixture of different healthy, simple, and complex carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and micronutrients. Minimizing sugars and dextrin content normalizes energy levels and excludes dips and spikes in blood sugar. Spring is a blend of healthy ingredients that bring all the benefits of real food in a convenient form packed in a small pouch. All that convenience, and they still taste great!

When Should I Eat Spring Gels?

Eat Spring Gels during your workout for the most effective fueling.

Where do I Get Spring Energy?

We are excited to offer Spring Energy products at Owenhouse Cycling. Swing into the shop to see all of the Spring Energy products we carry!

#2: Get Real with Kate’s Real Food!

Are gels and gummies not your trailside jam? Are you looking for something a little more natural and with a crunch? Kate’s Real Food has exactly what you need!

How Do They Do It?

To provide sustainable, long-lasting energy, Kate’s begins every recipe with creamy, organic almond or peanut butter. They then mix in delicious USDA-certified organic oats and brown rice crisps that give their bars their unique texture. And, of course, for the perfect balance of natural sweetness, they fold in USDA-certified organic honey.

No matter your diet, lifestyle, or adventure, Kate’s Real Food snacks are an excellent option for anything from a midday pick-me-up to a snack on the side of the trail that will keep you satisfied and energized to keep going. All of Kate’s Real Food bars are organic, gluten-free, non-GMO, kosher, soy-free, and most products are dairy free.

When Should I Eat Kate’s Real Food Bars?

It might depend on who you ask. If you ask us, you eat these delicious bars all the time! We love having these snacks around the shop, our house, in a bike bag or jersey pocket. It’s safe to say that Kate’s Real Food can be consumed at any time.

Where do I Get Kate’s Real Food Bars?

We have tons of great Kate’s Real Food options at Owenhouse Cycling! Some flavors that we have available include:

  • Peanut butter & dark chocolate
  • Dark chocolate cherry & almond
  • Peanut butter, hemp & flax
  • Peanut butter milk chocolate
  • Oatmeal cranberry & almond
  • Dark chocolate mint
  • Lemon coconut
  • Mango coconut

#3: Take A Shot with Clif Shot Bloks

A great trail snack doesn’t always have to be a BIG snack. Sometimes you want a high dose of energy packed into a small, easy-to-eat package. That’s where the Clif Shot Bloks come in! These bite-sized energy chews pack a punch and are consumable within precious seconds. They come in convenient packaging that can be stored in jersey pockets or frame bags. We have even known some hardcore riders to stick them on their handlebars!

How Do They Do It?

Clif Bloks energy chews provide quick, chewable energy to athletes during training and racing. Bloks come in 33-calorie cubes with sleek and portable packaging making it easy to customize and track caloric and electrolyte intake during long days on the saddle. There are 6 Chews per package. Clif Bloks taste delicious. They offer a lot of flavors and have a gummy texture without being too sticky.

The packaging and chews themselves are durable, even in hot weather, and stuffed away in a pack for hours on end. The packaging allows the rider to eat easily while still pedaling on the bike. Most Clif Shot Bloks are caffeine free, but some flavors are available with caffeine if you need an added energy boost.

When Should I Eat Clif Shot Bloks?

Clif Bloks are packed with important carbohydrates, which are perfect for consuming while performing intense exercise. For this reason, we recommend consuming Clif Shot Bloks while on your ride. Extra points if you can eat them while doing a wheelie!

Where do I Get Clif Shot Bloks?

Owenhouse Cycling is the perfect place to pick up Clif Shot Bloks. We have a great selection of flavors to choose from and can tell you why each flavor is our favorite!

#4: Scratch The Snack Itch with Skratch Labs

You have probably heard of #4 on our list, and there’s a good reason for it. Skratch Labs is a leader when it comes to cycling nutrition. Skratch works with Olympic athletes, ultra marathoners, and world-class professionals to ensure they perform at the top of their game! Skratch offers trail snacks in the form of drink mixes, energy chews, and energy bars.

How Do They Do It?

Skratch Labs makes sports nutrition designed to help athletes perform better without offending your gut or your taste buds because they use real food starting from scratch.

When Should I Eat Skratch Labs?

Due to their broad range of energy-fueling products, Skratch can be consumed pre-ride, during the ride, and post-ride. Start your day with an energy chew. Maintain cycling performance with a hydration mix and an energy bar. Then end your day with a delicious recovery drink. We really like the chocolate!

Where do I Get Skratch Labs?

Stop by Owenhouse Cycling for all of your Skratch Labs needs. Some of the products we carry from Skratch include:

  • Hydration Drink Mix
  • Anytime Energy Chews
  • Energy Bars
  • Crisp Rice Cakes

Want To Make Your Own Delicious Trailside Snacks At Home?

One of the added benefits to Skratch is its ability to be added to delicious homemade meals like:

Time To Take These Snacks On The Trails!

So there you have it. Our favorite trail food for big rides in Bozeman. Did we mention your favorite trail snack? Was there anything that we left out? If so, stop by the shop and let us know. We love exploring new and exciting ride fuels. With the recent boom in sports nutrition, there is no shortage of great options!

Now that you have a plan for the perfect trail snacks, it’s time to decide on the right trail! For beginner riders, head over to our Top 5 Bozeman Trails for Beginner Mountain Bikers guide. If you’re looking for a trail that offers a little more technical difficulty and challenging climbs, head to our Top 5 Bozeman Trails for Intermediate Mountain Bikers guide. If you want to know more about cycling in Bozeman, Montana, stop by Owenhouse Cycling! We love talking bikes and adventure!

Post navigation