(Virtually) No one likes the banana flavored Power Bars??? Only flavor I
like. I can stomach the wild berry, and the chocolate when I am having an
attack and there are no M & M's available... I've also tried a similar
high-energy food called "Get Stoked" (not entirely sure of the correct name)
that I found in a GNC-type store. Tasted a little bit better than the Power
Bar, had approximately the same texture, but isn't as heavy on the fructose
(made of simple glucose). I intend on visiting the store again soon to
check out the different energy bars available -- I will post a report on
what I find.
Another small item that we've discovered is very tasty on trail are
"Breakfast Bars". They're fat free, about 2/3 the size of the Power Bar,
and come in a variety of GOOD flavors (strawberry, blueberry, others), with
the only drawback that you have to like a granola taste (though they are not
as dense as a granola bar...). Yes, they can be a little crumbly, but they
held up well, even during the hot, humid summer we had last year.
The only electrolyte drink I've tried is gatorade. I highly recommend the
lemon-ice and watermelon flavors. Very refreshing and you can't even tell
that you're drinking gatorade (not like the green stuff which only tastes
good if you need it!). As for competing brands -- Power-ade, All-Sport --
these are much higher in sugars and will give you the short-lived sugar high
followed by the sugar crash... I read somewhere that electrolyte drinks
should only be 6-8% sugar, but the Power-ade and All-Sport are as much as
DOUBLE that content. Also, I can't stand that much carbonation while I am
riding. Typically, I ride with two bottles -- one with straight water (for
me to drink or squirt on my horse's jugular) and one with gatorade/juice.
Other great trail snacks are beef/deer jerky and pretzel logs (they don't
break and turn into dust like the crackers I've carried...). As someone
else mentioned, dried fruit is also tasty, but can give you a sugar high
(especially dried pineapple which is extremely sweet) -- I recommend dried
banana chips.
ICE tomorrow. Will the winter never end?????????????
Kevin Pfoertsch
Safe Haven Farm
Eastern PA