Electro-Bites by Fuel 100 provide two things essential to any endurance athlete – calories and electrolytes. Cramps and bonking can bring any rider, regardless of fitness or training, to a halt. Electro-Bites look to combat both of these.
Each small, easy to carry and easy to open package of Electro-Bites contains 100 calories, with 190 mg of sodium, 55 mg of potassium and 46 mg of magnesium. The carb content is a little light at 14 g, but that is expected with the low sugar load. Only 2 of the 14 grams come from sugars. The main ingredients are potato starch, organic coconut oil, and organic agave syrup. The bites are gluten and soy free.
Unlike the heavily processed and overly sweet gels, blocks, beans, etc; the Electro-Bites are baked. Though the baked pieces stand up to the hardships of transportation in bike bags and jersey pockets, they are easy to chew and dissolve quickly in the mouth. The texture is like a soft Captain‘s Wafer or the end crust on a pie.
The base flavor of all the varieties of the Electro-Bites also reminds me of a Captain‘s Wafer with a longer residual saltiness. The Simply Salty is pretty much that. The other two flavors I sampled, Salty Vanilla and Pumpkin Spice, have the same base flavor with subtle undertones of vanilla and pumpkin. No flavor is overly powerful.
I first tried the Electro-Bites as a quick light snack before a roller session. The dominating flavor was quite salty and I noticed that I needed to follow the bites with a splash of water. The water also helped quickly dissolve the bites making them very easy to swallow. Out on the road, I didn‘t notice the saltiness nearly as much and found I actually desired that flavor versus the super sweet gels. I did find that while slogging uphill, it was better to take about 4 or 5 pieces at a time to make it easier to chew and swallow.
Even if you are not prone to cramping, don‘t take the dangers of a lack of electrolytes lightly. On the 400k this past summer, I saw firsthand the need to keep the electrolytes topped off. One of the riders went beyond simple cramps into a situation where his electrolyte level was dangerously low. Vomiting, bloating, and lack of sweat even in 100 plus degrees were signs that he needed serious help. Too bad Electro-Bites weren‘t available, because they would have been a much better alternative to the packets of salt from Burger King that one of the veteran ultra-distance riders had grabbed for emergency prep in the event of such a situation.
The Electro-Bites are a highly portable welcome alternative to the usual gels and chews. It is nice to have the extra electrolytes mixed into a food form. Now‘s the time to be thinking about the season coming up. Winter may seem like it‘s got a big grip on the country, but it‘s never too early to be training and planning. Your competition is. Spring and warmer weather will be here before you know it. Make Electro-Bites part of your training and prep. They are available directly from the Fuel 100 website at electro-bites.com and come in packages of 6, a baker‘s dozen or 26 count. The 6 pack runs $13.20.
– Alex (Steak Sauce)
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the Electro-Bites for free from Fuel 100 as coordinated by Deep Creek PR Outdoor Retailer Public Relations, in consideration for review publication.