Homemade Cycling Energy Bars and Drinks You Can Prep at Home

Home cooking isn’t just for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. You can prep your ride fuel too. With a few ingredients and minimal effort, you can make homemade cycling energy bars and DIY electrolyte drinks that actually taste good, give you steady energy, and don’t come with a long list of additives.

There’s something satisfying about knowing what’s in your food—especially when it fuels a long climb or keeps you going two hours into a tough session.

Cashew Energy Bars

These homemade energy bars work for indoor training, outdoor rides, hikes, or even busy days when you’re on the move. They’re quick to make, easy to digest, and give you a reliable energy boost. Each bar delivers around 48 grams of carbs and 415 kcal—enough to power you through a solid endurance ride.

You can swap the ingredients to suit your taste. Use almonds instead of cashews, or dried mango instead of dates. Just keep the overall ratio similar so the bars still hold together and give you the fuel you need.

Macros per 100 g bar:
48 g carbs, 6 g protein, 19 g fat, 6 g fibre, 396 kcal

Ingredients:

• 1½ cups dates

• ½ cup cashews (or mixed nuts)

• ½ cup coconut flakes

• 1 tbsp coconut oil

Instructions:

1. Chop the dates and nuts. Blend until coarse.

2. Add the coconut flakes and oil. Blend until it forms a dough.

3. Shape into a brick, wrap in foil, and freeze for 30 minutes.

4. Slice into bars and wrap individually.

5. Store in the fridge or freezer. For travel or ride days, use sealed containers.

That’s it. You’ve got homemade cycling energy bars with simple ingredients, high energy content, and none of the overly sweet aftertaste you sometimes get from packaged options.

Coconut Electrolyte Drink

Alongside fuel, hydration matters—especially when you’re sweating heavily or riding in hot conditions. This DIY drink helps replace sodium, potassium, and carbs lost during longer efforts. It’s a lot more cost-effective than buying sachets every week, and you can tweak the flavour to your liking.

Each version includes natural sugars, salt, and enough fluid to keep you topped up without overloading your stomach.

Macros per 500 ml:
28 g carbs, 1 g protein, 116 kcal

Tropical Blend

• 2½ cups water

• 1 cup coconut water

• ¼ cup coconut sugar (or sweetener of choice)

• ¼ tsp salt

Taste of Honey

• 3½ cups water

• ¼ cup pineapple juice

• 2 tbsp coconut sugar

• 1 tbsp honey

• ¼ tsp salt

Instructions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a shaker or blender.

2. Mix well and pour into your bottle.

If you prefer it colder, store it in the fridge or add ice before the ride. It’s not a replacement for water on easy spins, but for longer or harder sessions, having a homemade electrolyte drink on hand can make a real difference.