Like mom’s?
Food and bicycles. Nah, we’re not talking about the post ride tacos and beer. We’re talking about healthy fueling (not that we have anything against tacos).
We’ve been consuming bars and blocks and gels since they were introduced to cycling. The convenience of ready to eat with the correct caloric density is essential for cycling performance. Training or racing, there are times that food is needed.
We had noticed the Kurt’s folks at several local events and were curious about how and why a local Kansas City company could/would jump into a very crowded nutritional market.
In their words: …”We are a unique breed (many would call us crazy) who actually enjoy waking up at 4:00am to work out and train. We do this because we are a determined and driven group of people who wish to be the best we can be. In view of this fact, we are particular about what we put into our bodies….Our pursuit of healthy nutrition options has inspired the desire to scratch our own itch for fueling that drive. And here’s the thing, we also like what we came up with for the TASTE!”
So let’s jump to the chase on taste and usage.
The bars we sampled ranged from 220 to 250 calories. Typical amounts for easy consumption during a ride. We wanted to test the ability to pull a bar from the pocket, open, and eat while moving. The packaging is light and compact and fits nicely in the jersey; also easy to tear open….maybe not one handed, but no struggle was needed. The bar itself is a little shorter than some other brands, so perhaps fewer bites needed. One thing to note, they are soft and will break fairly easily. Out of the wrapper I did drop a portion the first time I ate one while riding, but learned to keep a good grasp each time after.
Taste? This is the crux of the review. We have eaten a lot of uninspiring energy bars. These are inspiring. These taste quite good. Good enough for an off the bike snack. Of the multiple flavors we tasted (see the above photo), we found each to be a delicious treat. The right amount of chocolate in the mix for many. All had a pleasant soft oat meal cookie base. That oat meal flavor base was very familiar to my own palate. It took a bit to recall why it was so familiar, but i did. It was incredibly similar to a home-made cookie that my own mother baked in my childhood.
Which brings us to the Kurt’s Crumbles. Delicious. Healthy snack? Heck yes, if you can avoid eating the whole bag in a sitting.
The Kurt’s website with blog tells a lot more of the company’s story and where to source the products. Give em a taste!