Cyclists planning a stop
A bourbon cream biscuit is a solid snack with a declared carbohydrate amount. It is worth considering when there is time to open the pack, eat comfortably and check portions against the current label.
Who might consider these options
Cyclists planning longer or harder rides
A stated carbohydrate dose and a pack that is practical to carry can make fuelling easier to plan. British Cycling notes that eating regularly on the bike can be challenging, so practise the food, timing and handling before an important ride.
Shoppers checking dietary claims
A standard bourbon biscuit and a free-from version need separate checks. Sainsbury’s labels its Free From Bourbon Creams gluten free, milk free and suitable for vegans, but the current pack’s ingredients and allergy advice still matter.
What to check before buying
Start with the ride conditions, then compare the portion on the label with a format you can handle and eat comfortably.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Carbohydrate portion | Compare the declared amount per biscuit, gel or chocolate portion, not just per 100 g. Sainsbury’s lists 9.2 g per standard Bourbon biscuit; Tesco lists 9.0 g per Bourbon Creams biscuit. Science In Sport states 22 g per GO Isotonic Energy Gel sachet. | I want to work out how many portions fit my ride plan rather than relying on an unspecified ‘energy’ description. |
| Eating on the ride | Consider opening the pack, handling the food and chewing it under the conditions in which you will eat. Practise the quantity and timing; British Cycling notes that regular on-bike snacking can be difficult. | At a stop, I may have time for a biscuit. During a sustained effort, I want something I can carry and use without making bike handling difficult. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the exact pack’s ingredients, allergy advice and dietary claims. Sainsbury’s standard Bourbon contains wheat, while its Free From Bourbon Creams is labelled gluten free and milk free. | If I need a particular free-from option, the word ‘bourbon’ alone does not tell me whether a biscuit meets that requirement. |
| Boxed chocolates | Identify the product and its serving size, then read its carbohydrate, fat, ingredients and allergen information. A gift box and an individual ride portion serve different buying purposes. | I might choose chocolates as a cycling-related gift, but I would check the particular chocolates before considering them part of a ride-fuelling plan. |
Common buying mistakes
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Treating any box of chocolates as ride fuel
Recipes and portion sizes differ, so the contents of a box cannot be assessed from its presentation as a gift.
Choose the gift on its own merits. If the chocolates are also intended for a ride, check the exact product’s nutrition and allergen label first.
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Comparing biscuits and gels by calories alone
Portions and formats differ. Tesco and Sainsbury’s declare about 9 g carbohydrate per standard bourbon biscuit in the cited products, while Science In Sport and HIGH5 declare 22 g and 23 g respectively for the cited gels.
Compare carbohydrate per stated portion alongside ingredients, pack format and how comfortably you can eat each option.
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Trying an unfamiliar fuelling plan on an important ride
Food that is awkward to handle or difficult to tolerate can disrupt a planned intake. The Australian Institute of Sport notes that excessive intake of glucose-based carbohydrate can cause gut discomfort.
Practise the product, portion, timing and fluids during training rather than assuming that a larger intake will suit the ride.
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Assuming all bourbon biscuits have the same allergy profile
Sainsbury’s standard Bourbon contains wheat and carries milk and barley allergy warnings; its Free From Bourbon Creams carries different dietary claims.
Check the current label of the exact product, including its ingredients and allergy advice, before buying for a dietary requirement.
Relevant brand references
These biscuit and gel examples illustrate different labelled portions and formats; a brand name alone does not establish the details of every product it makes.
Tesco
Tesco lists standard Bourbon Creams and a separate milk-chocolate-covered bourbon product.
- Tesco declares 9.0 g carbohydrate per standard Bourbon Creams biscuit.
- Its chocolate-covered bourbon is a different portion and recipe; Tesco declares 17.3 g carbohydrate and 6.8 g fat per biscuit for that product.
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s lists both a standard Bourbon and Free From Bourbon Creams, making the exact product choice important.
- The listed carbohydrate amounts are 9.2 g per standard Bourbon biscuit and 10.0 g per Free From Bourbon Creams biscuit.
- The standard product contains wheat; check the current pack rather than applying the Free From product’s claims to other biscuits.
Science In Sport
Its GO Isotonic Energy Gel is a sachet option for riders comparing stated carbohydrate portions.
- Science In Sport states 22 g carbohydrate per sachet for this gel.
- The stated dose does not determine how much or how often an individual rider should use it; practise the intended plan.
HIGH5
Its Energy Gel Electrolyte is a gel option with declared carbohydrate and electrolyte quantities.
- HIGH5 states 23 g carbohydrate per gel and lists sodium, potassium, magnesium and chloride quantities per sachet.
- An electrolyte-containing product is not automatically necessary or comfortable for every ride; check the particular product and practise using it.
Energy gels on Joybuy
These Applied Nutrition packs represent the gel option for riders comparing portable products with labelled carbohydrate information. Check each pack’s serving details, ingredients and suitability for your planned ride.
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Applied Nutrition Endurance Elite Tri-Carb Energy Gel, Apple Burst, 20 gels
A gel-format option for carrying portions on a ride. The product name states 40 g carbs; check the pack for the serving basis, ingredients and allergy advice before fitting it into your plan.
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Applied Nutrition Endurance Elite Tri-Source Energy Gel, Lemon & Lime, 20 gels
This 20-gel pack is a portable format to consider when planning ride portions. Its product name states 40 g carbs; confirm the serving basis and read the current ingredients and allergy advice.
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Applied Nutrition Endurance Elite Tri-Source Energy Gel, Orange Burst, 20 gels
This is the Orange Burst variant in a 20-gel pack for riders considering a gel format. The name states 40 g carbs; use the pack’s serving information, ingredients and allergy advice when deciding whether it fits your plan.
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Applied Nutrition Energy Gel + Electrolytes Endurance, Tropical, 20 x 60 g
The pack contains 20 gels of 60 g each. For a planned ride, check the current label for carbohydrate per serving, electrolytes, caffeine, ingredients and allergy advice rather than choosing by the variant name alone.
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Applied Nutrition Energy Gel Endurance, Blackcurrant, 20 x 60 g
This Blackcurrant gel comes as 20 portions of 60 g. Compare its current carbohydrate declaration and ingredients with the portions you intend to carry, and check the allergy advice before use.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take bourbon biscuits on a cycling ride?
Yes, if solid food is practical for that ride and you can comfortably eat it. Sainsbury’s lists 9.2 g carbohydrate per standard Bourbon biscuit and Tesco lists 9.0 g per Bourbon Creams biscuit; check the current pack and plan portions from its declaration.
When might a gel be more practical than a bourbon biscuit?
A gel may suit sustained or harder riding when you want a portable, stated carbohydrate portion and have practised using that product. Science In Sport states 22 g per GO Isotonic Energy Gel sachet and HIGH5 states 23 g per Energy Gel Electrolyte; neither figure determines an individual rider’s intake plan.
Are bourbon biscuits gluten free or milk free?
Do not assume so from the biscuit name. Sainsbury’s standard Bourbon contains wheat and carries milk and barley allergy warnings, whereas its Free From Bourbon Creams is labelled gluten free and milk free. Read the current pack for the exact product you intend to buy.
What allergen information should I check on a ride snack?
Check the current ingredients list and any allergy advice for the exact snack. GOV.UK states that, for UK prepacked food, any of the 14 specified allergens present must be clearly labelled in the ingredients list. A free-from claim on one product does not apply to another variant.