Riders packing for longer outings
A separate packet is convenient to carry, but its biscuit count alone will not tell you how much carbohydrate it contains. Compare the exact portion’s label with your plans for the ride.
Who might choose each format?
The useful distinction is whether you need a sealed portion ready to carry, several portions to share, or biscuits you can pack yourself.
Riders sharing or stocking snacks
A box of sealed portions can serve several outings or riders. Crawford’s mixed 100-pack listings include custard creams alongside five other biscuit varieties, so check the breakdown if the variety matters.
Riders packing biscuits at home
An ordinary packet lets you choose how many biscuits to bring. Tesco and Asda publish per-biscuit carbohydrate figures for their respective 400 g custard creams, but their listings do not establish separately wrapped servings.
What should you check before buying?
Start with the packet format, then compare the nutrition declaration for the amount you will actually carry.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Separate portions | Look for an explicit inner-packet description and the number of biscuits in each portion. WahooGifts lists Crawford’s as one packet of three biscuits; an outer packet alone does not establish separate wrapping. | I want to take a sealed portion without dividing a larger packet before I leave. |
| Box contents | Check the varieties and their quantities in the particular assortment. Vending Superstore describes 100 sealed three-biscuit Crawford’s packs across six varieties; Regency Foods specifies 18 custard-cream packs in its listed assortment. | If I am stocking up, I need to know how many of the portions will actually be custard creams. |
| Carbohydrate per portion | Read the carbohydrate figure and serving size on the exact product. Tesco lists 8.4 g per biscuit for its 400 g custard creams; Asda lists 8.1 g per biscuit for its own 400 g product. Do not apply either figure to another biscuit. | For a longer ride, I want to know what the biscuits I pack contribute to my fuelling plan, rather than relying on their number alone. |
| Ingredients | Check the ingredients and allergen information on the product received. A sealed portion does not establish whether its recipe is suitable for someone avoiding a particular ingredient. | I need to check the biscuit I will eat, not the label of a different brand or variety. |
| Comparable nutrition | Use per 100 g declarations to compare different products on the same weight basis. Use the relevant per-biscuit or per-portion declaration to work out the amount you plan to eat; wrapping does not change the recipe. | I want to compare products fairly while keeping track of how many biscuits I am bringing. |
Ride duration also matters. British Cycling’s guidance for indoor rides over 90 minutes discusses 30–60 g of carbohydrate per hour; that guidance is not a measurement of any custard-cream packet or a rule for every outdoor ride.
Packet mistakes to avoid
-
Assuming 100 packs means 100 custard-cream portions
The Crawford’s 100-pack listings describe a mixture of six biscuit varieties. Regency Foods specifies 18 custard-cream portions in its listed assortment, but that count should not be applied to every mixed box.
Check the variety breakdown for the box you intend to order.
-
Confusing an outer packet with individually wrapped biscuits
Tesco and Asda describe ordinary 400 g custard-cream packets, not separately sealed ride portions.
If factory-sealed portions matter, look for an explicit inner-pack description. Otherwise, pack the biscuits you need in a suitable container.
Preparing portions from an ordinary packet also takes time before the ride.
-
Planning from biscuit count alone
Carbohydrate declarations can refer to different serving sizes, and the figures for Tesco and Asda custard creams apply only to their respective products.
Use the current label for the exact biscuits and portion you will take when considering how they fit into your ride plans.
Brand and product-line references
These examples distinguish separately packed portions from ordinary packets; a brand name alone does not establish the format of every product it sells.
Crawford’s
A seller lists a separate three-biscuit custard-cream packet, while other sellers list mixed boxes of sealed three-biscuit portions.
- The single-packet listing specifies one packet containing three biscuits.
- The 100-pack assortment includes five other varieties; check its custard-cream count with the seller.
Tesco
Its 400 g custard creams are an ordinary-packet option for portioning at home.
- Tesco lists 8.4 g carbohydrate per biscuit for this product.
- The listing advises airtight storage after opening and does not establish individually wrapped biscuits.
Asda
Its 400 g custard creams offer another ordinary-packet option with per-biscuit nutrition.
- Asda lists 8.1 g carbohydrate per biscuit for this product.
- The listing advises airtight storage after opening and does not establish separate portions.
Sainsbury’s
A 200 g custard-cream listing provides per-biscuit nutrition for an ordinary packet.
- The listing gives 8.6 g carbohydrate per biscuit for this product.
- An ordinary packet should not be mistaken for separately wrapped ride portions.
M&S
Extra Cream Custard Creams are listed as a 165 g product rather than a specified set of ride portions.
- M&S lists 68.2 g carbohydrate and 40.2 g sugars per 100 g for this exact product.
- The listing does not establish separate wrapping or a per-biscuit serving.
McVitie’s
The Joybuy listing for Tasties Custard Creams describes a 300 g packet.
- That packet description does not establish separately sealed portions for a ride.
Custard creams on Joybuy
This gluten-free custard-cream option may be worth considering if you want biscuits to carry on a ride. Confirm its portion packaging and nutrition on the product you receive before relying on it for a particular plan.
No image available
Schar Gluten Free Custard Creams 125g
For a ride snack, check the wrapping and carbohydrate declaration for the portion you intend to carry. This is a 125g gluten-free custard-cream product.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need custard creams during every cycle ride?
No. British Cycling says most indoor sessions under an hour should not need additional fuel during the session; its longer-ride guidance depends on duration and intensity. Do not treat that indoor-cycling advice as a biscuit requirement for every ride.
Is a standard packet the same as separately wrapped portions?
No. WahooGifts lists one Crawford’s packet containing three biscuits, whereas the Tesco and Asda 400 g listings describe ordinary packets without establishing separate inner portions. If using an ordinary packet, divide and protect the biscuits yourself before riding.
How should I store biscuits left after packing a ride?
Tesco and Asda advise airtight storage after opening for their respective ordinary packets. Follow the storage instructions on the exact product you buy.
What should I check before ordering a mixed box?
Check the variety breakdown and delivery terms for that order. Vending Superstore describes its Crawford’s 100-pack box as six varieties; Regency Foods specifies 18 custard-cream portions in its listed assortment, which is not a guaranteed count for every mixed box.
What if I need to avoid a particular ingredient?
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the exact packet before eating it. A separate wrapper does not establish ingredient suitability, and another custard cream’s listing cannot stand in for the label of the product you have.