Sportive and long-ride cyclists
Count biscuit portions within a planned carbohydrate intake, and plan drinks separately. A sealed portion makes the biscuit count clear, but one portion need not cover an hour of riding.
Who might carry them?
Cyclists choosing gluten-free snacks
Look for an explicit gluten-free claim on the exact product and check its current ingredients and allergen label. Schär offers a portion-packed custard cream; Sainsbury’s Free From option comes in a standard packet.
Casual riders wanting a small sweet snack
A counted portion of custard creams may suit a planned stop or a pocket snack. A standard packet needs dividing before the ride, while biscuits do not replace the drinks you intend to carry.
What should you check?
Decide how many biscuits you want to carry, then compare the carbohydrate for that portion, its packaging and the current ingredient label.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Carbohydrate per portion | Read the per-biscuit value and count the biscuits in a pack. ASDA Groceries lists Schär at 9.2g per biscuit, or 18.4g for its two-biscuit pack. British Cycling’s general sportive guideline is 1g carbohydrate per kg of bodyweight per hour. | I want to know how the biscuits I carry fit into my longer-ride food plan, rather than assume one small pack covers an hour. |
| Pack format | Check whether portions are sealed separately. ASDA Groceries lists five 25g packs for Schär; its conventional custard creams come in a 400g packet, and Sainsbury’s conventional product comes in a 200g packet. | Would ready-counted packs be useful in my pocket, or am I happy to count and protect loose biscuits before setting off? |
| Ingredients and allergens | Match the exact label to your requirements. Sainsbury’s labels its Free From custard creams gluten-free and milk-free; ASDA lists wheat and milk in its conventional custard creams. | If I must avoid an ingredient, I need the claim and allergen information for the particular packet I will eat. |
| Drinks on a longer ride | Plan fluids separately from biscuits. British Cycling’s sportive nutrition guidance addresses drinking as well as carbohydrate intake. | I want a snack I can carry without mistaking it for my drink plan. |
What can go wrong?
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Assuming one mini pack covers an hour’s riding
ASDA Groceries lists 18.4g carbohydrate in a two-biscuit Schär pack. British Cycling’s general sportive guideline is 1g carbohydrate per kg of bodyweight per hour, so the pack should be counted within, not mistaken for, a whole hourly plan.
Use the label’s carbohydrate value for the quantity you will actually eat, and try your food-and-drink plan on a training ride.
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Using biscuits in place of drinks
Biscuits contribute food carbohydrate but do not provide the fluids you need to plan for a longer ride.
Decide what to drink as well as what food to carry.
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Assuming every custard cream meets the same dietary needs
ASDA’s conventional custard creams list wheat and milk, while Sainsbury’s Free From product is labelled gluten-free and milk-free. The names and formats do not make their ingredients interchangeable.
Check the current ingredient and allergen information on the exact pack before eating it.
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Expecting a standard packet to work like sealed portions
A 200g or 400g biscuit packet does not divide itself into the quantity you intend to carry. Once opened, the biscuits also need protecting in your bag or pocket.
Count out a portion before riding and use a suitable container, or choose a product explicitly sold in separate packs.
Relevant brand references
Schär
Its gluten-free custard creams are listed by ASDA Groceries as five 25g packs, with two biscuits in each pack.
- ASDA Groceries lists 9.2g carbohydrate per biscuit, making 18.4g per two-biscuit pack.
- Check the current pack for the dietary claims and ingredients you require; these product details do not describe every Schär snack.
ASDA
Its conventional 400g custard creams are an option to portion yourself if their ingredients suit you.
- ASDA Groceries lists 8.1g carbohydrate and 3.4g sugars per biscuit.
- The product contains wheat and milk and is not listed as separate mini portions.
Sainsbury’s
Its conventional and Free From custard creams offer different ingredient choices in standard packets.
- Sainsbury’s lists 8.6g carbohydrate per conventional biscuit and 10.6g per Free From biscuit; the Free From product is labelled gluten-free and milk-free.
- Neither product listing establishes separate sealed mini portions.
M&S
Its Extra Cream Custard Creams are a conventional 165g packet rather than an established cycling portion pack.
- Marks & Spencer publishes 68.2g carbohydrate and 40.2g sugars per 100g for this product.
- Those per-100g figures do not state the carbohydrate in an individual biscuit.
Hill Biscuits
Its catalogue lists custard creams as well as mini-pack assortments.
- The Hill Biscuits catalogue identifies both custard-cream and mini-pack product lines.
- Check a particular assortment’s contents and nutrition before assuming it includes custard creams.
Joybuy product options
These options include a portion-packed custard-cream biscuit and a custard pie sold in small packs. The pie is a different type of snack, so check its own label rather than using biscuit nutrition figures for it.
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Schär Gluten Free Custard Creams 125g
For a counted biscuit portion, ASDA Groceries lists this 125g product as five 25g packs with two biscuits each. It lists 9.2g carbohydrate per biscuit, or 18.4g per pack. Check the current ingredients and allergen label for your dietary requirements.
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Orion Custard Pie 138g, 6 small packs
If a custard-cream biscuit is not essential, this custard pie offers a six-small-pack format. It is a different product from a custard cream; check its own nutrition and ingredient label when deciding what to carry.
Questions about ride snacks
Can mini custard creams replace my long-ride food and drinks?
Do not treat them as a complete food-and-drink plan. Biscuits can contribute carbohydrate, but drinks need planning separately; British Cycling gives a general sportive guideline of 1g carbohydrate per kg of bodyweight per hour.
How much carbohydrate is in a portion?
It depends on the biscuit and how many are in the portion. ASDA Groceries lists 9.2g per Schär biscuit and two biscuits per 25g pack, giving 18.4g per pack; its conventional custard creams list 8.1g per biscuit, while Sainsbury’s conventional version lists 8.6g.
Are custard creams available in gluten-free or milk-free versions?
Yes, but check the claim on the exact product. Sainsbury’s labels its Free From custard creams gluten-free and milk-free; ASDA’s conventional custard creams contain wheat and milk. Read the current pack before eating, especially if you must avoid an allergen.
What should I check on the packet before a ride?
Check the number of biscuits you intend to eat, carbohydrate for that quantity, and the current ingredients and allergen information. GOV.UK guidance says food businesses must provide allergen information; the label on the product you are buying is the practical place to check it.