Clif Bloks are my go-to for long races. My stomach (quick digestion, no GI issues) and my mouth (no dryness or chalky aftertaste) handle them the best. But most Clif Bloks can be a bit too sweet, especially if you eat a lot of them during a long race, and I seem to crave a little salt. Margarita flavor is way too salty. Salted watermelon is the perfect balance.
Nutritionally these perform as well any other popular gel chews. To me the best thing about the Blocks is the way it's packaged. It's like energy chews in a PEZ dispenser. Because they are in a neat single row, it's easy to dole out one chew at a time while on the move. You know how convenient and safe this is if you've tried to fish out a piece of chew out of a bag type package when you have your winter gloves on or a long, steep climb. Plus I love the Tropical Punch flavor, and BTD has one of the best prices so you can't lose.
My go to energy source during rides. The package can be a little difficult to tear open while riding, but if you open it before you saddle up or at a break, it's easy to grab and squeeze a block into your mouth during the ride. Best to avoid chewing while breathing hard since small pieces can be inhaled, but with a little forethought that can be avoided. It would be nice to have a box with assorted flavors since some variety would break the monotony of the same flavor all the time and allow tailoring the choice of chews to the ride, such as chews with caffeine for a long ride or sodium for a long hot day. That said, I have ordered two boxes at a time, one with and one without caffeine, but that gets a bit expensive, although the shelf life is good so no worries there.
The best choice for keeping yourself fueled. Not as tasty as the Scratch Labs chews, but a whole lot more useful when riding. These don't fuse themselves together like the other chews, and the tubular packaging makes for easy dispension while riding.
Shot Bloks fill that space between gus and bars when you want something you can chew on, but not a meal. I've tried a lot of the flavor options and they're all pretty good - I prefer black cherry & margarita (not as disgusting as it sounds!). Definitely a staple in my fueling strategy.
Bought the ginger ale flavor block and find the taste nice and satisfying on a long ride. The service at BTD is awesome and I love the rewards program. These features keep me as a shopper at BTD.
The packaging could be easier to open while riding. Most of the flavors are very good, like that they chew easily. I like that you don't have to do whole package at once. It is easier to maintain even blood sugar levels for me(I am a diabetic).
I really like the Clif Shot Blocks. They are easy to get out of my pocket and it is easy to calibrate how many
calories I use.
I don't like drink mix in my bottles , so I take a couple of these every half hour for the calories and electrolytes.
The flavors are good and I really like the orange, and the black cherry (extra caffeine ).
On hot days I use the margarita flavor for the extra salt.
Great product.
I was able to get these when they were on sale so I ordered two boxes. So far these are the only thing I can handle while doing my triathlon workouts. Something about the swimming and ingesting pool or ocean water really jacks up my stomach. These chews however, taste great and provide enough sustenance to get me through the bikerun. Highly recommended
I carry Clif Shot Bloks on every bike ride and they deliver the perfect amount of carbs to provide the energy that I need and when I need it. The product is easy to store and use and there are several great flavors to choose from. I highly recommend!
Cut the top of the package before your long ride. Squeeze 1-2 blocks out at a time. Wash down with water. Great taste, easy to digest. These are definitely less mess than gels and seem to be easier on the stomach.
I usually take 2-3 chews just before getting on my bike and 2 more chews every 45 minutes or so of riding. Does a good job for the 2-3 hour rides. For longer rides, you should supplement with additional foods and water.
Have to say, I never tried 'bloks' before this year, but I am now sold on them.
I've only tried the salted watermelon flavor, which is tasty. The blocks easily come off in about half inch square pieces. You can either chew them, or allow them to melt in your mouth. They seem to have helped me reduce cramping on my longer rides/races.
