If you prefer home-made flapjacks to shop-bought versions or sports nutrition products, then you'll love our ultimate flapjack and breakfast bar collection. Whether you want nutrition on the go or just like to control what you put in your body, these will provide the fuel and nutrients you need to power your cycling.
We've partnered with Olive magazine (also published by Immediate Media) to bring you the very best recipes for cyclists. All the recipes are easy to follow and take you through step-by-step how to create everything from home-made nutrition products to tasty and hearty post-ride meals.
The ubiquitous flapjack may be humble and relatively simple to make, but the mixture of oats and syrup provides plenty of fuel to keep you riding on.
There are also almost infinite variations you can make, even savoury versions. We've listed a few below but why not go wild and experiment!
Orange and cranberry is one of our favourites. We're also partial to a breakfast bar or breakfast loaf, which are great for stowing in your back pocket if you've got an early morning start and no time for breakfast
1. Original flapjacks
The original and the greatest. Flapjacks are actually very simple to make, as you need just six ingredients: oats, brown sugar, butter, golden syrup, plain flour and bicarbonate of soda. They only take 40 minutes to make from start to finish, and this recipe makes 12 so you'll have plenty to keep you fuelled over a number of rides.
2. Raspberry and lemon flapjacks
Like your flapjacks with a fruity, citrus kick? These Raspberry and lemon flapjacks will do the trick. Based on the original flapjack recipe above, the addition of lemon and raspberries make these just a little bit more special, with flaked almonds adding a crunchy texture and nutty flavour.
With a making and baking time of 45 minutes, you get 12 flapjacks, and the chance to impress your ride-mates with your culinary prowess.
3. Muesli loaf
Chewy, fruity and satisfying, this muesli loaf is perfect for breakfast time. It's packed full of fruit, nuts, oats and coconut, providing plenty of fast and slow release energy for a day of hard riding or a hard day in the office. We suggest making up a loaf at the weekend, then you've got a quick, easy and nutritious breakfast that requires little preparation – just slice, toast and eat! It takes 1 hour 15 minutes to make, but you'll also need some time for raising and proving.
4. Coconut cake bar
These are perfect for post-work rides or long evening club sessions, as they're more of a treat than the other oat-based items in this list.
These delicious little cake bars are small enough to pop in your pocket if you have mini loaf tins, or you can just make one big loaf and chop it up into pocket-sized pieces. Moist coconut keeps these tasting fresh and light, making these a tasty way of boosting your sugars mid ride.
5. Banana breakfast loaf
The energy releasing powers of bananas are well known, and they feature heavily in many a cyclists larder.
They do also tend to go brown after a while, and that's when they're just right for making into a breakfast loaf, as the fruit sugars add natural sweetness.
This loaf combines bananas with protein-rich pecan nuts, eggs, wholemeal flower and a little lemon zest to provide a fresh lift, and is just perfect for breakfast. Ideal to have to hand when you're in a rush in the morning. This recipe takes 1 hour and 10 minutes to knock up, and will serve 8 people.
6. Cheddar, leek and amaranth flapjack
There's no end to the sweet energy-giving options for on-bike nutrition, and who doesn't love a flapjack on the go. But if sometimes you crave something savoury for a change, then these unusual flapjacks will be right up your street.
The tang of mature cheddar and leeks will satisfy those longing for a hit of salty goodness, and the oats provide that slow-release energy that make flapjacks the go-to homemade nutrition product of choice for cyclists everywhere. The addition of popped amaranth, a tasty little seed, adds a wonderful crunchy texture to the package.
