“We should get someone to write a post about all of the Gluten Free options on our site”



“That’s a great idea, Conor! why don’t you write it?”



“But.. I love Gluten..”



Such was the discussion that brought about this post. Whilst scrolling through our website, I noticed that we didn’t have any real information about Gluten Free nutrition. With 1 in 70 people estimated to have Coeliac disease, and around 3.43 million people in Australia estimated to ride bikes recreationally, it would seem that quite a few riders out there are probably having to take this into account in their fuelling strategies, or are perhaps having to live with the symptoms mid or post-ride.



While I’m about as far from a picky eater as they come, there is a growing amount of people who may choose to avoid Gluten in their diets despite not having a diagnosed intolerance. The reasons for this range from decreased fatigue, to better general gut health. Whatever your reason may be, we’ve got plenty of options that you may not have realised were Gluten Free.



Energy Bars:

Energy bars are probably the biggest minefield to navigate when it comes to avoiding Gluten. For the most part, Bars are praised for being the closest to “real food”, with most brands focusing on whole ingredients to deliver a long lasting source of energy. Mid ride, carbs are king, so it will come as no surprise that the primary ingredient in these bars will often be a natural source of starch.  It’s these starch sources that can be the issue. A lot of the bars that we stock will use Oats as their primary starch source, and oats contain gluten. So what are the alternatives?


STYRKYR BAR50 and BAR+
STYRKYR’s Energy and Recovery bars use Rice as their primary starch source. This makes for an easily digested, source of long lasting energy. With 50g+ of Carbohydrates, the Bar50 comes in a few delicious flavours, with the added benefit of being vegan. For later in your event and post event recovery, the STYRKYR Bar+ incorporates protein to assist in muscle recovery, whilst still being completely free of Gluten.

CRAFTY WEKA BAR GLUTEN FREE FLAVOURS
 If rice is the Diesel of Gluten Free carbs, then dates would have to be the Rocket Fuel. While the starch in rice takes time to be broken down into simple sugars and is gradually released, the Fructose and Glucose contained in dates is ready for the body to absorb and use almost instantly. This is why Crafty Weka have chosen date as their primary carbohydrate source in their Almond Cacao and Nutty Caramel flavours, both of these are Gluten Free and include protein and good fats from seeds and nuts to ensure a sustained release of energy after consumption.

GU STROOPWAFELS (Salted Chocolate, Wild Berries and Coconut flavours only)
As mentioned at the start of this post, I love Gluten. Stroopwafels are one of the reasons I love it so much. They’re essentially two wafer thin cookies held together by sugar syrup. Sold in 10 packs at Dutch grocery stores, the clip that holds the packet shut is single use, as you’re definitely going to eat all of them in a sitting. The original recipe Stroopwafels are guaranteed to help you gain weight, and are a 100% no no for those of you who are intolerant to Gluten.

GU have solved a few of the major issues of the original Stroopwafels. They’re individually packaged for those of us with impulse control issues and are now offered in a few flavours that are Gluten Free. Next time you’re on a cold ride with a few cafe stops, put your stroopwafel on top of your coffee while it cools down. The steam will soften the wafer and the syrup into a chewy slice of heaven. Sports nutrition never tasted so good.



Special mention goes to Offgrid Drifter Bars, Koda Energy Bars and Em’s Power Bites (Cranberry Choc only!), which are all gluten free as well!



Energy Gels and Chews:

Gluten Free Gels and Chews are a little easier to navigate, as they’re almost pure sugar. The only real ingredient for concern is Maltodextrin, which can be derived from starch sources containing Gluten. The process should remove any gluten proteins, but for coeliacs and those who are hypersensitive to Gluten, it would be worth checking to see what starch it has been derived from, to be especially sure. Below are a handful of my favourite bars and gels that are Gluten Free.



Styrkr Gel50 Mixed Berry Dual-Carb Energy Gel	SIS Gel Beta Fuel 60ml Neutral	Skratch Labs Energy Chew Sport Fuel Raspberry	Clif Shot Bloks Energy Chews Salted Watermelon 60g

Energy/Hydration drink Mixes:

Pretty much the same story as above with gels and chews, almost all of the products in this category will be gluten free, but here are some personal favourites that are advertised as gluten free.

Skratch Labs Sport Hydration Drink Mix Apple Cider 440g	Styrkr Mix60 Dual-Carb Energy Drink Mix	SIS GO Energy Powder Blackcurrant 1.6kg	Pure Hydration 500g Electrolytes Pineapple

Bonus Round:

Everything here is probably a no brainer but always good to know!

PILLAR PERFORMANCE - At the time of writing, everything in the PILLAR range is Gluten Free. PILLAR focus primarily on everything you need to be able to show up to your rides time and time again.

Pickle Juice - Pickles are Gluten Free. It may or may not therefore come as a shock that the Brine or “Juice” is also Gluten Free. Enjoy the natural cramp fix and hydration benefits!

Ketone-IQ - Ketones have been a bit of a buzz around the Pro Peloton for the last few years. It’s a product that is created naturally by the body when in ketosis, but now you can reap the benefits without having to watch your carbs. All flavours are gluten free!

So there you have it. If for whatever reason you need Gluten Free Nutrition from us - hopefully the above will help you find a solution that works for you!