Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

Zipvit ZV10 energy chews

8
£2.20

VERDICT:

8
10
Tasty ride sweets with science to back them up. If they're good enough for Thor...
Weight: 
60g
Contact: 
www.zipvitsport.co.uk

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

What the road.cc scores mean

Good scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.

  • Exceptional
  • Excellent
  • Very Good
  • Good
  • Quite good
  • Average
  • Not so good
  • Poor
  • Bad
  • Appalling

Zipvit are heavily involved with the Cervélo Test Team and these ZV10 energy chews were first used by Thor Hushovd and Roger Hammond in the 2010 Paris Roubaix. The outcome? Second and fourth places, respectively. Okay that's probably not all down to the chews but they are tasty, and a good, easy-to-eat mix of the stuff you need when you're out riding.

Each foil pack contains eight chews for a total load of 46g of carbohydrate, about the same as an energy gel. 11g of that carb is sugars, and there's a mix of vitamins and minerals too: you'll get a bit of vitamins B1, B2, Niacin, Pantothenic Acid, B6, Folic acid, B12, E and C and some Sodium to boot. The vitamins are mostly there to speed up energy delivery, the Sodium obviously replaces all that salt you've sweated out.

Of all the ride chews I've tried, these are the most like sweets. They're a bit firmer than Shot Blocks and the foil wrapper is a bit better at keeping them cool, so they don't cloy into a sticky mess as easily on a hot day. The texture is still a bit odd - they do tend to stick to your teeth – but they're very tasty and easy to eat, and they're not gelatine-based so they're suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

I've used the ZV10s on a few rides, the longest being the Dragon, and they're a great way to keep yourself topped up. They're like wine gums made out of science, basically, easier to eat than an energy bar and a much more pleasant experience than necking a gel. Energy food can be a bit Marmite but I haven't found anyone that doesn't like these chews yet. They work, too: I was pretty fresh (relatively speaking) after 200km of Welsh roads and the chews certainly helped. As did the crisps at the food stops, and Zipvit's ZV7c gel-based rocket fuel - more on that soon.

Exactly what their input was it's impossible to say, but they're easy to eat and digest, and simple to ration so you're constantly topping yourself up. £2.20 for a pack isn't exactly a steal, but they're buy one get one free on the Zipvit site at the moment, so make hay while the sun shines. Like all energy products it's worth having a go with them on a non-critical ride, just to make sure they agree with you.

Verdict

Tasty ride sweets with science to back them up. If they're good enough for Thor...

If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website

road.cc test report

Make and model: Zipvit ZV10 energy chews

Size tested: Blackcurrant

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes, especially on offer!

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 37  Height: 190cm  Weight: 96kg

I usually ride: whatever I\\\'m testing...  My best bike is: Genesis Equilibrium with Ultegra 6700

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, cyclo cross, commuting, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mtb, Mountain Bike Bog Snorkelling, track

Dave is a founding father of road.cc, having previously worked on Cycling Plus and What Mountain Bike magazines back in the day. He also writes about e-bikes for our sister publication ebiketips. He's won three mountain bike bog snorkelling World Championships, and races at the back of the third cats.

Add new comment

1 comments

Latest Comments