Zipvit ZV10 energy chews

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...