Product Review

Gladiator and Olympians

by Stephen Dyster

What have they and modern day cycle tourers in common? Apparently Gladiator derives from the Latin for men who eat barley, whilst the Olympians of yore ate a sort of barley porridge. The modern cycle tourer would, we are told, benefit from an activated barley based energy bar, too. The promotional material leaves one wondering if there is any health benefit that this ingredient does not have. From the cycling point of view, the one that caught the eye, was slow burning energy that satisfies hunger and fights fatigue. Did it? Hard to tell when out on tour, but I liked these and will try the Aktiv bars out again. There are five flavours, including Pineapple and Cappuccino, which give a wider choice than some energy bars. They are available from health food shops or www.getaktiv.com There is also a meal replacement drink, which I have not tried, though one might have other barley based drinks in mind at the end of your ride.