What the heck happened to Powerbar?

[makoti]

Are they gone? Not the protein bars, the sticky, nasty chocolate ones you could stick on your top tube and eat during a race, if you had to. The ones that were indestructible in your pocket. I'm down to 6 and I can't find them anywhere.

[charliedid]

Man I used to devour them and they seem to give me some long term energy compared to other bars. Terrible when really cold out though :-)

Nestle owns them now if I recall.

Sometimes find them at Walgreens.

[Waldo62]

Not Nestle, Post Foods (think cereals). Powerbar is a money loser for Post, so the company is de-emphasizing the product.

[CNY rider]

Good riddance.
Tried gnawing on one of those on a chilly fall day.....never again.
Shoe leather would taste and chew better.

[joosttx]

Originally Posted by Waldo62

Not Nestle, Post Foods (think cereals). Powerbar is a money loser for Post, so the company is de-emphasizing the product.

Actually it is owned by Bell Ring brands which is a subsidiary of Post Holdings. And from what I understand it is doing just fine, like a legacy brand.

[AngryScientist]

once you go black, you'll never go back.

and by black i mean stroopwaffles.

[Blue Jays]

Loved them! Especially the original "Malt Nut" flavor in the mid-1980s.
Very stable in a cycling jersey pocket since they have a flat shape.

[donevwil]

Around '93 near the end of an epic and hot group ride we stopped at a Ralph's in Mission Viejo to re-fuel, Gatorade and a Powerbar for me. Opened the bar and it was covered with maggots.

Needless to say I haven't wanted one since.

[Hindmost]

You had to pre-open the foil wrapper and stick it in your pocket if you had a hope to eat it during a race. Once I bumped into a district sales rep and complained about the wrapper. He said it wasn't a bug, it was a feature.

[Monthly Payment]

Originally Posted by joosttx

Actually it is owned by Bell Ring brands which is a subsidiary of Post Holdings. And from what I understand it is doing just fine, like a legacy brand.

Their distribution has really taken a hit. They were reliably found in specialty shops, bike shops, sports authority, rei, etc. if you gave me $100 for a power bar, I’m not sure I could find one at a local Washington DC area store.

[Bruce K]

Honey Stinger Waffles were the best!

Then (but let’s not go overboard ... 🤪) Lance got a piece of the company and I don’t know if they are even around any more

BK

[Mike V]

Originally Posted by Hindmost

You had to pre-open the foil wrapper and stick it in your pocket if you had a hope to eat it during a race. Once I bumped into a district sales rep and complained about the wrapper. He said it wasn't a bug, it was a feature.

I remember seeing someone in a crit with with two bars cut into fourths stuck along his top tube. As the race went along 7, 6, 5, 4........

[benb]

I was in a club sponsored by Honey Stinger back in the day.

All their stuff was great but it never had enough calories for the volume of jersey space it took up, and I feel the same way about most of the waffle products. They all taste great and are easy to eat but you need to carry so many of them.

I used to eat powerbars too when they were what was available. I think newer bars are way more "food like" and easier to eat. I don't miss them.

The weather being what it is here I definitely remember feeling like I was going to crack teeth trying to eat powerbars.

They were also so damn sticky that they left a mess on your hands and god forbid you try to eat one when it was dusty or something.

[mistermo]

Ahh memories....Back before there were other options, Id take them on climbing trips. The frigid alpine conditions made them impossible to eat. Banana and malt nut were favorites. Found them impossible to eat on other activities requiring cardio effort. The vigor of chewing prevented strenuous breathing. Best use was in car snack food. Heat them up on the dash, then feast. In a retro kind of way, I miss them.

[pasadena]

Originally Posted by makoti

Are they gone? Not the protein bars, the sticky, nasty chocolate ones you could stick on your top tube and eat during a race, if you had to. The ones that were indestructible in your pocket. I'm down to 6 and I can't find them anywhere.

Sorry, I bought the entire lot to build my storage shed.