How are the Sport Beans?

[Robbin_G]

I haven't tracked any down yet so I'll ask here. How are the Sport Beans? I really hate Gatorade and GU is just wrong! But I love candy so these might be the ticket for me! (I'd probably go for orange.)

[Brandi]

I have never heard of these? Does jelly belly make them? I love jelly beans.

[Nanci]

I live on those things when I am riding! It started out as just a different snack, but has now moved to serious calorie replacement. I put them in a zip pouch coin purse (free from Trashy Cat!) in my Bento Box, and nibble as needed- about one-two packs/hour.

My gel evolution went like this:

Power Bars/Luna Bars/Clif Bars
Mojo Bars
Various Gels and Honey Stingers
E-Gel (high electrolytes, mountain dew flavor!!)
EnergIce Gel
Jelly Belly Sport Beans

There are two new flavors now, Punch and Blue.

Nanci

[SadieKate]

For a number of reasons, I had very low energy on Saturday's metric. Downed an entire bag in about 90 secs and must have been magic. Flew the last 15 miles. They're not too sweet.

http://jellybelly.com/Cultures/en-US/OurCandy/SportBeans/10-5-05SportBeansOurCandy.htm

Two new flavors will be out. As I recall it will be Fruit Punch and some kind of mixed berry.

[bcipam]

I really like the bean idea but have had trouble finding them in stores. Might have to order them via internet but hate to pay shipping just to give them a try. If sampling, which flavor would you recommend.

[Nanci]

I like the lime better than the orange, but haven't tried punch or blue. In LBS they are $2. Over the Internet they go as low as 89 cents, but then there is shipping. Lots of places carry them- a guy on EBay called Stabman, I've ordered from him a whole bunch, drugstore.com, zombierunner.com has them on sale- if you Froogle them, you can find a good deal, then just look for the cheapest shipping. If you order a bunch, and hate them, I will buy them from you.

Nanci

[SalsaMTB]

I have only tried the Lime and Orange and def prefer the lime. I'm more of an orange person, but the lime just has a better flavor. They're delicious, give them a try!

[Susie]

I haven't tried the beans, but have totally converted over to the Clif Shot Blocks (http://www.clifbar.com/eat/shot_blok.cfm?location=shot). They're just gummy little squares that taste pretty good (except for lemon-line -- those are rancid). 3 blocks = 1 gu as far as nutrition goes and they don't leave your hands all sticky.

Susie

[yellow]

Sport Beans and Clif Bloks! My two current favorite "energy" foods! :D

I found Sport Beans in my grocery store in the Jelly Belly display. I was quite surprised. The price is reasonable, I think about $1.29 or something. If your store carries Jelly Bellies, ask them if they can bring in the Sport Beans! We still only have orange and lime here in UT. I like both flavors, actually.

[Nanci]

I had a Clif Blok once. It is exactly like Sharkies. (REI carries those). Any candy lover would like them.

Nanci

[traveller_62]

I just got my first bags of the jellybean energy thingies at $1.19 a package at my LBS this afternoon and am looking forward to trying them out on my next ride (assuming I don't scarf them down before then). I tried the Cliff Shot Blocks recently and they tasted pretty good-- but I thought they were a little slimey.

[Robbin_G]

I just found lemon lime at Walgreens. (With the sports bars.) Will give them a whirl at spin class tonight....

[kaybee]

Love the lemon-lime! In fact, I tend to eat them as a noncycling snack if I keep them around. :D

[tsfitness]

You can get the sport beans at REI. That's the only place I've seen them. I haven't tried them. But, I just had a cookies and cream powerbar the other day and it really worked well. I like the gu's too. Also, the Enervite drink is good to. I think that's how you spell it. Helps with lactacte acid build up on those nice hills............:D

[Robbin_G]

I found the lemon lime kinda awful. I hope to track down orange. :-D

[bcipam]

OK tried two bike shops, the supermarket and the health food store. No Beans. Will check out REI this weekend but I feel their prices are also so high. I really want to try those things I just hate looking!!!!

[Tater]

I too, have been looking all over for the beans, even REI, but nobody seems to have them around here. Sometimes living in the sticks is a bummer! I may just have to break down and order them online.

[ridebikeme]

I have tried the orange sport beans, and really liked them! If you read the contents, they are very competitive with energy bars, gu or cliff shot and much easier to eat on the bike!


Ridebikeme

[Robbin_G]

You can get the sport beans at REI. That's the only place I've seen them. I haven't tried them. But, I just had a cookies and cream powerbar the other day and it really worked well. I like the gu's too. Also, the Enervite drink is good to. I think that's how you spell it. Helps with lactacte acid build up on those nice hills............:D


My searching is unsuccessful. Do you have a product # for REI? I've got an order going in....

[ridebikeme]

If you are unable to find the sport beans... I can order both orange and lemon lime. Good luck!

[yellow]

I too, have been looking all over for the beans, even REI, but nobody seems to have them around here. Sometimes living in the sticks is a bummer! I may just have to break down and order them online.
Tater: do you have Smith's Marketplace or Fred Meyer there? (They are actually one in the same!) They have them (Sport Beans, at Smith's Marketplace, but not the run o' the mill Smith's) here in SLC...I can't believe they wouldn't have them up there where you are!

[Nanci]

If anyone sees the new blue flavor anywhere, please let me know!!

Nanci

[Surlygirl]

Found the Lemon Lime and the Orange at EMS (Eastern Mountain Sports) yesterday. The cashier said they are having a run on them because of the Boston Marathon. Apparently the runners love them too.

[Tater]

Tater: do you have Smith's Marketplace or Fred Meyer there? (They are actually one in the same!) They have them (Sport Beans, at Smith's Marketplace, but not the run o' the mill Smith's) here in SLC...I can't believe they wouldn't have them up there where you are!

Ooooh, I didn't think about trying Fred's! They usually carry everything. I will have to take a peek next time we go to Boise. Thanks for the suggestion, Yellow!

[Robbin_G]

Someone else on my group ride today said she bought them in the "drugstore" section of Bed Bath and Beyond! Not every BBB has the drugstore section though. If you do, she said they were with the trial sized bins.

[bcipam]

OK this is weird I live in a major metropolitan area - I can't find those darn Beans anywhere!!! I wonder if its a regional thing? I went to two other bike shops this weekend - nothing!

[tsfitness]

I agree REI prices are to high.Try a local bike shop. They usually have better prices. Sometimes REI i has good sales and you can stock up. :D

[Nanci]

LBS has better prices??? My LBS is selling them for $2, when they are 89 cents on the Internet. Sure, I don't have to pay shipping, but I wan't paying $1.11 for shipping, each, either! That's a total rip off, and I won't support it.

Nanci

[Blueberry]

I finally tracked down the mysterious sport beans - at Walgreens!! LBS and REI didn't have them, Target (which has a whole aisle of jelly belly) didn't have them - I was about to give up and there they were... I'll probably ride this afternoon and report - all they had were green.

Edited to Add: And the price was right - .99 per bag.

Now if I could just find the right sun block...

[Surlygirl]

speedgoat has them.
www.speedgoat.com/product.asp?part=115378&cat=140&brand=1077

[Blueberry]

I'll probably ride this afternoon and report - all they had were green.

And good they were. I think I'll keep a bag stashed in my seat bag. They sort of taste like the lime flavored suckers they hand out at banks and other places. They're a tangy lime (I think) and I could see the acid (what *my* stomach perceives as acid) being a problem on a longer ride...but then who knows what will taste good *when* I get to that point.

Carrie Anne

[crazycanuck]

I found them!!!!! I'm sure the lady at Runner's world here in perth thought i was a bit nutty when i squealed in excitement when i found them!!!! I'll def try them tomorrow....

Yipeeee.e..e.e.e.e.e..e.e

c

[jobob]

I found them at my local Long's Drugs (in Redwood City CA). They were near the 'sports nutrition' section of the store, in a separate cardboard display that I bumped into ( that's how I found them :D ). Best of all, they were 79 cents a bag !

Longs is a drugstore chain in the western US. No idea if all the Long's stores would carry them, or if it was only a local promotion.

[Tater]

Ha! I have finally found the elusive beans! Only in lime and orange, though. $0.99 a bag.

[maillotpois]

Found them at Long's too. I really want to try the new flavors, though!!

[DirtDiva]

Every time I come into this thread I leave again with a hankering for candy...

[snapdragen]

I found 'em in Campbell at Longs too. By the time I left the store, I was starving for lunch and scarfed down a bag of orange. Not bad! I got really thirsty a little later but that could be the chicken cibatta sandwich and fries from Jack in the Box:o

[Bike Goddess]

MP-aka Sarah- someday when you're not getting ready for one of your loooooong rides we'll give you a personal escort (by bike, of course) to the original Jelly Belly factory. Fun, fast, easy ride. And plenty of yummy new flavors to try! ;) ;) ;) ;) ;)

[cindysue]

the Jelly Belly factory is only a bike ride away: fairfield, CA. They only had the orange and lime when I visited but I think these new flavors call for another bike trip!

I also have to say that I LOVE the Clif blocks (btw, I'm not a paid employee of clif/luna). I love them because they are not sticky and remind me of gummy bears but in a big block. it's kind of like shoving five gummy bears in your mouth at one time.

hmmmmm, there's an idea: energy bears!


edit: HA, look Nancy - we posted the same thought at the same time!

[Bike Goddess]

GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE!:p :p :p :p :p :p

[Robbin_G]

Aw shucks, now I have to go find Clif Blocks because I love gummy bears....

[maillotpois]

MP-aka Sarah- someday when you're not getting ready for one of your loooooong rides we'll give you a personal escort (by bike, of course) to the original Jelly Belly factory. Fun, fast, easy ride. And plenty of yummy new flavors to try! ;) ;) ;) ;) ;)

I have ALWAYS wanted to go to the factory. Every time I have to go to Sac or Farifield for work, and pass by that sign, I think - I have to take my kid here! Maybe when it stops raining we can do a ride and I can bring the tandem - if you say easy ride and Jelly Bellys, then I think the kid would have to come along!!

[Technotart]

LOVE the beans!!!!! Gave them as gifts to a couple of athletic type pals and told em "Happy Easter" LOL

Seriously - you can empty a bag or two into your jersey pocket without making a serious mess, even if you get a little sweaty. You don't have to futz with a package that way, you can eat a few at a time. They dont taste bad unless you suck on them - you really need to chew them - the middle is salty - the outside is sweet. You wont notice the salty unless you suck all the sweet off first.

Great great great way to eat on the bike!!!

[Pedal Wench]

For a while, I was the local "Jelly Belly Lady", officially in charge of ordering and stocking the JB's in all the area Target's and SuperTargets. It was FUN! I thought that I deserved the VIP tour of the factory! I wish I still had that job, so I could have easy access to the Sports Beans. I still haven't tried them. (Kinda overdosed while I was working for them...)

On another note, I love the Clif Bloks too. One warning - only eat them one at a time while you're on your bike. One in mouth, swallow. Second in mouth, fine. Two at a time, no way. Trust me on this one. Tried two at once during my first road race. I almost suffocated on them. Looking back, it was rather funny.