Hey, GLC, probably alot of us know the reality of chemicals used for food preservation. Often unavoidable especially for food portability or if unrefrigerated.

I guess for myself I just stick to fruit, a sandwich (or part of one), natural fruit juices, ice cream (not so bad if ride is long), etc. to replenish my energy.

I'm also cheap. At this time in life, we can't afford to experiment with these energy gels, etc. I also want to keep life simple and some of these foods, require more experimentation. I'd rather experiment with different cuisines...alot more to explore there!

And the way how I replenish my food energy on rides hasn't hurt me from the standpoint of maintaining my weight. But maybe it doesn't work for some folks.