How to fuel and hydrate at the same time, plus our buyer’s guide

By Jack Evans

Published: Tuesday, 26 September 2023 at 11:00 AM


The best energy drinks for cycling help you meet your fuelling and, to a lesser extent, hydration needs in one.

These days, carb drinks taste pretty good too. Thanks to improved formulas, they are less likely to cause stomach trouble, provided you use them properly.

Despite their elite connotations, energy drinks aren’t just for amateurs. Sports nutrition experts recommend amateurs use them pretty much every day to ensure adequate carb intake.

With so many energy drinks on the market, it’s hard to choose the right one(s) for you: all contain carbohydrates, but in differing quantities and ratios, while some contain electrolytes and others don’t.

To help narrow down your choice, we’ve tested dozens of cycling energy drinks by guzzling bidon after bidon on all manner of rides.

We’ve picked our favourites based on factors including carbohydrate content and ratio, price per serving and taste.

For more advice on how to choose an energy drink for cycling, head to our buyer’s guide at the bottom of the article.

Andy Blow, sports scientist and co-founder of Precision Fuel and Hydration, and Dr Tim Podlogar, nutritionist for Bora-Hansgrohe WorldTour team, have helped us answer some common questions surrounding energy drinks.

The best energy drinks for cycling, as rated by BikeRadar testers

SiS Beta Fuel 80

5.0 out of 5 star rating
SiS Beta Fuel 80 sachet
Beta Fuel 80 is an energy drink alpha.
Steve Sayers / Our Media
  • Carbohydrates per serving: 80g
  • Carbohydrate ratio: 1:0.8 maltodextrin to fructose
  • Electrolytes: No
  • Price per serving: £2.75/€3 per sachet
  • Flavours: Orange, strawberry and lime

SiS Beta Fuel 80 is the cycling rocket fuel that powered Chris Froome’s 80km-solo stage victory in the 2018 Giro d’Italia, according to the brand.

But it’s not just for elite athletes – Beta Fuel’s 80g carbohydrates per serving can help you hit a very high hourly carb intake while riding all-out, or when riding slower in ultra-endurance events.

Citing scientific evidence, SiS says Beta Fuel’s 1:0.8 maltodextrin to fructose ratio helps you absorb the carbohydrates without experiencing GI upset.

Consuming up to two sachets of Beta Fuel 80 over the course of long gravel rides caused me no issues. In the orange flavour I tested, Beta Fuel was by far the best-tasting high-carb energy drink too.

The relatively high price per serving and gram of carbohydrate reflects that Beta Fuel 80 isn’t an everyday energy drink. Where performance really counts, in hard training sessions and events, it could be worth it.

The Beta Fuel 80 comes in sachets, which are easy to travel with and carry on the bike. But this could lead to more packaging waste than tubs or pouches.

Beta Fuel 80 is suitable for vegans and tested for banned substances, according to SiS.