Brix, Näak, Maurten… and more: sports nutrition for cyclists at Bicycles Quilicot
You have the right bike, the right position, your rides are getting longer and longer… but what’s really in your water bottles and pockets?
Nutrition is often the "last adjustment" we think about - until the day hunger strikes 80 km from home or cramps ruin the last climb.
At Bicycles Quilicot , we've selected complementary brands to meet very different needs: Brix, Näak, Krono Nutrition, Maurten, Dusk, GU, Skratch Labs and XACT . Not to fill shelves, but because each one caters to a particular riding style, type of ride, and specific stomach requirements.
Also, these brands complement each other : Brix for natural and local maple, Näak for ultra-endurance and sustainability, Krono Nutrition for simplicity and consistency, Maurten for high performance at high intensity and in triathlon, Dusk for hydration focused on salt rather than sugar, GU for the great classic of gels, Skratch Labs for smart hydration and real food, and XACT for easy-to-eat fruit bars.
The basics of nutrition for cyclists
Before discussing brands, a quick reminder of what your body needs on the bike. Three priorities, always the same.
Hydration
When you sweat, you lose water, but also electrolytes—sodium, potassium, and magnesium. These minerals maintain your blood volume, reduce certain cramps, and keep you mentally clear. Water alone isn't always enough, especially in hot weather or over several hours.
Energy
Your primary fuel for cycling is carbohydrates. Energy gels and drinks provide fast-acting carbohydrates; bars and solid foods offer a more gradual release. Generally, you should aim for 40 to 90 grams of carbohydrates per hour , depending on the intensity and duration of your ride.
Recovery
After exercise, your body needs protein to repair muscles and carbohydrates to replenish energy stores. This is where recovery products make all the difference, especially during periods of intense training.
Each brand we offer emphasizes one or more of these pillars - with its own approach.
Brix: Maple as fuel
There's something logical about eating maple syrup when you're riding in Quebec. Brix understood this before anyone else.
The brand has built its range around maple syrup : short ingredient lists, a mild and natural taste, and zero "chemical gel" effect. For cyclists who want to stay close to what they eat every day, it's a very sensible option.
What you will find there
Maple-flavored energy gels and drinks in convenient pocket-sized formats, perfect for your jersey. These products provide an effective source of carbohydrates that are generally well-tolerated by the stomach.
For whom, for what purpose?
Cyclists with a sensitive digestive system, those who are fed up with the artificial sweet taste of classic gels, and all those who appreciate a local and simple source of energy - particularly on long rides where nausea is a real possibility.
Näak: for those who ride for a long time, a really long time
Näak was born from the world of ultra-endurance. This is evident in the way the products are designed: not just to provide a quick energy boost, but to support efforts lasting several hours without letting your stomach or brain give out before your legs.
The Quebec-based brand positions itself between classic sugary gels and "real food"—with complete bars that provide quality carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Some product lines incorporate alternative proteins as part of a strategy to reduce environmental impact.
What you will find there
Complete energy bars, drinks and recovery products, protein powders. Products that are more nourishing and satisfying than simple sugary gels.
For whom, for what purpose?
Gravel, bikepacking and ultra cyclists who are truly hungry on the bike. Those seeking nutrition that is committed to both performance and the planet.
Krono Nutrition: Get into sports nutrition without complicating your life
Not everyone wants to spend hours optimizing their carbohydrate/sodium/caffeine ratios. Krono Nutrition is the brand for those who want a structured, simple, and consistent approach —without having to become a nutritionist.
Gels, drinks, and bars are formulated to work together, are easy to digest, and easy to integrate into a training routine. It's often the first brand our advisors recommend to cyclists who want to take the plunge into serious sports nutrition.
What you will find there
Energy gels (with or without caffeine), isotonic drinks, bars designed for exertion. Everything is designed to work together, within the same product line.
For whom, for what purpose?
Cyclists who want a "turnkey" approach for their 1.5 to 4 hour rides, their regular training or their first gran fondos.
Maurten: the brand of the pros, for good reasons
It's difficult to talk about cycling nutrition without mentioning Maurten. The Swedish brand has established itself in the professional peloton, in the world of marathons and triathlons thanks to a hydrogel technology that allows for the ingestion of large quantities of carbohydrates while preserving gastric tolerance, even at high intensity.
In short: where other gels can cause discomfort at 400W, Maurten gels do. That's the main argument, and it's hard to dispute when you see the levels of use among elite runners and triathletes.
What you will find there
Energy gels (with or without caffeine), highly concentrated carbohydrate drink mixes. The goal is clear: to provide maximum energy, easily digested, even during the most strenuous efforts.
For whom, for what purpose?
Road races, gran fondos, triathlons (Ironman, 70.3, Olympic races), time trials, and intense interval training. For cyclists and triathletes who aim for high carbohydrate intake per hour and can't afford digestive issues when things get tough.
Dusk: Hydrate with salt, not sugar
Dusk's message is clear: hydration and energy intake are two separate things . Why mix the two in the same bottle?
The brand focuses on electrolytes—and particularly sodium —with little to no sugar, allowing you to drink what you need to stay hydrated, separate from what you eat for fuel. On a long day of gravel riding or in 30-degree heat, this approach makes a big difference.
What you will find there
Mineral-based drinks and electrolyte tablets, formulated to remain drinkable over time, even in high temperatures. Products designed to be combined with different energy sources.
How can it be integrated in practice?
Dusk in the hydration bottle, and you manage your energy via gels (Brix, Maurten, GU) or bars (Näak, XACT) depending on the intensity. Two separate levers, easier to adjust individually.
For whom, for what purpose?
Cyclists who can no longer tolerate overly sugary drinks, those who sweat a lot, and all those who ride for long periods in hot weather - road, gravel or bikepacking.
GU: the tried and tested classic
Some products don't need to be reinvented. GU was one of the pioneers of energy gels - and several decades later, the brand remains a reliable, versatile benchmark, available in a variety of flavors and formulations that are hard to match.
With or without caffeine, with added amino acids or electrolytes, in gel or chew form: GU allows for the creation of highly personalized nutrition strategies.
What you will find there
Energy gels in a wide variety of flavors, chews and gummies, sports drinks. A diverse selection that lets you choose the flavor, texture, and caffeine content depending on the time of day.
For whom, for what purpose?
Cyclists who like the classic gel format, those who want to use caffeine in a targeted way at the end of a ride, and all those who appreciate a brand proven in both training and competition.
Skratch Labs: Drink better, eat real food
Skratch Labs was founded by a sports scientist who found that commercially available sports drinks were too sweet, too artificial – and simply difficult to drink for hours. His solution: hydration drinks with the right balance of electrolytes , a moderate amount of sugar, and solid products inspired by "real" ingredients.
The result is a range that can be consumed over several hours without the stomach or palate rebelling - a real advantage in hot weather.
What you will find there
Hydration drinks (electrolytes + moderate carbohydrates), more energy-dense mixes for intense efforts, and "real food" bars and chews. Products appreciated for their light taste and good digestive tolerance.
For whom, for what purpose?
Cyclists with sensitive stomachs, those riding in hot weather, and those who prefer a light and pleasant drink over several hours rather than a thick and ultra-sweet liquid.
XACT: the bar you'll actually eat
We often underestimate how much the texture of a product influences what we actually eat while cycling. XACT has put its finger on it.
Their bars are soft, fruity, and easy to chew – even during intense effort, even in cold weather, even with gloves on. Their perfectly balanced, candy-like quality makes them popular with cyclists who struggle to swallow a traditional gel when the intensity increases.
What you will find there
XACT Energy bars provide carbohydrates during exercise, while XACT Pro or protein bars aid recovery or support very long days. Their texture remains a major advantage: they go down easily even when everything else is difficult to consume.
For whom, for what purpose?
Cyclists who don't like gels, those who want to alternate between liquid, gel and bar on a long ride, and busy training periods where a protein snack makes a difference.
In summary
Sports nutrition is as much a matter of taste, tolerance and habits as it is of numbers on a label.
The idea is to find the combination that suits your riding style, your stomach, and your goals - not to use all of that at the same time.
All these products are available online and in our Bicycles Quilicot stores in Quebec. Our advisors will be happy to help you build a personalized nutrition strategy, whether you're preparing for your first gran fondo, a one-day gravel ride, or a bikepacking trip.