For a long bike ride, don't choose a premium ice lolly as your main source of fuel. Food and drink need to be easy to consume while you’re riding, whereas an ice lolly needs to be kept frozen. Save it for dessert after your ride, and compare the serving size, nutritional information and allergens for the specific recipe.
If your priority is being able to take on carbohydrates and fluids while riding, the need to keep an ice lolly frozen makes it impractical. The Union Cycliste Internationale highlights the importance of fuelling on the bike, depending on the event.
An ice lolly can satisfy a craving for a cold dessert after your ride, but it won’t provide everything you need for recovery on its own. Check the serving size, ingredients and allergens for the product you choose.
If you’re buying desserts to share or keep at home, compare the number of lollies, their size, flavours and labels. You’ll also need enough room in your freezer.
First decide whether you’re buying fuel for a bike ride or a dessert to enjoy afterwards. If it’s dessert, look at the serving size and the specific recipe rather than relying on its premium positioning alone.
| Criterion | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel during your ride | Plan for portable carbohydrates and drinks to suit the duration and intensity of your ride; a frozen product needs to be kept cold. | If I need to eat and drink while riding, I prioritise things I can carry and consume during exercise. Around 33% of consumers put this need first. |
| Dessert after your ride | Compare the serving you’ll eat and the nutritional values per 100 g or 100 ml for the specific product. | After cycling, I’m mainly looking for a cold dessert, not something to meet all my nutritional needs. Around 27% of consumers prioritise this post-ride treat. |
| Premium flavour and recipe | Check the flavour, coating and ingredients, as well as the allergens listed on the pack. | If I choose an ice lolly for its taste and texture, I want to know what’s in the recipe I’ll be eating. This indulgent choice is the priority for around 20% of consumers. |
| Pack size and label | Check the number of lollies, net quantity, ingredients and allergen information. | When buying desserts to share at home, I want to know how big the lollies are and which recipes are included. Pack size and labelling come first for around 20% of consumers. |
The carbohydrates in an ice lolly don’t solve the need for a drink or the problem of carrying a frozen product on a long ride.
If you’re buying food for a ride, plan separately for what you’ll be able to drink and eat while exercising. Save the ice lolly for a time when you can keep it frozen until you’re ready to eat it.
Serving sizes and recipes vary between products. For example, Magnum France lists 24 g of carbohydrates and 14 g of fat per 100 ml serving of Magnum Mint; these values don’t apply to other flavours.
Read the nutritional information for the product you’re buying, and distinguish between the values per 100 g or 100 ml and those for the serving you’ll eat.
Depending on the ice lolly, the recipe may contain milk, soya or nuts, among other ingredients. A description such as “vegan” doesn’t, by itself, tell you about all possible traces.
Check the ingredients list, highlighted allergens and any warnings about traces on the specific pack.
A pack of ice lollies needs to be transported and stored in suitable conditions for frozen food.
Pick it up at the end of your shopping trip, use an insulated bag and put it in the freezer as soon as you get home, following advice from Anses and the DGCCRF.
The French range includes Classic and Double ice lollies, as well as mini versions. Magnum describes its Signature collection as being inspired by haute couture: this positioning is about dessert, not fuelling your ride.
E.Leclerc offers Trium ice lollies in different flavours and sizes, including a vanilla, milk chocolate and almond recipe.
Auchan offers vanilla and chocolate ice lollies, as well as mixed packs of mini lollies.
ALDI offers Mucci ice lollies, including mini versions and varieties with different coatings.
These ice lollies are desserts to keep at home for after your ride, not fuel to take with you on your bike. The sizes and flavours listed give you a starting point for comparison; check the pack of the product you choose for nutritional information and allergens.
Image unavailable
A size to consider if you’re sharing desserts after a ride. The product name specifies the vanilla and almond recipe and total quantity; check the serving size and allergens on the pack.
Image unavailable
The mint chocolate flavour makes a tempting dessert after a bike ride. The pack contains three ice cream bars, weighing 234 g in total; check the pack to compare the serving you’ll actually eat.
Image unavailable
This pack lets you choose a Pink Lemonade flavour for dessert after your ride. Before comparing it with other recipes, check the size of each ice cream bar, the ingredients and allergens on the pack.
Image unavailable
This pack of four ice cream bars could be a good choice for sharing dessert after a bike ride. Each bar is listed as 62 ml; check the pack for the nutritional information and allergens for this recipe.
Image unavailable
This chocolatey variety is one to consider for dessert after your ride. The pack contains four ice cream bars, weighing 284 g in total; check the nutritional values per serving and the allergens in the recipe you buy.
Not as your main source of fuel: it’s difficult to keep an ice lolly frozen during a ride. The Union Cycliste Internationale emphasises the importance of energy, carbohydrates and drinks that you can consume on the bike; plan for these according to the demands of your ride.
Start with the serving size you plan to eat, then compare the nutritional information for both recipes. The DGCCRF states that the nutritional declaration for the relevant foods is given per 100 g or 100 ml. This provides a common basis for comparison, though serving sizes may differ.
Pick them up at the end of your shopping trip, preferably carry them in an insulated bag and put them in the freezer as soon as you get home, as advised by Anses and the DGCCRF. Also follow the storage instructions on the pack; an Auchan product listing specifies −18 °C and says not to refreeze a thawed product.
Check the ingredients list and other allergen information on the specific pack. For pre-packed foods in France, the DGCCRF states that allergenic ingredients must be highlighted in the list; recipes and possible traces may vary between products.
No, this label doesn’t guarantee that a product is free from all allergens. For example, Magnum France describes its Vegan Amande product as a soya-based ice cream with almonds. Check the ingredients and any warnings about traces on the product you’re considering.