3 Peaks Challenge Muesli Bars

Cycling, cycling, cycling.  This is one craze that has hit Melbourne and with the price of petrol these days, I am guessing that cycling is here to stay.  My partner really is obsessed in road cycling.  Personally I love to commute to work, my 35km round trip a few times per week is just lovely.  However I think that cross country mountain biking much more fun.  I just need to convince my road obsessed boy to get off road.........hmmm not likely to happen in a hurry.
The 3 Peaks Challenge is held annually in Victoria for the road riding fanatics.  Starting on top of Falls Creek and covering 3 major climbs - Tawonga Gap, Mount Hotham and then Falls Creek via Omeo.  The website describes it as an epic ride and claims that it is comparable to a Tour de France stage.  I don't doubt it.   Personally I will go and have a spa day while he rides.  I will also do my job of ensuring that he has the right nutrition for the day.  He claims that the energy bars and gels just make him vomit.  Another thing that I don't doubt.
My challenge is to come up with the perfect riding snack.  He has a few criteruim (very sad word play on my behalf).  It can't be to difficult to chew, digest and must give him the energy he needs.  Hence it must be high GI for fast release of energy, full of simple carbs and basically fall apart in his mouth.
I think that Banana bread is the indisputable winner.  He tells me that fruit cake is a winner.  I have set out to master the 3 Peaks Challenge Muesli bar.  After a few batches I am second guessing myself though as they can be a little hard on the jaw since they are packed with dried fruits, nuts and oats.  Also the GI may be too low to make them the perfect on the road snack.  These might be great breakfast food to give slow release energy throughout the very arduous day.  None the less I am still perfecting the recipe with each batch.  Here is a taste of what I have come up with so far.  Even if they aren't perfect riding food, they are great for school and work lunches.

3 Peaks Challenge Muesli Bars
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup of shredded coconut
1/2 cup wheatgerm
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
1/2 cup sesame seeds
135 gr butter
3/4 cup honey
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped dried apricots
1/2 cup of dried sweetened cranberries
optional 1/2 cup choc bits 
you can add any combination of nuts, dried fruits and chocolate, just increase the honey/butter mixture slightly to compensate for the extra dry ingredients


In a large fry pan on medium heat gently toast the rolled oats, coconut, and seeds.  Tossing continuously.  Once they begin to toast lightly add the sesame seeds and wheatgerm, continue toasting for a few minutes until all ingredients are lightly browned.  (Ensure to toss the ingredients every 20 seconds to avoid burning.  You can practice your chef style fry pan toss here as it is the most effective way to get even toasting)
Once toasted remove from heat and pan and leave to cool.
In a saucepan add the butter, honey and brown sugar.  Stir until the sugar dissolves then bring to the boil.  Turn to low as soon as the mixture begins to bubble up.  Leave it to bubble for another 10-15 minutes.
Then pour the liquid over the toasted dry ingredients, mix well.
Once mixed add the fruits and continue mixing.
Then press into a small lamington tin lined with paper.  If you wish to add choc bits put them in the freezer for 1/2 an hour before making the muesli, then sprinkle them over the top right before refrigeration, press them into the mixture.
Refrigerate.  Chop into bars.

These are best when eaten cold as then don't hold form as well at room temp.  Hence they are not best for the long ride.  A work in progress that I will update once I get the recipe perfect.  I have about 3.5 months to go.