Post-ride or run, I use a mug of milk and handful of nuts.
Poached eggs on toast also hits the spot.
Real food is a lot less expensive.
I have yet to find a commercial bar/drink that doesn't cause stomach problems due to sweeteners, flavourings, emulsifiers, preservatives etc. They all tend to be highly processed.
And as citoyen says, I'm not convinced they are necessary for anyone other than elite athletes (who have a team of nutritionists and chefs to help keep the balance)
Of course, if a sweet gloopy drink is a "reward" for doing the exercise, that's a whole different can of worms...