What do you eat on long rides?

Because I've never done very much over 100 miles per ride I've never gotten into the energy drinks or eats. So just wondering if any of you use anything and what do you use?

 

I use Cliff Bars and Cytomax * 50% strength. Then I'll eat some fruit and bagles at rest stops.

An age old standby is GORP (Good Old Rasins and Peanuts) or trail mix.

A lot of peolpe like the gels. I will usually carry a few on longer rides for a quick burst of energy if I know I have a long climb coming up (like crossing Buffalo Mountain).

I don't make them my mainstay though as they don't have much staying power. I was riding with a guy once who only had a couple of gels with him. 45 minutes after using his last gel he hit the wall.

Personally I cannot eat anything heavy and/or greasy and be able to ride without getting sick.

However, what works for one person won't necessarily work for someone else. Experiment on regular rides to find out what works best for you.

Above all, do not try something new on the day of an event.

 

Listen to Mike. Laurie too!!! They are our nutrition and health experts. After some research I drink Cytomax and eat Cliff bars and gel. The Cytomax keeps my energy up for the ride. Cliff is major energy and food along the way. The gel is great for supplementing everything else. I take more food than I eat on each ride. I figure the extra weight is worth it versus Boinking!!!

I am doing my first century this year, so I will report back how well it works. Normally I ride 15 - 20 miles at lunch 3 times a week so nutrition isn't as important.

 

Jon,

While during ride nutrition is not that important for rides lasting less than 1 1/2 hrs, that is the perfect type of ride for someone to try different types of food and drink to see how their body will respond. If whatever a person tries doesn't agree with them, they don't have that far to go before the ride ends.

Also experiment in different temperature conditions. Something I can toletate well on a cool ride might make me sick as a dog on a hot day.

 

Any of you guys do any touring?I hope to do this next one a little more civilized and a little more prepared than the last one.(then i'll see which one is more long term enjoyable).
But since i am boycotting Mikey D's.(They seemed to be as plentiful as gas stations in the U.S).I will have to find another source for breakfast and lunch.

I usually eat a lot of Ramen noodles,10 for a dollar at Wal Mart.(Wal Mark to you from E.Tn.) Black beans mixed with beanie wienies,and the occasional road kill.
(thats what i call the occasional varmit i was able to get with my xbow from the road).
Of course i hear it is now legal to scrape up the real road kill in both Tn. and Ky.lol
I have a small solar powered cooler so Cheerios and fruit cocktail is my favorite breakfast;long as its not too far between towns.Milk and canned fruit cocktail are pretty heavy,and since Sausage Mc Muffins are off the menu.
I absolutely LOVE my milk,(did i mention I LOVE my milk,so powdered milk is an abomination.I have never cared for pwdered eggs ,but may take another look at it.
And i would rather starve than touch a peanut butter and (anything) sandwich.
But any of you experienced self supported tour people are reading this i am listening.

 

Rode the Katy for a week, and almost died for lack of good food. The place was settled by Germans and the area is big time meat and dairy only. Since I'm Vegan, I was wiped out at the end of the ride. The beer and pizza wiped me out. I hate the kings table. My cholesterol runs close to 100. That week it probably hit the 200 mark, which is acceptable for the American Heart Association, but will not unclog arteries. I don't use sports drinks because they are man made chemicals and refined sugar and loaded with caffeine. Just the coloring and stuff I can't pronounce are unhealthy. Not good for old folks in recovery. Young people can get away with it, but will eventually pay the price for dietary indescretions. Me, Howard and Will, are the only Vegans I know that are riding recumbents. If there are others, they need to speak up. On an all day ride, I take Popeye (spinach) samiches and Mary's natural made oatmeal cookies just for me. Then between meals, I drink pure mountain clear liquid in a mason jar.

 

calboy, that solar powered cooler sounds interesting. I like my stuff at least cool if not cold. On my tours I've always just bought food in a grocery store rather than going to resturants. Take a small sterno heater for heating some foods.

I've wondered about the Cliff bars, Mike and will have to try some. May experiment with different things this summer. Also one of my fears is that most of the stuff is loaded with caffenine, which I have to stay away from.

 

calboy, that solar powered cooler sounds interesting. I like my stuff at least cool if not cold. On my tours I've always just bought food in a grocery store rather than going to resturants. Take a small sterno heater for heating some foods.

I've wondered about the Cliff bars, Mike and will have to try some. May experiment with different things this summer. Also one of my fears is that most of the stuff is loaded with caffenine, which I have to stay away from.

 

I like the ideal of oatmeal cookies sans raisins of course.Hey you know i am almost addicted to little debbie oatmeal and creme something filled.Might take another look at them.
What to drink is a major proplem.I found out in the South West i was using about 5 20oz bottles of propel a day.Thats a lot of water to carry across the desert where water is few and far between.If we had a wetter season i would not be coserned.I have been know to drink out of hoof prints when i was forced to.And now i even have a water filter/purification system.I have a box or two of left over MREs that probably will be going out of date in the next couple of years will take them as well;not too heavy and packaged in 4 person paks.Should be the right sized meal according to the pros on CGOAB.

 

Willie G and I tour quite a bit. Our normal diets consists a lot of salads and RAW/steamed veggies along with some whole wheat pasta/bread (for carbs). We will through in some veggie burgers and lean protein like fish/chicken. I don't touch red meat. For snacks, I too will eat the natural oatmeal cookies (borrowed the recipe from Buddy). Try to drink lots of water and V-8 juice if possible. The V-8 is better than the sports drink and tastes better too.

 

Especially if you put a couple of shots of vodka and a celery stick in it too!

 

Just because you're the flounder, you need not be sarcastic. You know our girl doesn't use alcohol. Neither does Bill. Stay focused, we're talking hydration and nourishment for longer rides. Any kind of alcohol on any ride, is counter productive.

 

Thats interesting,Honey;I do try to carry a six pack of V8 have been drinking a can or two a dayfor some time now.Never heard of anyone else mention it as a good source of anything for a rider .
Need to figure out a way to package it without having to carry the empty cans tho,hmmmm.

 

I have heard from several about the V8 engine, whoops, the V8 juice. Seems several people use it and I'll give it a try. Another one I'm hearing more about is chocolate milk! Not so sure about the vodka, but I might give it a try once just for kicks. No pun intended.

 

I was taking the grand babies to Dollywood and they all wanted to eat and of course wanted chocolate milk.I read the nutrisional label on a bottle of Yoohoo;not bad stuff;for chocolate water.But the kids loved it and less fattening.
I am not sure how much or what kind of fat i need to be worried about on my ride,but i have been doing a lot of Yoohoo ....(with my frosted honey bun).lol