Southern California - Organized Ride Food

I'm getting ready to ride my first Solvang Prelude and after reading the very dismal review by merider1 regarding the rest stop fare :mad: :eek: on the recent MS 150 (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=239318) I'm wondering what to expect with this normally GIGANTIC organized ride sponsored by SCOR coming up on the 4th of Nov. This organization also does the Solvang Century in March. Are we talking great rest stops and SAG support like the awesome Lighthouse (http://www.slobc.org/Lighthouse.html) & Wildflower rides (http://www.slobc.org/Wildflower.html) put on yearly by the San Luis Obispo Bicycle Club, or more of the "gut bomb" garbage merider1 reported? Thanks for the "heads up" on what to bring, if that's necessary, for the Prelude! :)

I have done SCOR's March Solvang Century a few times. Their food is what I consider normal fare, e.g. PB&J, bagels, fruit and cookies. For drinks they had water and, er, can't remember, but it was probably something Gatorade or Cytomax.

i've only done one organized ride where i was uber disappointed in their sag food... and that was the stagecoach last year....

all the others usually appease me with some good junk food! i never drink the mixed drinks... so i can't comment on that for ANY of the rides (except cool breeze... i do drink lemonade at that one!) otherwise it's just water for me!


granted.... some are better than others.... but really the ONLY one in all the rides i've done that stands out as not good.... is the above mentioned stagecoach (however their lunch and deserts were AWESOME!)

everybody is missing you :)

The SCOR supported rides in Solvang have good SAG stops. They have the usual thinks to refuel. PB&J sandwiches, bagels, cookies, bananas, oranges. Water and I think the refueling drink they use is SPITZ. never tried it.

The SCOR supported rides in Solvang have good SAG stops. They have the usual thinks to refuel. PB&J sandwiches, bagels, cookies, bananas, oranges. Water and I think the refueling drink they use is SPITZ. never tried it.
+1 - Solvang has well stocked stops with exactly what's listed above give or take. I don't personally care for the barbeque after and rarely pay $11 for it (On the Solvang ride in March, one of the Colvaita guys' wives bought the lunch for all of us who road - she is such a sweetheart!- so, I certainly didn't complain about it then). The lighthouse century is just a superstar in this area as are the LA Wheelman. If you ever want a double century that really takes care of you, The LA Wheelman Grand Tour is it! I mean, who gives you hot cup of noodle soup at mile 160? (best noodle soup I've ever eaten) :D

No matter what ride I am participating in I always make sure that I am well stocked with my own supplies, just in case.

The organized rides try to cater to the largest population of people and therefore staples like PBJ, bananas, trail mix, muffins, bagels, and cookies. Lunch stops generally have something like a 6" Subway sandwich.
Also, remember that sport drinks do not work with everyone and so the organizers must go with the lowest common denominator, which could be simply water.

The experiences by M.E. and me on the recent MS rides are not indicative of every ride, and not a guarantee that things will not change next year on the MS rides. I know that I am going to be working heavily with the MS Society throughout the winter to make sure that they understand the nutritional needs of cyclists so that they can explain those needs to the vendors that offer to support the rides. Remember that bicycling clubs instinctively know the best things to feed cyclists, but charity ride organizers might not be cyclists themselves.

Heck, there was someone that complained about the energy bars offered at the MS Bay to Bay ride because they contained peanuts and the person was allergic. Personally, if I was allergic to peanuts, whey, or any other major foodstuff I would always bring my own supplies.

The LA Wheelman Grand Tour is it! I mean, who gives you hot cup of noodle soup at mile 160? (best noodle soup I've ever eaten) :D

correction: that best tasting, hot cup of noodle soup came at mile 140. :D

I mean, who gives you hot cup of noodle soup at mile 160? (best noodle soup I've ever eaten) :D

The last rest stop of Planet Ultra events always have Cup-o-Noodles, but the Grand Tour has HOMEMADE soup!!!

correction: that best tasting, hot cup of noodle soup came at mile 140. :D
Was that mile 140? Gosh. I guess I was so delirious, I assumed it was 160. :p It was demm good, I tell you! And I missed the homemade soup...guess I'll have to pedal faster next year! :D

Was that mile 140? Gosh. I guess I was so delirious, I assumed it was 160. :p It was demm good, I tell you! And I missed the homemade soup...guess I'll have to pedal faster next year! :D

Well.....I kinda liked your 160 better. That meant we only had 40 more to go...:p

[QUOTE=Extort]No matter what ride I am participating in I always make sure that I am well stocked with my own supplies, just in case.

The experiences by M.E. and me on the recent MS rides are not indicative of every ride, and not a guarantee that things will not change next year on the MS rides. I know that I am going to be working heavily with the MS Society throughout the winter to make sure that they understand the nutritional needs of cyclists so that they can explain those needs to the vendors that offer to support the rides. Remember that bicycling clubs instinctively know the best things to feed cyclists, but charity ride organizers might not be cyclists themselves.
[QUOTE]

+1 and my bad, Phil. As I mentioned in my other thread, I focused too much on that - and I'm truly sorry if I made it sound like a "gut bomb" :eek: That was not my intention nor was that the case. Truth is, I started out both days of the ride with my own fuel (5 packs of gel, a payday and trailmix). It is my responsibility as a rider to carry my own fuel on all rides, same with tubes, etc., so your point is well made. Any organized ride could run out of supplies, and if you are at a remote location, you could really be in trouble without your own fuel.

I have never particularly been enamored with the food offerings on the Solvang rides. Fairly simple. The first time i did the Prelude (many years ago) they actually ran out of food at the last few rest stops.

Like Extort, I always make sure I'm traveling with fuel - usually GU, Balance bars and electrolytes.

I now tend to compare all rides to the SLOBC events (Wild Flower and Lighthouse) and Cool Breeze. The morning sags on Wildflower offer not only PB sandwiches, pretzels and fruit, but also homemade date breads, muffins and cookies. The lunch stop is famous for its offerings incuding the biggest, juiciest strawberries who'll ever see and big homemade cookies. YUM! After the ride, they offer a BBQ chicken dinner. It's awesome. Lighthouse is as good as is Cool Breeze.

Other than that most rides offer oranges, cantaloupe, bananas, fig bars, pretzels, sometimes Keebler crackers with peanut butter, cookies and m & m's. Lunch usually includes a meat sandwich and chips. Drink is usually water or lemonade. I'll seldom been offered Gatorade or something else. Just be prepared. Know what your body needs. I wouldn't carry too much food or water but if you like something special (I like GU and Elete) make sure you bring it.

Just a note: keep your eyes peel for the Wildflower ride (out of Creston, CA). Signups I think occur in December or January. Signups sell out in hours the first day. It's a ride worth doing. When I get a notice of the signup date, I'll post it.

The last rest stop of Planet Ultra events always have Cup-o-Noodles, but the Grand Tour has HOMEMADE soup!!!

The Ride Around the Bear also has made-on-site veggie soup at the top of Onyx Summit (8,443 FT.), and that's very good, but I'd also like to nominate the Knoxville Double (out of Vacaville, CA) put on by the Quackcyclists as having the consistantly best food.

I don't eat hot-dogs except at Checkpoint #5 on the Knoxville double (BBQ'd and very good!), plus they always have chili at Checkpoint #6. Helps to warm you up if you're there after dark! The Quacks also have salted baked potato at all the Checkpoints, which are very tasty and an excellent source of carbs, but rarely seen on other rides.

Agreed that San Luis Obispo Cycling Club does a truely excellent job with the food on both the Wildflower and the Lighthouse.

The Quacks also have salted baked potato at all the Checkpoints, which are very tasty and an excellent source of carbs, but rarely seen on other rides.

Wow! That is a great idea! in your experience, are the potatoes too heavy once they are in your system, or do they break down nicely and provide you energy during the ride?

Agreed that San Luis Obispo Cycling Club does a truely excellent job with the food on both the Wildflower and the Lighthouse.
They do, but one minor gripe is that they have lemonade instead of Gatorade.

Heck, there was someone that complained about the energy bars offered at the MS Bay to Bay ride because they contained peanuts and the person was allergic. Personally, if I was allergic to peanuts, whey, or any other major foodstuff I would always bring my own supplies.
True, but on the other hand, you'd be surprised how many people are allergic to peanuts. I had a friend in college who would have to go to the hospital any time he ate something with any sort of nut in it. His major frustration was that there are a lot of foods that you wouldn't think have nuts in them, but they do.

I was very pleased with the food offered at Everest Challenge. All manner of hammer-nutrition (Heed, Perpetuem, Endurolytes, Hammer Gel) and Clif products (I love those clif bloks, but they're too expensive for me to buy them, so I was especially stoked to see 'em at all the rest stops.), along with various "real food" options. At the finish on both days they had water, sodas, burritos, soup, etc.