"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Food during the race...how?

Just curious how food is physicaly handled and managed. How do you eat on a bike? I always have to stop to peel the wraping of of power bars or somethiing + I only have room for 2 water bottles.

the latest fad is to stick a couple of gel packets under the end of your shorts, then just grab one and tear it open with your teeth.

I fill a flask with Hammer Gel, and both bottles with sport drink mix. That's good for around 1000-1200 calories. I also have some small snap containers for my electrolyte caps.

Usually if the race is long enough to require more they'll have a feed station where you can pick up more sport drink.

Just curious how food is physicaly handled and managed. How do you eat on a bike? I always have to stop to peel the wraping of of power bars or somethiing + I only have room for 2 water bottles.

Bars/gels generally end up in my rear jersey pockets. Here's the trick to eating well on the bike during a race - practice eating on the bike during training! You will get better and better @ both the physical act of retrieving and opening, as well as actually holding down the treat. Practice eating when your body is very stressed. This will help replicate more of a race situation.

Open one end of the wrapper of your energy bars beforehand. Like Vino mentioned, use a gel flask, no need to mess with wrappers.

I use a gel flask that is attached to the top tube using a mount that has velcro and a latch of sorts to keep the flask in place. Like vino said, that is good for 1000 or so calories. I also have a very small bento box which I can use for about 2 clif bars. That's what I use for 2-3 things. For crits, I don't bother with anything since I am too busy to worry about it and the thing is only 40-45 min. long

When I did LOTOJA I filled my jersey pockets with several clif bars, sandwiches, trail mix and fruit that I picked up in musette bags at each feed zone.

I use a gel flask that is attached to the top tube using a mount that has velcro and a latch of sorts to keep the flask in place. Like vino said, that is good for 1000 or so calories. I also have a very small bento box which I can use for about 2 clif bars. That's what I use for 2-3 things. For crits, I don't bother with anything since I am too busy to worry about it and the thing is only 40-45 min. long

When I did LOTOJA I filled my jersey pockets with several clif bars, sandwiches, trail mix and fruit that I picked up in musette bags at each feed zone.
A bento box is something you eat on a subway in Japan. What are you speaking of? PBK here comes my order for the flask thingy.

the latest fad is to stick a couple of gel packets under the end of your shorts, then just grab one and tear it open with your teeth.Which end do you stick these things? Seriously:o

A bento box is something you eat on a subway in Japan. What are you speaking of? PBK here comes my order for the flask thingy.

Bento Box (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001IXAGC/ref=wl_it_dp/104-0336468-2055954?ie=UTF8&coliid=I16DPS2OKZR74Q&colid=2180SVO3IV5D)

Which end do you stick these things? Seriously:o
Right in the front to impress the women:D

Seriously just inside the bottom, right above your knees

If it's dry out, I'll just dump a bunch of Jelly Belly Sport Beans in my jersey pocket.

Otherwise, you just experiment and practice.

And please don't dump your wrappers along the race route. That's stupid.

Just curious how food is physicaly handled and managed. How do you eat on a bike? I always have to stop to peel the wraping of of power bars or somethiing + I only have room for 2 water bottles.

you're a cat 5 right? if you are, then don't worry wbout it, i doubt you'll have any races that are long enough that you'll need to eat.

I dont understand how you could really eat and race at the same time. If im racing I find it exhausting to swallow water and to stop breathing for 10 seconds to do so.

I dont understand how you could really eat and race at the same time. If im racing I find it exhausting to swallow water and to stop breathing for 10 seconds to do so.

you must be new to racing.

I dont understand how you could really eat and race at the same time. If im racing I find it exhausting to swallow water and to stop breathing for 10 seconds to do so.

The only time you should be that strained is when you're pulling or just got done pulling. Also, take little swallows. Theres no need to take it in all at once. Hold a lot in your mouth, and breath in through your nose if you have to between swallows.

Botto touched on it, but I will mention that if the race is less than an hour long, your food will actually rob you of energy while digesting and then give you energy after the race is over, so I would only eat on races over an hour long. Also, eat something natural since it takes more energy and time to digest processes, artificial crap. I tried a few different things, but I can't tell which ones worked the best for energy:

- Figs in the rear pocket. Just dump them in loose and wash the jersey later that day.
- Sports gels in the rear pocket. I didn't think to put them in my shorts.
- Cliff bars in the rear pocket already opened. Take a bite or two and a swig of water at a time.

I also might add that some longer races have "feeding stations" where you can have someone ready to hand you more water or food or watever. I used a finger signal, 1 for water, 2 for sports drink, and 3 for food. It was nice for carrying smaller bottles because you could toss your empty at your support person before grabbing the fresh one.

The only time you should be that strained is when you're pulling or just got done pulling. Also, take little swallows. Theres no need to take it in all at once. Hold a lot in your mouth, and breath in through your nose if you have to between swallows.
Yeah. that works in theory. What about us slow people? :D ok that's why I stopped racing.

For training rides, just bunch of energy bars (usually cliff bars), in my rear pocket. To open either ride without hands while opening it, really fun on a down hill, or just put wrists on a handle bars while opening the wrapper. Becarefull with that method, really easy to loose control.

And please don't dump your wrappers along the race route. That's stupid.
+1 on that. Its no fun when those living along a race route call the organizers about the trash. In some areas organizers have even been threatened with non-issuance of permits over this issue. In our race, we ask the feed station vlunteers to clean up and tell the racers that discarding trash outside of feed zones will be penalized. Alas, I still wind up finding bottles and trash discarded by racers along the route. :mad:

Generally I find the issue isn't actually eating or drinking but remembering to eat and drink while racing - amazing how you can zone out like that. You'll figure out a rule of thumb for how much you can eat healthily during a race, I prefer a gel every 45 minutes or so, drinks every 10 to 15, .but everyone deffinently has their own ideas.
As for actually eating, just get used to doing everything on your bike - putting on/taking off warmers, vests and jackets, eating and drinking, peeing, taking bottles and food, generally its just getting used to riding no hands in close proximity to other riders.

Generally I find the issue isn't actually eating or drinking but remembering to eat and drink while racing - amazing how you can zone out like that. You'll figure out a rule of thumb for how much you can eat healthily during a race, I prefer a gel every 45 minutes or so, drinks every 10 to 15, .but everyone deffinently has their own ideas.
As for actually eating, just get used to doing everything on your bike - putting on/taking off warmers, vests and jackets, eating and drinking, peeing, taking bottles and food, generally its just getting used to riding no hands in close proximity to other riders.

+Eleventeen

Lots of people don't eat enough, and aren't comfy enough on the bike. Both are fun skills to practice, and are much easier than intervals :D

:) Thanks all for your input. you too Botto, Damn you.:) I do train on some 3 hour rides sometimes and plan on getting in some road races this year. We will see. Practice will be in my routine now even if my training rides are usualy just my 1/2 hour commute. The book "the Rider" Tim Krabby... he ate figs. I like figs. The Bento box would not fit on my bike unless i raise the stem. Won't. Have not seen the Flask Vino speaks off. All good Ideas. Thanks. Vino, do you have a photo of the flask or is it just your regular run of the mill flask and where do you keep it?

you're a cat 5 right? if you are, then don't worry wbout it, i doubt you'll have any races that are long enough that you'll need to eat.

Yeah, exactly. Eat before, maybe a power bar 30 minutes before the race...that's all that's needed.

Went to watch a friend of mine's son race and the 5's were out...40 minutes plus two laps and a guy has 2 water bottles on the bike. For what?

That's where teams should help. Getting guys properly ready and set up to race.

http://www.gusports.com/html/acc_flask.htm

Keep it in your pocket, fill it with gel, maple syrup, etc. For the love all that is holy, do not get a bento box and enter a race with it attached to your bike.

something I've wanted to try, what about cutting powerbars into small bite sized pieces then covering them with powdered sugar(or corn starch to be less messy) to prevent sticking. Then maybe put them in a baggy in your jersey pocket and just grab & munch? Anyone tried something like it? Next long ride I'm going to give it a test run.

something I've wanted to try, what about cutting powerbars into small bite sized pieces then covering them with powdered sugar(or corn starch to be less messy) to prevent sticking. Then maybe put them in a baggy in your jersey pocket and just grab & munch? Anyone tried something like it? Next long ride I'm going to give it a test run.

why not fig newtons instead?

heh, I dunno, maybe cuz I'm a slave to rampant sports marketing consumerism? :)

Actually, I'm one of those strange people that really likes the taste of powerbars. At least the oatmeal raisin & vanilla crisp ones.

Damn, I just looked at the Fig Newton nutritional data. Pretty darn good; powerbars have 4 times more protein and just about half the fat, but Fig Newtons have more sodium. I'll give the fruit and cake a try.

not to totally hijack the thread, but on the bike do you really need 100% of niacin, folate, etc etc and Chromium, copper, zinc, yadda yadda or is it just a gimmick?

edit: also isn't powerbar stuff supposed to have that special ratio of sugars that increase the absorption past the 1 gram per minute?

I eat chocolate, sometimes i bring those bite sized snickers

edit: also isn't powerbar stuff supposed to have that special ratio of sugars that increase the absorption past the 1 gram per minute?

here's your answer to the question above:


I'm a slave to rampant sports marketing consumerism?

Vino, do you have a photo of the flask or is it just your regular run of the mill flask and where do you keep it?
This is what I use, also have some from Carb Boom
http://www.hammernutrition.com/images/product/header/header_HF.jpg

This is what I use, also have some from Carb Boom
http://www.hammernutrition.com/images/product/header/header_HF.jpg

That's the one I use too. Any squeeze bottle in that kind of shape will work.

the pain in the butt factor of fiddling with powerbar wrappers is one reason for the popularity of gels. You can open and knock back a gel under bout the most intense situations.

Howver, I have to say, and this may sound harsh, if you don't have the bike handling skills to open and eat a powerbar without stopping, your bike handling needs work before you race.

I'd guess that 99.9% of the people here can open a powerbar wrapper while on the bike, but anything that would make it easier can't hurt. :)

edit: whoops, just read the OP again, thought you were directing that towards me..my apologies

the pain in the butt factor of fiddling with powerbar wrappers is one reason for the popularity of gels. You can open and knock back a gel under bout the most intense situations.

Howver, I have to say, and this may sound harsh, if you don't have the bike handling skills to open and eat a powerbar without stopping, your bike handling needs work before you race.
Yea, Botto harsh. Kinda left my self open for that one didn't I.

The question came up the other day riding 3 hours in trafic and some ice on the roads so no-handing it did not come to mind. My race bike at 74 deg is a bit squirely no-handed compared to my commuter so yea, I could practice that somemore.

I put some of the posters advise to use today. I did a 2 hour ride today in a more rural area and packed the fig newtons in my pocket to try eating on the fly. Had to no-hand it to get a glove of and back on. Tried eating on the hills and holding 2 cookies in by teeth. Practice.:o

http://www.gusports.com/html/acc_flask.htm

Keep it in your pocket, fill it with gel, maple syrup, etc. For the love all that is holy, do not get a bento box and enter a race with it attached to your bike.
Maple Syrup.....I like. Does anyone know how well Maple Syrup works as a racing fuel?

the pain in the butt factor of fiddling with powerbar wrappers is one reason for the popularity of gels. You can open and knock back a gel under bout the most intense situations.

Howver, I have to say, and this may sound harsh, if you don't have the bike handling skills to open and eat a powerbar without stopping, your bike handling needs work before you race.Yea, Botto harsh. Kinda left my self open for that one didn't I.

last i checked merlinextraligh and i were not the same individuals.

last i checked merlinextraligh and i were not the same individuals.

This worries me. I think I'm going to have to make a new year's resolution to be nicer in the new year.

This worries me. I think I'm going to have to make a new year's resolution to be nicer in the new year.

pusßy. :D

pusßy. :D

So nice to have brought you too together.:eek:

Maple Syrup:
1/4 cup = 207 cal,
53 g carbs,
50 g sugars
7 mg sodium
161 mg potasium

Must try.