Commuting - Pre ride snacks?

I was wondering what people snack on before the commute home? I tend to eat some cottage cheese or grab a handful of nuts or fruit or a combination. What are the best quick energy foods to eat?

Fruit and/or nuts. Bananas are great for energy. Granola too... watch the sugar content.

For a ten mile commute, nothing is really necessary, so I don't bother.

I think you've pretty much nailed it with fruit nuts and cottage cheese. IMO, those are some of the most nutritious foods available. The protein to calorie ratio for low fat (not even the fat free garbage) cottage cheese is incredible. The only other things I would suggest for variety would be peanut butter, honey and bananas. Or a nice Tiramisu or whole double chocolate cake and a beer.

I watch my blood sugar - so it does matter to me. If I need a snack before going home I just eat the same stuff I snack on throughout the day. On my desk now I have raisins, a bag of mini-bagels, apples, two bananas rapidly going bad, and of course peanut butter. I always keep a couple Cliff Bars in my bag, but rarely use them.

Before leaving I always have yogurt.

For a ten mile commute, nothing is really necessary, so I don't bother.

+1

I don't usually like much in my stomach before a ride, so I don't. It's only 14 miles and I'll be riding for 1-1.5 hours, so I figure I can go without for that long. Of more importance to me is the hydration. I need to stop drinking things at about 3:00 in the afternoon to get home without "feeling anxious." I can hydrate again right before I set out, since that won't have time to pass through my system.

I had some coffee and a banana.

For a ten mile commute, nothing is really necessary, so I don't bother.

+2

Plus, I did my intervals this morning on the same empty stomach.

Just checking, sometimes I get the wobbly leg thing and when I get home I feel a bit shakey, not sure what is causing this. I thought maybe I wasn't eating enough in the afternoon, I try to eat something an hour before I leave work.

Has this happened to anyone? I always properly hydrate during the day and I drink tea as well.
I think I will keep some PB at my desk from now on.

Just checking, sometimes I get the wobbly leg thing and when I get home I feel a bit shakey, not sure what is causing this. I thought maybe I wasn't eating enough in the afternoon, I try to eat something an hour before I leave work.

Has this happened to anyone? I always properly hydrate during the day and I drink tea as well.
I think I will keep some PB at my desk from now on.

I used to get this alot when I drank a couple cups of coffee on an empty stomach.

I know it's not coffee, I drink tea in the afternoon usually. I think sometimes I eat and then ride right after and the food is being digested as I am riding.

Tea typically contains caffeine and is also a diuretic. The typical person consumes enough at meals and with what they snack in between meals not to need extra food for the typical commute. YMMV, but I wouldn't automatically assume you need extra fuel just because you're riding your bicycle home from work.

+2

Plus, I did my intervals this morning on the same empty stomach.

Well, you may not think you NEED it but you should be eating 5-6 meals a day.
A snack 30-60 minutes before the ride home is a perfect time for meal #4 for me.
Then by the time i get home and shower, it's time for meal #5. :)

Well, you may not think you NEED it but you should be eating 5-6 meals a day.
A snack 30-60 minutes before the ride home is a perfect time for meal #4 for me.
Then by the time i get home and shower, it's time for meal #5. :)

Right, but the 5-6 meals a day approach only works if you redefine what a "meal" is, to something a lot less than what most people eat for lunch or dinner. I like this approach, btw -- I try to follow a modified version of it -- but it isn't what most people are doing. If you consider the size of the average person's lunch plus whatever snacks they normally ingest in the afternoon, I'd say there isn't a caloric need for a pre-commute "snack". Now, would they be better off with a much, much lighter lunch, and a more nutritious, well-timed, light snack? Hell yeah. But you don't just add a "pre-commute snack" onto most people's eating habits and get good results.

consumed today-
black tea before ride
egg sandwich and coffee after ride
cashews
leftover pasta and sauce with veggies
more cashews
green tea

for later-
banana
yogurt
clif bar

Well, you may not think you NEED it but you should be eating 5-6 meals a day.
A snack 30-60 minutes before the ride home is a perfect time for meal #4 for me.
Then by the time i get home and shower, it's time for meal #5. :)


I don't need to eat before hand. My body contains plenty of fuel from dinner the night before.
Anyhow, I already eat 5 meals a day.

how far is the commute? that would impact what kind or how much of a snack makes sense. if it's below thirty miles, nothing is really needed. just drink a full 16 oz of water and you're good-to-go.

how far is the commute? that would impact what kind or how much of a snack makes sense. if it's below thirty miles, nothing is really needed. just drink a full 16 oz of water and you're good-to-go.

5.5 miles, not a long one but I like to feel properly fueled, I don't eat in the morning before I leave but I feel like I need to eat in the afternoon

I will just make sure I am properly hydrated

thanks for all the feedback everyone~