Training & Nutrition - Nutrition issue for EARLY ride start...

Any suggestions for eating in preparation for an EARLY ride start?. Am doing AOMM nest week, and ride starts @ 6:30 AM. Usually, with ride starts arnd *, I can get up early enough to eat aprox. 2-3 hrs before starting. Don't really want to get up at 4 to scarf down bowl of oatmeal, bagel and PB, fruit, OJ, banana, etc. in preparation for a ride, need that extra sleep! Anyone with good suggestions, or experience with similar early start times, feel free to chime in.

load up the night before - slow carbs like pasta. start eating on the bike about 30 mins in and keep eating every hour.

Any suggestions for eating in preparation for an EARLY ride start?. Am doing AOMM nest week, and ride starts @ 6:30 AM. Usually, with ride starts arnd *, I can get up early enough to eat aprox. 2-3 hrs before starting. Don't really want to get up at 4 to scarf down bowl of oatmeal, bagel and PB, fruit, OJ, banana, etc. in preparation for a ride, need that extra sleep! Anyone with good suggestions, or experience with similar early start times, feel free to chime in.

My experience with early starts is that eating early doesn't work - my body doesn't want food at that time of the day. I do better with something really light (bagel-ish) when I do get up, and then I start with my hydration drink at the start. I also start out a little more slowly than I normally would.

If I have to drive a ways, I take an apple and a banana and have that when I'm getting close. I don't need a 2-hour head start on my eating. I like to have something within 15 minutes or half an hour of the start.

I am in a similar situation, but that's what I do every day. I commute starting at 3:30 am. I used to hate to eat before leaving for my ride, but the fact of the matter is, on days when I eat before I leave, I am FASTER than on days when I skip eating before I ride.

The name of the game is eating enough so that you can get through the first part of your ride, but not too much so that you feel like you have a rock sitting in your stomach. I'd recommend eating about half an hour before you leave- make it a small food that has higher carbs, like half a bagal or half a muffin. Foods like that will metabolize slower in your system and keep your blood sugar levels more stable for a longer time. I'd avoid foods like liquids (orange juice, gatorade, etc.) and fruits/veggies, since they metabolize quicker, have simpler sugars, and will spike the blood for a shorter period and then cause your blood sugar levels to drop quickly, leadiing you to bonk or feel hungrier sooner.

Two hours to eat before leaving is waaaaay too soon. You just need about half an hour, and you'll be good to go.

koffee

i eat oatmeal in the morning and take in a apple aobut 20 to 30 min before the start. night before i take in some slow carbs. works pretty well make sure you keep eating during your event.

load up the night before - slow carbs like pasta. start eating on the bike about 30 mins in and keep eating every hour.

I wouldn't consider pasta a slow carb. Slower than sugar yes. But faster than others (whole grain carbs for example). Of course, what you eat with it has some impact as well.

Just eat dinner the night before.

Before and during the ride, just have some gels or a drink like Accelerade or Hammer Perpetuem (something with calories.) As long as you start fueling during the ride, you'll be fine even if you didn't eat anything beforehand.

Actually you'll probably be better off, because I've never had a good experience eating breakfast at 4 AM!

Then again, you may not have had a good experience because you haven't eaten the right foods! :-D
*wink*

koffee

This is why I no longer ride early...no matter what I eat,my body lacks the usual energy,I get 10 times more tired,I come back starving,etc...mornings aren't good for me.