"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Eating before a race

What do you eat and how long do you leave it before you ride?

The only races I do right now are evening starts, so carb up at lunch or breakfast?

eat a normal lunch and breakfast and have a pb&j or something similar about an hr. before your race.

conventional wisdom is to eat your last meal about 3 hrs. prior to a race.

only real rule I have is dont eat something that isnt going to sit well in your stomach when you enter anaerobia

You "carb" up days before the event not that morning... Eat as you would normally before any hard ride.

I've been eating a Clif Bar, one bottle/two scoops of HEED and a bottle of water. Seems to be working better than the PB&J I was eating.

no carb up... taper- but thats a whole different issue

not a ton of experience here...normal pre-group ride meal, but nothing unusual is my only rule. I enjoy a Naked Green Machine a few hours prior, absorbs fast, makes me feel good 'cause I like it.

Frito Boats

What do you eat when your race is at 6:00 am and your waking up at 4:30am?

Oatmeal 2 hours before a morning race and a PB & Banana sandwich 2 hours prior to an evening race.

What do you eat when your race is at 6:00 am and your waking up at 4:30am?

Same as I'd eat before a morning training ride of the same duration.

I eat 2-2.5 hours before a race, and about 1-2 hours before a training ride. I usually go for about 70% carb, and 15%fat, 15% protein. Doesn't matter the time of day; if I have to get up early to do so, I will. I don't know why, but that seems to work for me.

What do you eat when your race is at 6:00 am and your waking up at 4:30am?

Good grief. Are our stomachs supposed to be operational that early? I don't know the answer to your question, but I'll have it figured out by the time we get to Prospect Park this Sunday! :thumb:

only real rule I have is dont eat something that isnt going to sit well in your stomach when you enter anaerobia

Like a big bowl of chilli?

Yah, discovered that all on my own....

For evening races, I have a bit of a bigger breakfast (oatmeal), and start getting after some of my sandwiches a little early. I graze until three hours before. In the last 90 minutes, I'll have a well-chewed Kudos or granola bar if I get hungry. Sometimes I can kick the light hunger with some gulps of Powerade.

For early morning events, I don't eat a thing. If it's after 9am, I'll have something three hours before.

What do you eat and how long do you leave it before you ride?

The only races I do right now are evening starts, so carb up at lunch or breakfast?

weekend races are later in the afternoon, which means a normal brekafast, and maybe a sandwhich or something at noon-ish, depending on how late i've had breakfast.

i normally eat after my wednesday night races, maybe having a museli bar or something before.

I eat three hours before my race or event. And it's all according to what's available to me and what I'm hungry for.

Like a big bowl of chilli?

Yah, discovered that all on my own....

I can add that while Cherry Garcia may taste good, it's not so good before an evening crit. Or so I've heard.

I know according to the experts, this shouldn't work, but I feel amazing if I eat 2 slices of deli meat, and one slice of cheese. If I eat something with carbs, I just don't feel too well for the first half of the ride.

Good grief. Are our stomachs supposed to be operational that early? I don't know the answer to your question, but I'll have it figured out by the time we get to Prospect Park this Sunday! :thumb:

Before such a race I usually eat a bunch late the night before, eat as late as possible (9 or 10 pm for a PP race). Then I start with a coffee, maybe a protein shake to keep my stomach busy. If not a shake then PB&J (2 sandwiches), or even an egg sandwich from DD on the way to the race. I visit the portajohns in the AM (hopefully before I leave, otherwise I stop on the Merritt) and I'm good to go. As little as possible in the morning is good for me.

cdr

Before such a race I usually eat a bunch late the night before, eat as late as possible (9 or 10 pm for a PP race). Then I start with a coffee, maybe a protein shake to keep my stomach busy. If not a shake then PB&J (2 sandwiches), or even an egg sandwich from DD on the way to the race. I visit the portajohns in the AM (hopefully before I leave, otherwise I stop on the Merritt) and I'm good to go. As little as possible in the morning is good for me.

cdr

+1, I'll pull down a bunch of chips and salsa followed by some Kashi and a sliced banana at 11pm before a morning race. In the morning, eating something really small (1/4 bowl of cereal) will get things moving, and I'm good until I'm on the bike eating Gu.

it's well proven that carb loading in the days before an event does not work. I eat my normal breakfast. 30 minutes before the race I eat Nutella on bread.