Training & Nutrition - i think i found a great cheap bike snack.

a while ago i discovered that tuna now comes in 3 ounce vacuum sealed pouches. the water is already drained from the pouch. they are like a dollar a piece at the grocery store.

its lightweight, takes up little room and is rich in protein and sodium. theoretically it cant spoil in the pouch and could be brought on rides in very hot conditions.

would this be a good riding food or would something with carbohydrates be better?

I don't know if I want to eat loose Tuna with my fingers and smell it for the rest of the ride. Just stick with YooHoo and Twinkies.

a while ago i discovered that tuna now comes in 3 ounce vacuum sealed pouches. the water is already drained from the pouch. they are like a dollar a piece at the grocery store.

its lightweight, takes up little room and is rich in protein and sodium. theoretically it cant spoil in the pouch and could be brought on rides in very hot conditions.

would this be a good riding food or would something with carbohydrates be better?

I wouldn't eat it at every rest stop, but for a long distance ride it would be good for some variety. We need to consume a bit of protein on long distance rides. Add a bit of salt to get your sodium, and eat it with crackers to get your carbs.

would this be a good riding food or would something with carbohydrates be better?Save it for after the ride when you get home and eat/drink carbos on your ride. Eating warm tuna from the back of my jersey doesn't sound very appetizing.

the mercury content could have adverse side effects. depends on how much you eat.

http://www.ewg.org/tunacalculator

i can eat 12oz of the stuff a week, apparently.

i stay away from tuna, and eat canned pink salmon instead. no mercury in salmon.

i stay away from tuna, and eat canned pink salmon instead. no mercury in salmon.

Albacore has high mercury levels. Chunk light tuna is on the low mercury list. Just like farmed salmon is on the bad list and wild salmon is on the good list.

And if it works for you, why not? Lee McCormack recently posted on his website about a mountain biker whose energy food of choice is canned sardines. Personally I'd go with something higher carb, but some protein while riding might be good for you.

well i could keep the pouch next to my ice filled camelbak on long mtb rides, and possibly bring a spoon and some crackers.

and the stuff i bought was wild tuna not farm raised

Interesting - I think I've only seen farm-raised. We've used the tuna packs for lunch stops on a couple of Boy Scout bike tours of the C&O Canal. Very handy (and there are various types and flavors), but you want some carbs with that (the boys liked flour tortillas and pocket bread). The fish is going to be messy, so it makes more sense for touring or the kind of mega-riding Macka does where you can stop, eat, and have time to clean up. Carry a couple of foil-packed wash n dries for clean-up.

I wouldn't use tuna since it lacks the critical carbs that are of immediate value to you on your ride. Your body can indeed convert proteins to carbs, but it won't be efficient enough during an active ride to make a noticeable difference. In fact, you can (and probably should) go all-carbs until your riding for over 4 hours at a time - any shorter, and the carbs will be of far, far immediate benefit. (Noticeable, even.)

For randonneuring, and other long things, you could get away with tuna (+ carbs), but I'd be more inclined to just eat normal foot during mealtimes and use carbs only in between.

snickers

i like sardines a lot too for protein. less mercury in them, too.

One of my favorite treats is dumping a pack o' tuna on a Wendy's Caesar side salad.

i like sardines a lot too for protein. less mercury in them, too.

+1.

Good source of calcium, too. It's those little bones.

they also sell tuna jerky, that may be a good alternative as well.

I just imagine a giant fish burp on a steep climb. Besides, I don't cats and dogs chasing me.

Tuna comes with protein.. If that's what you need for a fuller bodied snack. for a half day ride, normally a fruit stand stop, and an apple or banana will be sufficient.

I love fish but no way am I eating that on a ride. I like to keep my foods bland and full of carbs when on the bike. If you need protien get some almonds.

the canned salmon has calcium too - there are bones in the fish. some people are a little grossed out by it. i like it for its crunchiness.

the only things i eat on my rides (and they're cheap):
bananas - i'll have 2 - 4 hanging off my camelbak.
bagels w/ cream cheese. They're good warm or cold. wrap 'em in saran wrap and they're protected from the elements. easy to eat while riding if you slice them in half. the cream cheese keeps the bread moist so it's easier to chew/swallow when your mouth is dry from the exercise.

i like clif bars, but don't have the money.

i eat the fish for recovery.

+1 for bananas.

i like bringing little baggies of cheerios too

Prunes....moist, soft, packable, carbs. I used to like grapes-- wet, packable, mildly sweet-- but damned near choked to death when a whole one rolled down my throat and stuck at my "windpipe".