Icculus21

I've always struggled with what type of food to bring along. Usually I just bring water and maybe some Gatorade. I've tried things like granola bars with nuts and what not but that didn't work out to well... just too dry, sticky, and difficult to eat while riding. I do get hungry but just struggle through it: any suggestions of some healthy snacks that are good to eat while on the go and to help keep the stamina going?

therhodeo

Normally the best thing is to eat good before the ride. What distances or times are we talking?

Jarrett2

For longer rides, I usually have one or two breakfast tacos before the ride. Then I try and do a Hammer Gel every 45 minutes to 1 hour on the ride. I bought this because it was easier to carry and use:



The flask holds five gel packs in one. I carry two flasks for rides over 4 hours, one for shorter rides. I also carry one or two Clif bars. I like the Peanut Butter one.

At rest stops I refill my bottles with water and a little Gatorade. Then depending where we stop, I eat/drink a little of whatever is available and looks good.

Seattle Forrest

Real food. I don't need to eat for rides under a couple/few hours, for rides longer than that, I'll stop somewhere and get something light and quick to digest. Also run a live tracking thing and my girlfriend usually has a snack and some iced tea ready when I get home.

1nterceptor

I've eaten the original Clif bars while pedaling; I like mint chocolate and blueberry flavors.

Mumonkan

the only "robot food" i like are picky bars and some larabars, stroopwafels and the gu caffeinated gels for the end of the ride (because i can stuff like 10 of them in one jersey pocket)

things like clif bars, nature valley, granola bars are way too dry for me and take an eternity to get into my system and use up a lot of my water in the process

the bulk of my food comes from the skratch labs portables cookbook (usually 2 kinds of rice cakes), justins dark chocolate peanut butter cups, bananas, dates

make sure youre drinking when you eat too, otherwise that food takes a long time to digest, i also recommend the skratch labs secret drink mix singles for hot days

i prefer unprocessed food with a high water content so it digests and starts doing its job fast. i have a very high metabolism and need a lot of food and water

TrojanHorse

If I'm out for more then 30 miles *AND* I'm riding during a meal time (ie I haven't eaten in hours) I'll take a clif bar along. They seem to be pretty effective and don't fall apart in hot weather. Also, I can get the package open and eat it while riding. If I ride after I've eaten, I may bring a clif bar but I probably won't eat it. For rides > 60 miles, I'll add a gel or two to the mix just in case. I normally prefer straight water but I will put Nuun or watery gatorade in there for century rides.

Bananas are handy ride food and come in their own disposable packaging.

seymour1910

I go to Trader Joe's and get these. I do the honey stinger waffles if I catch a good sale, but the stroup waffles are very good.

therhodeo

Diabetes much?

Jarrett2

2 grams of sugar per serving.

Foot in mouth much?

therhodeo

22g of carbs, 2g of sugar. They get by with saying that Maltodextrin isn't a sugar despite it spiking insulin worse than fructose or sucrose. So yeah, carb on brother.

Jarrett2

Are you advocating low carb foods for rides? Atkins cycling meal plan? Keep some bacon and steak in the jersey pocket?

KonaRider125

Give dried fruit a try, raisins, apricots, figs, and dates. Almond butter and jam/honey sandwich for longer rides. Also, what I have found works really well for energy is mixing about 1/4 cup of raw honey in each water bottle.

therhodeo

I'm saying I used to weigh 235lbs. Now I weight 155 during riding season. Didn't get there downing 10 gels a ride.

woodcraft

For >5hrs.:
Dates, a few nuts, home-made sugar syrup, banana, hard boiled egg.

Wilfred Laurier

I usually eat apples and/or bananas. Sometimes oranges but I either have to peel them before I ride and put them in a baggie, or stop for a break to peel them. I also like to stop for ice-cream while riding. I usually only drink water but sometimes buy a Gator-type-drink while I am out if I didn't pack enough food.

I have been so desperate on several occasions where I bonked and barely made it to a corner store, that I shoplifted a chocolate bar to get back home.

Post-ride recovery drink is usually an IPA or a pilsner.

FrozenK

On long (4 hours or more) Perpetuem solids and pepperoni sticks. Don't judge me, it works for me. I also pack a couple gel packs (Hammer usually but I've used Gu) they help at the end of really long days when I need a quick energy boost- or if I mess up and end up bonking.

When it comes to food, experimenting is the only way to find what works for you. Not only what you eat but how often. I have friends that stop and eat a big sandwich/burrito and don't eat anything in between meals. Me? I have to eat every 20 minutes or so.

Jarrett2

Oh, its a weight loss thread. The title and opening post made it sound like it was asking what people eat on rides to keep from running out of energy or bonking. And who is eating 10 gels on a ride? That seems like overkill to me.

rekon

I'll usually bring a banana or clif bar for rides > 30 miles

MCODave

This is going on my TJ's shopping list.

seymour1910

You won't regret it Dave, while you're out grab some ziploc snack bags so you can make your own serving sizes. The waffles come in one bag and are not individually wrapped. This is what it looks like Article | Trader Joe's

indyfabz

Well you did write that one flask holds 5 gels and that on rides of over four hours you carry two flasks, so one could infer that you are eating 10 gels on a ride over 4 hours, not that there is necessarily anything wrong with that. I, too, need a good amount of carbs for long rides. I know I have consumed at least 6 gels (maybe 7) on a ride plus some other stuff. That was during a fast century in heat and humidity.

Just like you will encounter friends of Bill who will preach to you about how you are ruining your life by drinking alcohol you are going to encounter members of the "Carbs kill!" lot. Try to ignore them.

Have you tried Perpetuem by Hammer? I will occasionally mix up a bottle for a long, hard ride. Works great for me. In fact, a pack saved me on the second day of my recent tour in the Black Hills. I was saving it for later in the trip where I would face long mileage without services but I became so desperate for energy that I stopped on a rugged rail-trail and mixed it up right there. The biggest problem with it is that, according to the instructions, it can start to spoil in high heat after maybe 4 hrs. The single packs are compact enough that you can carry one in a jersey pocket and mix another bottle on the road if you desire.

Bathwater

Bugs, unfortunately.

banerjek

Depends on how far you ride. If you're out over 10 hours, it wouldn't be insane.

Also, there's nothing wrong with carrying a bit extra as you might need more than you expect or you may want to help others.

Jarrett2

As mentioned in the same post, I usually eat a gel serving per hour. My longest ride has been 7-8 hours to date and that was with lunch stops, so still no need for 10 gels. Therodeo seemed to be trolling, so I played along a little. I meant to imply that I carry the second flask if I need more than 5 shots on a ride, not that I eat all 10 gels just because I have them. The gel seems to keep well. And I do keep a little extra in case a friend bonks on a ride.

I haven't tried the Perpetuem. Just the gels so far. I'm all for trying new stuff though. I learned about the gels when they saved my butt in the Davis Mountains. So now I used them a little more regularly even on my non strenuous rides and it seems to keep my energy levels well.