SylvainG

I commute by bike Monday to Friday (resting during the weekend), takes me 50 minutes for 20 km (12.5 miles), twice daily. I usually take two toasts with jam and a glass of milk 45 minutes before leaving, then an energy bar once I got to work and a banana about 30 minutes later, boiled egg and/or yogurt about an hour later. Lunch at noon. About 45 minutes before leaving for my afternoon commute, I eat another energy bar and an apple 15 minutes before leaving. I drink about half a cup of water during my commute but it's not warm yet.

Any comments on my routine? What is your routine?

FBinNY 

My commute is only 6 miles each way, though I often make a ride of it of up to 40 miles or so on the way home.

I've never been big on "scientific" dieting or any routines, and what I eat before and after rides is simply whatever I'd eat whether I rode or not.

The only thing I do specifically related to riding is to avoid drinking milk in any form. I find, or suspect, that milk somehow thickens the mucous in my throat thicker, making me more likely to suffer asthma issues, though I don't claim this as a fact.

kickstart

Whatever inclination, and habit call for. I find no need to change my eating patterns, or diet to ride a bike.

GeneO 

A small bowl of cheerios or nothing. Not much of a breakfast person. Lunch, energy gel before going home. 12-16 mi into work. usually 32 mi RT.

a1penguin

I wake up, spend 30 minutes doing morning chores, drink a 20 oz bottle of water, hop on the bike for 22 mile ride to work. When I was commuting 16 miles each way 2x a day, I had to make sure I didn't eat too late in the day because my stomach will reject the contents on a long ride.

YMMV

gregf83 

Porridge with raisins and blueberries for breakfast before I ride to work. At around 10 I'll have something like a toasted bagel with cream cheese or Nutella. In addition to lunch I also have a couple of apples and a banana during the day and maybe a handful of almonds. I burn about 1500 Cals commuting so need to eat a fair amount during the day.

SylvainG

I do, or otherwise I'll loose too much weight.

Same here, hence why I was asking. I was 165lb last August before I started commuting by bike. Dropped to 150lb by October and then started to eat more. Got to 155 during Winter but kept exercising and did some cross country skying in the weekends. Now that I started commuting by bike against since early April I'm back to 150lb. I'm 5'8" so not much fat left on me. Don't want to start loosing muscles mass...

ammarolli

I usually eat a banana before riding a bike but before all my commutes last summer I eat a bowl of cheerios and a banana when I came to work.

gregf83 

I think you're likely to lose some muscle on your legs just because you're walking around 15 lbs lighter and your legs don't need to be as strong. Pullups should be easier now

mcours2006

+1

Gresp15C

No special preparations. Generally speaking...

Before my commute: Breakfast, typically oatmeal

After my commute: Beer

Bikewolf

10 km commute. I try to at least drink some water before I take off, and eat (+ drink some more) once I arrive. Usually a few slices of homemade bread, or a mixture of nuts, raisins & oak flakes will do until noon. Maybe some yoghurt too.

In the afternoon I try to eat an apple. (Have to peel the apple in the morning before I leave though.) Occasionally a banana.

There isn’t a strict routine though. Only advice I take: breakfast (!) and enough water.

mcours2006

My 20 km commute to work is done on an empty stomach at 6AM. After the shower I'll have a serving of oatmeal with a mashed up banana and a green tea. Been doing that for the last three years.

After the ride home I'm usually pretty hungry, but I do enjoy a hot cup of coffee and whatever leftovers there are from the kids' lunches and such.

ItsJustMe

I rode for about 12 years at 11 to 15 miles one way depending on route, and now I'm at 25 miles one way. I don't eat before. I get up, get dressed and go. I eat pretty much total garbage, usually have lunch around 11 or so, leave work around 4, have whatever's to be had when I get home.

But its me 

Morning for me is 1-2 shots espresso, a liter or so of water before the 20 mile ride. I usually prep my breakfast before the ride, eggs + grits and a banana of late, and package it and my, mostly leftovers, lunch before my ride. Eat the breakfast at work with copious amounts of water through the day, lunch and a light snack of fruits about two hours before the ride home. Also a coffee or two around noon. Occasionally I eat some Clif Blocks with caffeine about an hour before the ride home for those days I feel a bit tired, usually from lack of sleep.

Swoop

Nothing and nothing. (I eat once a day in the evening)

kuroba

I ride fasted in the morning to work (~15kms). When I get there I have a bowl of granola, fruit and honey with a cup of tea. Mid-morning I have a cereal bar or a fruit snack on my desk.

For my evening ride home I try to avoid eating in the 2hrs right before my ride. I'm usually OK with lunch.

rumrunn6

sounds real similar to what I was doing, with the snacks, etc. you might try replacing the prefab bars with real food. meaning, for example I was lucky & near a Starbucks within walking distance. they had snacks like small bagel w peanut butter, cheese & fruit & or a hard boiled egg. I like granola bars myself but but I've read bad things about prefab bars & try to avoid them for the most part

noglider 

My usual breakfast is granola with full-fat plain yogurt and some very strong coffee. I have one or two mugs of the coffee. Sometimes I have a banana as well. Sometimes I have a very small portion of grapefruit as well.

For me, that's a very small meal. I eat a lot, normally, but it takes a while for my hunger to kick in. I often snack after arriving at work. My favorite snack is cashews which I have spiced and roasted myself.

ThermionicScott 

Usually no more than a cup of coffee with a little half-and-half before I leave in the morning (4.5 miles each way.)

My days of accidentally getting too thin are long past, I'm afraid.

rhm

I usually have a (home made) granola bar (or two) and a mug of green tea before I get on the bike. Lately I've been lazy, haven't made my granola bars lately, so I've been having a small bowl of cheerios (honey nut, dry) with my tea. I have to be careful to not pour out a serving larger than I'll have time to eat; because sooner or later I'll look at the clock and say OMG! TIME TO GO! and I'm out the door.

If I miss my train, I'll get a small black coffee and one glazed donut at the station. Otherwise, nothing until I get to work.

When I get to my office I stop at the coffee cart on the corner by my building, and get a large black coffee, a chocoloate glazed donut, and a cheese danish.

HardyWeinberg

lately I've been eating my lunch as soon as I get to work.

wphamilton

I don't eat anything before or after my morning commute. Coffee at work, then I'm good to go. I used to have some trail mix, half a vending machine bag or less, mid-morning or afternoon but that was more to stave off snacking than anything else. Now that my commute is shorter, 7.8 miles from my front door, my trail mix tends to get stale before I eat it.

I do sometimes have a dark lager when I get home.

JReade

I have granola or toast once I get to the office. Nothing before, since it's a 10 mile ride.

SylvainG

Those who do not eat or eat very little, are you trying to loose weight? I have to eat all those calories otherwise I'll loose weight, which I don't want to do.