Will Jenkins

Hi.
Ive recently started my campaign of training in anticipation of some racing and touring in the summer. At the moment though I want to know what to eat whilst out riding. Basically I dont want to carry a lot (as I don't have my own team handing out lunch whilst riding a route) and I'm a student so its got to be pretty cheap as Im on a budget (so no bulk expensive energy bars!!!).
Hope that you can help
Will

webist

I use Balance Bars if the ride is more than 2 hours but less than 4.

Homebrew01

Use the search function and you'll get about 1000 hits

I like fig bars, bananas, dried apricots (slightly rehydrated first), cereal bars (store brand)

palesaint

If you are really looking for a typical lunch that is easy to transport on a bike, this is a great time to use you imagination. Imagine what food you like and then think of creative ways to package it lightly.

Just some suggestions:

Tortilla roll-up, with peanut butter and bananas or ham and cheese
Good ol' peanut butter and jelly sandwich
Beef jerkey
broiled/baked potatoes, cut into wedges
homemade rice crispie squares or granola/musli bars

Basically, if you can pack it in a sandwich bag, you can stuff it in the back of your jersey. Just remember that the more calorie-dense the lunch, the longer it will take to digest. Fast ride + big lunch + more fast riding = stomach cramps. This is why most everyone just takes in gels or energy drinks in rides up to three or four hours long. It's good to mix in real food in a 5/6/7 hour century.

Snuffleupagus

Eat food, not food products.

Apples, bananas, raisins, and figs are great, and digested quickly. I rarely ride over 5 hours/100 miles - but thus far the above has worked well. If I'm in a pinch out in the woods at a gas station, I'll drink V8 Juice, fruit juice and for emergency processed badness to stave off an impending bonk - jelly beans.

Az B

I like to plan long rides (75+ miles) with a restaurant lunch stop. Spaghetti, turkey sub, whatever. Not everyone likes to or can do this, but I find I have a lot more energy than if I eat Gu or bars while riding.

Az

cyclezealot

When touring for eight hours , you will get hungary. My favorite food was fruit and waffles. Maybe a soy burger. No heavy meats or greasy tacos.

ericgu

Well, if you are looking at racing, you are going to be pretty limited in how much you are eating. 200 cal/hour up to 300 cal/hour max is all you are likely to be able to tolerate if you are working very hard. Not really what I'd call lunch, but just a bit of food.

I like food that is relatively high in carbs, not too much fiber, some protein, not a lot of fat, but what you can tolerate really depends on your body. Fruit (especially apples) can be high in fructose, which may cause you problems.

Touring is considerably different - you are usually looking at exertion levels that are moderate and you have a lot of options for what you can eat.

ken cummings

On lone century rides I go for one jelly-only sandwich every 10 miles or so. No white bread either; Oregon multi-grain hazelnut bread is a favorite.

ncherry

I second the PB&J (Peanut Butter and Jelly/Jam/Preserves)! One of our long time friends eats them all the time so we named them after him. ;-) A full PB&J is a full Nelson, a half is a half Nelson. You can cut them up and leave them in a ziplock bag in your back pocket. If cut in quarters or smaller they're bit size, quick and easy to eat. They work well up to a double century (I have tried further yet). The only thing is you don't want too sweet or too much peanut butter as either might make you a little sick. Peanut butter can be hard to digest on a hard ride. And I've noticed that anything sweet tastes much sweeter on long hard rides.

Will Jenkins

Thanks guys, theres some good information there for me. Ill be trying out most of the suggestions over the next few weeks whilst training!!!

flanman

Boiled potoatoes. Easy to eat and leave no after taste. Contains just about everything a body needs. Add salt if it's hot and you're sweating excessively.

Snuffleupagus

Really? I'm not trying to be a jerk, or sharpshoot you, but I'd like to see studies that back up this claim, for my own edification if nothing else - as I use apples as a major food source for riding/racing. As such, if there is something that would work better, or the apples are slowing me down I'd like to know.