Aero Sapien

What do you eat as a pre-race breakfast, and how long in advance? I ask because I am a fred and can't figure anything out by myself. At least I am honest about it and recognize this fact.

wens

Personal preference will account for a lot of variety in breakfast. Try to change as little as possible from what you normally eat.

hammy56

what do you eat before your normal rides?

Quel

This is very, very personal. You'll have to figure it out on your own by trial and error (mostly error in my experience). I'd say you want to eat at least 2 hours out, and some people want as much as 3. What you should eat is entirely up to you though.

Aero Sapien

I normally don't eat much more than a banana for breakfast. Can't you guys just make up some advice?

Bob Dopolina 

Questions:

1. How long is the event you are eating for?

2. How much time do you have in the morning before the event?

3. Do you really only eat a banana in the morning? Coffee? Tea? Soy milk? Anything else?

Aero Sapien

Just a banana.

I suppose it's not actually a race; it's a charity century ride. El Tour de Tucson specifically. I have as much as time as I wanted to make before the ride I suppose.

wens

I'd recommend a 6 course meal, biscuits with gravy as the first course, bacon as the second, poached eggs as the third, smoked salmon as the fourth, a steak and cheese omelet for the 5th, and about a gallon of coffee for the sixth.

On a more serious note, something like bagels or english muffins would be a good place to start if you don't eat a lot normally (I think, I like my breakfasts big). Some of it depends on what you can eat without getting an upset stomach, some people don't do well with OJ or coffee, neither have ever bothered me.

Aero Sapien

Is brown gravy or turkey more aero?

I have an iron stomach and can basically bike on any sort of food except high-fat foods. I suppose Ill try muffins, they sound good. Does anyone know how the fructose in fruit works out for cycling? Or is glucose preferred?

Bob Dopolina 

Well...You've posted in the racing forum so be forewarned...

I assume your ride will be in the 5~6 hour range? For that you need real food before, during and after.

Many people find grains a good energy source. Fruits, too. Since the intensity of the event isn't at race pace you can get away with eating those about 1 1/2 hours before the event.

I'd suggest a Powerbar (or 2) for the ride (or the like), some raisins, an apple and lots of water. Skip the Gatoraid, it's just coloured sugar water. Do drink lots of water, though.

Don't many of these rides have stops along the way where water and baked goods can be had? If so, don't rule these out later in the ride.

Have a good meal after the ride so you don't feel so crappy the next day.

Creatre

Like these guys, breakfast before a meal is a very personal preference. Do whatever sits well in your stomach, and allows your body to function until you get some more food in on the bike. Don't stuff yourself unless you have a decent amount of time before the ride or you will send too much blood to the stomach to digest.

Personally, I eat a decent amount of oatmeal and drink water with it. Depending on how soon I'm riding after or how long the ride is, I will vary the amount of oatmeal or maybe add something I would usually eat on the ride immediately before I hop on the bike. I've always had problems with either having too much, or having it upset my stomach if it isn't a simple meal like oatmeal.

umd

Both of these

umd

Hmm, I thought this guy seemed familiar...

Brian Ratliff

Big bowl of oatmeal with butter, brown sugar, and dried cranberries + black coffee. I try to stay away from dairy.

wens

I got the coveted umd seal of approval. Woot!

umd

He will probably forget that he posted and then post again in two months anyway...

waterrockets 

EPO in the evening, testosterone in the morning, right? Or is it the other way around? The steroids have me a little blocked right now.

Aero Sapien

It's been months dude. Let it go and get off my nuts

umd

"let it go" implies that I "had it" in the first place. I only just saw it, and thought it was interesting that you had already asked a question and felt compelled to ask the same exact thing a second time. Did you forget you had asked it already or just weren't paying attention the first time?

botto 

kensuf

depends on the time of day the race is going to happen..

Morning race, I prefer oatmeal with walnuts and raisins, maybe an egg.

Matt2.8NJ

I do a Chobani yogurt and granola.

ericm979

Many riders to Tour de Tuscon as a "race" and stick with a group. If you're doing that, stops will be minimized. So bring plenty of food.

I need a good breakfast, and lots of food during rides/races. I've actually eaten a Denny's grand slam before a long race (oatmeal, whole wheat pancakes, two eggs and an english muffin).

Oatmeal is good, just go light on the sugar. Or grape-nuts. I often have grape-nuts, homemade low sugar granola, with a bit of yogurt and fruit and 1/2 scoop of protein powder. I find that eating a lot of sugar causes a sugar crash after an hour, so I try to avoid that.

If you're eating a good breakfast you want to eat at least a couple hours before the start (unless you know for sure that the start's going to be gentle... I expect that trying to keep up with the racers on TdT would make that start anything but gentle). For a social century I would be ok eating an hour before the start; for a short intense hillclimb race, three hours.

Like the other guys said, don't do anything unusual before an event. That means you should experiment beforehand.

rkwaki

1.5-2 hours before
Peanut butter and jelly sandwich on whole wheat bread
Banana
Muscle Milk Light Shake
Real Oatmeal not that packaged stuff

Right Before:
Powerbar Gummies

Then eat something every 15-20 minutes (snack on)

Doggus