Tra!l !

Im curious if any of you guys/girls eat a special diet to stay lean or what not. I'm totaly in shape somehow, but I can eat alot of pizza or other stuff. I was wondering if their is a completly good diet for riding constantly though. I know a cold beer for some after a ride is a good diet

DevilsGT2

I hear good things about eating a buttload of pasta the night before.

Dannihilator

For breakfast, I usually just have a bowl of oatmeal or cereal, once in a blue moon, will have a couple of eggs, scrambled.

For lunch: Some kind of green leafy salad and a half of a chicken sandwich

Between lunch and dinner, will eat either a bannana or an apple.

For supper during the beginning of the year, usually some sort of pasta/veggie burger/salmon with a glass of wine or beer.

For the season for supper, what ever is made, usually burn enough calories a day to allow it and a beer(Carbs are carbs.).

For supper after a major effort: A burger or nachos and beer.

Desert if I have it is usually just another peice of fruit.

Dannihilator

That isn't always true.

ZeCanon

Just eat "healthy." If you're not sure what healthy foods are, then you have a lot more to learn than what we can tell you here.
If you are serious about racing, you have to eat very well. Well, I do anyway. Diet does make a huge difference for me. Concentrate on what you eat right after training to start with - recovery drink, some protein, sugars, etc.
No greasy food, no ice cream, no cake, no excessive sugars at all, take supplements, ZERO high-fructose corn syrup, and very little processed food are good guidelines. Eat like a hippie.
Of course nobody can really eat like this all the time, but it's a good goal to have. I haven't had ice cream since last spring, I have fruit for dessert, and I never eat anything processed. It's not too hard if you're a decent cook, and you begin to realize that you don't need any of that stuff.

As for race food, pre and post, do some research and figure out what works for you.

Phatman

dang guys, the reason I'm not racing road bikes anymore is that I'm tired of watching what I eat so closely. I eat when I'm hungry, dont eat when I'm not. I love to wake up and eat some waffles, ride for a few hours, then come home and have a burger and a coldbeer for dinner. yep, one word, coldbeer.

apclassic9

Broad strokes: healthy food, not empty calories. Carbs the day before a race, carbs for breakfast before a race - but don't eat less than 3 hours before you race, or you will generally lose you breakfast after you start racing.... depending upon your age & fitness, look into recovery drinks. Have a banana after a race to help prevent cramping - add bananas to your daily diet, too, for this same reason. Hydrate! begin the day before a race.

Before you launch yourself into anything extreme, READ some different books/articles by reputable nutritionists who deal with sports nutrition & speak to a professional.