SpongeDad

Did a solo metric today, so I had to feed myself. Brought 4 Powerbars. Could only bring myself to eat 2. Chocolate made me gag; peanut butter was a bit better. (Fortunately, I actually like the taste of Gatorade, and I had a big breakfast.) I swear, if Pop Tarts didn't crumble, that's what I'd eat.

So, what to the rest of you eat on non-supported long distance rides (where stores are not really an option)?

luv2cruz

I like Clif bars, and fat-free Fig Newtons are pretty good, in zip-loc bags.

sunninho

Second that.

johnny99

Have you eaten Powerbars before? Did they taste worst today because of the length of your ride?

Personally, I use Clif Bars, but some people prefer Powerbars, especially the newer "harvest" flavors. Use whatever tastes best to you. 2 or 3 bars plus breakfast before the ride and sports drink during the ride should be enough for a 60 mile ride.

KevinF

Fig newtons rule, but I certainly don't bother with the fat-free ones. I'm going to burn it off anyway -- what's the difference?

edmaverik

I no longer eat Powerbars at all. I can tolerate the new Powerbar Triplethreats cuz they taste like candy bars, but on a long ride they are all melted and nasty to handle.

Clif bars... most flavors are good, but I love the Crunchy Peanut Butter. (https://www.clifbar.com/eat/eat.cfm?location=bar) Also, Clif Bars are completely natural and taste like food not synthetic and gross. They cost a little more, but they are very easy on the palette.

luv2cruz

The fat-frees just seem to TASTE better to me, and aren't as crumbly.

just my $.02!!

Urban Shooter

I always do well on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, two every 25 miles keeps me going strong.

thewalrus

Clif bars!!!

Best flavours, in my opinion:

Peanut toffee buzz
Black cherry and almond
Oatmeal raisin walnut
Cranberry apple cherry

they're significantly better than pasty, gooey textureless powerbars...

late

Hi,
we always bring a bag of fat free minipretzels.
On long days, we stop at stores and get cold drinks.
We start with water, get some Powerade midmorning.
We usually have lunch in a restaurant. At some point in the afternoon we have a Starbucks Frappucino or two.
Our last ride was 66 miles, and at mile 60 we stopped and
had a ice cream cone. That really hit the spot.

Urban Shooter

Lucky dog!

Mentor58

Wallymart is selling big bags of a good trail mix, nice blend of sweet and salty, I usually throw a bag of that onboard when riding distance. I'm in the Cliff camp in the Clif vs Powerbar debate, they are like food. Newtons rock, but I prefer the apple newtons, don't seem to be as sticky in my mouth. Never thought about tossing a couple of PBJ's in, but yea, that should work.

Steve W>

SpongeDad

Never been a big fan of Powerbars, but this was the first time I tried to eat 2. I was okay in terms for energy - breakfast was key - just trying to find a better option. I'll try the Clif bars, although the Strawberry Clif Shot is hurlable.

Thanks

lilHinault

A standard breakfast for me pre-club-ride seems to be one of those large Starbucks Frappachinos you can only get at 7-11s (there's one just up the street) and a banana, and maybe one of those apple folded pastry things the 7-11 sometimes has. Clif bars are good, and there's a huge difference between Gatorade and Powerade - Gatorade is thick and gross, Powerade is lighter and good. Also, avoid that Gatorade brand "propel fitness water" it's sweet and syrupy and gross, I could not even finish one. The local market sells stuff called "Vitamin Water" 10 for $10 if you have their membership card, and the orange is really good. Fits right in a bike bottle carrier and nice and refreshing. Powerbars seem better than they used to be, in the late 80s they were kinda ... awful.

oboeguy

I like the taste of Powerbars...

Anyhow, I will tank-up with a nice bowl of oatmeal (with a little brown sugar). On the ride, Powerbars, Accelerade gels, and, my specialty, PB bagel quarters. Eh? What's that you say? I've described them here before: slice a bagel, schmear a thin coat of PB on the inside, put it back together, quarter it, wrap each quarter with its own piece of Al foil. Instant road snack! I suppose if you wanted you could put some jelly on their too for PBJ bagel quarters, but I think that would get a little messy.

Oh and I like to drink Accelerade at near full-strength.

Riiiight. Gatorade Propel is not syrupy -- it's sweetend with Splenda! It has almost no calories. Good stuff unless you need calories from your sports drink. I like it on hot days no matter what I'm doing. Vitamin Water rules, plus it's from the Bronx. (they say "Whitestone, NY" but it's really the Bronx!).

JWRB

On longer rides of 60+ miles I generaly take a banana or two, a bag of fig newtons and a bunch of slim jims. I hate getting off the bike and each of these can easily be consumed while still in the saddle. I have tried most of the "energy" bars out there and none of them taste as good (to me of course) than the above. I also find the bars to be very dense and hard to chew and swallow. For some reason the saltly Slim Jims really taste good to me after about 30 miles.

cjbruin

Clif Bars - Cookies and Cream & Carrot Cake - Awesome Flavors.

Peanut Butter filled pretzels from Trader Joes

PB&J

On really long rides my buds and I like to stop at In-N-Out Burger somewhere between 60-80 miles. A good Double-Double will keep you going! I think only the folks in CA, NV, and AZ will know what I'm talking about.

KirkeIsWaiting

Cashews, SpongeDad.
Nice diversion from the dusty bars.
Bananas, too.

I did a metric yesterday too. Four gels, 1 bag of cashews and a Luna Bar at the break.
The gels really get me through, with or without caffeine.

spindog

Another vote for Cliff Bars. Cookies n' Cream, Black Cherry Almond, and Oatmeal Raisin Walnut bars are so delish. Cliff bars retain their form through heat and through cold - don't melt, don't freeze...perfect.

I also like to bring a banana. And that would be a "ripe" banana, not one of those green, can't unzip the sour banana peel things that are often found at rest stops. Those things wreak havoc on my stomach!

Because I am addicted to my coffee, on long rides, I add a Red Bull to my water bottle to maintain my caffeine fix. I know that too much caffeine will dehydrate you, but this is something that works for me and the fizz and flavor adds some excitement to the boring water or slimy, salty gatorade taste. I tend to drink more if I have something sweet or very flavorfull in my water bottle. I always had trouble getting myself to drink warm water that's been sitting in my plastic water bottles for several hours - yucky.

Personal observation regarding fig newtons: the "real" or original Fig Newtons really crumble and fall apart. Imposter, cheapo brands, usually hold together much better.

SpongeDad

Cashews are too perfect to risk dropping on the ground.

Something about gels weirds me out. Like I'm in some post-apocalyptic melt down movie. Ingest your nutrient slurry Number 442.

Now I get it - Powerbars are PEOPLE! (said with great anguish -- reference anybody? anybody?)

thewalrus

I'm also a caffeine addict - red bull is quite expensive here in canada, like $3.50 for a tiny, tiny can... that's like the price of 3 clif bars, so I don't buy it very often. Can anyone suggest a drink similar to Red Bull with lots of caffeine that comes in large cans (the same size as the 500ml beer cans)? I've seen a green labeled drink called "MONSTER" in the cooler at the 7-11.

KirkeIsWaiting

I really dislike plastic bottles.
I started using the Zefal Aluminum.
Nice, no funny taste and very easy to clean.

jaster1mereel

You need to alternate with gels....for a metric century one powerbar along with 2-3 Gels would be enough food!! Maybe a powerbar 2 hours before you start if you can handle it

gcasillo

A good helping of haggis every thirty miles or so keeps me going!

SpongeDad

How do they work? Thin enough to flex?

I note they come in a variety of colors - Hipcycler will be simply mad about them.