Just started cycling a few weeks ago.

Depending on the ride but if it's more than 75 miles or 3 hours in length I use the following:

Before:
Ensure drink. 4:1 ratio of carbsrotein about 20-30 minutes before a ride.
- If it's a shorter ride then just PB&J sandwich.
- I've read MCTs help w/ lipolysis through inhibition of a-adrenergic receptor inhibition. Not sure if I want to incorporate
that into my rides.

During:
1 bottle plain water and 1 filled with Pedialyte
- I buy about 2 quarts of Walgreens generic Pedialyte for $5 when on sale
Better sugar/sodium ratio than Gatorade
- I'll have glucose tabs on hand just in case. $1 for 2 weeks worth.
- Thinking of including BCAA because of leucine's effect on mTOR.

After:
Protein/Carbs recovery. At least 35-55g protein w/ a source of carbs. There's very few pathways in this context I can think
of that enact protein synthesis other than Insulin so carbs are important here.

I buy everything on sale so it costs me probably $10-15 a week max.

Nutty Bars when it's cool enough that they don't melt.
More calories per dollar and surprising little fat.

Peanut-butter-filled pretzel nuggets! Yummy!

Hmm, interesting ideas on the potatoes...

When I was a kid I never stopped playing but I loved ice cream. I used to scoop a bunch into a plastic sandwich bag (pre ziplock days) and tie it off tight w/ a rubber band (picture a homemade piping bag) . That way I could bite a corner off and go keep playing with a squeeze bag of ice cream. Have not done that in decades but seems you could do the same with homemade mashed potatoes w/ skins and fixings. No mess and super easy to eat and digest on the fly....

The title to this thread reminds me of an old Firesign Theater gag. An old man is being interviewed and the question is the secret to his longevity.

"I don't eat." the old man replies.

"You don't eat?" the surprised interviewer responds.

"Yeah, but it sure hasn't effected my appetite."

My longer rides are only 30-40 miles (but I'm working on it . I never eat or use gel when running distance, and I don't think I'll ever eat as my cycling trips increase.

It depends what you mean by "running distance." I personally don't eat anything on rides under 2.5 hrs or so (which exceedingly few people regularly run, but is a common ride for me), but I drink a sports drink. For longer rides than that, I'm definitely having a granola bar or something.

Then again, I read about an ultramarathon runner who didn't even carry water with him. Said he just never really felt like drinking that much.

I try to finish a 5 Dollar little caesars pizza before I ride.

My friend and I always are looking for the cheapest calories/$. I've packed some funny stuff on a ride to show him. Speaking of pecan pie my most recent purchase from Bartell's was a single serving pecan pie for 69 cents. It has 340 calories and measures 3.5" X 1.25". Has it's own pie tin and is plastic wrapped. Fits right on a jersey pocket. It's made by the Moon Pie people.

Good nutrition is something to practice 24/7 as if you do this your performance on the bike will be better (generally) and while riding I prefer to make my own power bars which are a nice mix of honey, unsweetened peanut butter, rolled oats, roasted almonds, and raisins.

Calories per bar are around 300, balance between carbs/fat/protien is good and they cost about 50 cents each to make with a prep time of about 20 minutes. The carbohydrate breakdown is also good as it offers quick energy through the honey and the oats provide an extended carbohydrate release.

Pre ride I like sweet potatoes and pasta and post ride I like cold beer and a little steak...

If I can get it... ice cream sandwiches are an excellent mid ride boost and you can never go wrong with pie.

Pickle juice rocks. Anyone who hasn't tried it should. As Slavs know, it's also a fab hangover cure...

For honey.... look for honey straws. Also known as honey sticks. They sell them at glory bee in oregon and they are a straw filled with honey and can be easily opened with your teeth.