i take 2 fig newtons for a 20/ 22 mile casual ride eaten half way.

one .7l bottle with water & one .7l bottle half water half coconut water.

i drink half the second bottle at the one-third mark and finish it at the halfway.

water on the way home.

have not had a cramp or sore muscles for the past two years.

for the past 10 years, i do not eat meat/ fish/ dairy save a stick of butter a month and piece of chees here & there. no smoke or alcohol.

Q: what would be a healthy non-processed alternative for the Newtons? (remember them?)

i used to have Newman's non-fat and didn't think anything of them, but now they seem to be gone from the shelves.

the rest of my diet is nuts/ fruit/ vegetables & rice cakes.

thanks

Why not rice cakes since you like them? Really though, there's no reason to eat on a 20 mile ride.

Yeah I don’t see why you would need to eat anything on a casual 20 mile ride. Just drink water and eat your normal daily meals.

i have already eaten them earlier in the day. found my body needed more variety than it was getting.

for a period, triscuits & mustard was my staple. not out of necessity, but convenience and i don't seem to mind the repetition.

i think it's some type of psychological thing. i even have food with me on a 3 mile hike. habit maybe which needs to be broken? possibly.

supplementary information: do Not eat seven (7) rice cakes in one (1) day.

the next morning's routine will be anything butt (sic)


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Why not dried figs if you like the Fig Newtons? Or dried apricots, raisins or what ever dried fruit you like. But for a short ride do you need anything at all?

I don't carry anything but my bottles with drink mix in them for most rides shorter than 60 miles. And the only reason I carry anything for longer rides is just to have a treat to briefly kill the monotony that sometimes longer rides have.

I normally don't need much more than water for a shorter ride but there's really no harm in a little snack to pass the miles.

Fig newtons and bananas are my longtime jam but I'm getting into dates now.

My concern is you aren't getting all you need in your diet. Are you underweight for your age and height? I know that's rather arbitrary, but do you have overall physical strength? Do you train in any way except cycling?

As far as non-processed snacks for the bike. There's an infinite number of combinations using oats, honey, natural nut butters, and dried fruits and nuts. I make them occasionally for a longer ride. I prefer to pre toast my oats and nuts to perfection, and I usually add a good natural cholate. Then you just mix the ingredients and let it set up in the fridge overnight. Lots of recipes on YouTube with oats.

underweight? i wish. 72 yrs old. a shrinking 5'6" & 180 on a good day. worked construction & property maintenance stuff my whole life and still putter about when needed. my only other physical hobby is walking in the woods with a 10-12 pound pack. hiking seems like a too agressive term but i do have boots & a blackthorn stick from the old sod. yearly checkups are fine (blood & pressure, butt check, it's a routine)

i've talked to the doctor & health coverage dieticians and they get bored making suggestions i'm already following (see above).

i will go back to a mcvitie's digestive & two apricots and call it a day.

thanks for all the inputs.

My diet is mostly meat, fish, and vegetables, and some fruit. I began this diet early in the year, and lost 20 pounds without feeling hungry, my doctor was impressed. As I transitioned from skiing to cycling in the early spring, I began to add more carbs to my diet, which helped keep my energy level higher. During rides I carry dried figs, and a mix of water and Calpis (a popular semi-sweet drink here in Japan), and a salty snack of some kind. On rides of 100km or more (I do these twice a week), I’ll have a double-cheeseburger value meal at McDonald’s at around 80km into my ride, and this usually gets me feeling more fresh when I get to 140-150km. I don’t suffer from soreness or cramps.

interesting you can eat while riding. when i retired and (thank you Grant Petersen!) rekindled my enthusiasm for riding in 2014, i would have a snack about a half hour before taking a ride. i would get pounding pangs in different parts of my body especially my left arm above the elbow on the inner side. sometimes it would be in my jaws.

i spoke to my doctor about it and he gave me a stress test - the one hooked up to the radio active bag of stuff - and found ... nothing. actually he was quite impressed with the results. so in the conversation, we decided i should not be eating before exercising. duh; well i never really enjoyed exercise except surfing for a brief bit in high school. that was a lifetime ago. then, a few years later, i got the bug in my head to try glucose tablets. short story that did not end well, but it did stop my quads from hurting while & after riding. he did suggest diluted apple juice while riding, so i gave that a try for a couple of seasons (new england & i only ride may - september give or take a month on both ends depending on weather & other things in my life).

now here's the trick which has helped me immensely: coconut water cut about half/ half with tap water. i've yet to feel any negative effects and i haven't had a muscle ache in two seasons.

and as full disclosure, while a resounding "yes" i do feel better for riding ,mostly on the days when i try to make excuses not to ride - it's when my body needs it most - i am basically a tinkerer. i enjoy working on my bike more than using it. seems to be a 3-D chess game getting something to fit and operate flawlessly which puts me in a contented state.

I asked because without meat, fish, or dairy you face some difficulty in getting enough protein and other essential nutrition. An unbalanced diet can also keep you hungry even if eating sufficient calories. I also stay away from processed foods, but I consume meat, fish and dairy.

Isn't it wonderful that you got all this other advice when you only ask that one little question?

You're darn tootin...I like fig newtons! I like oatmeal cookies, granola cereal (cheaper than granola bars), small cups of yogurt, fresh fruit, and LOT OF WATER to stay hydrated.

Yummy!

it's all good.

knowledge is cumulative.

we should stage a meet up munchathon.

LHT, too, eh?

Triscuts and mustard. Now I gotta try that.

Dried apricots are the true path.

i forgot to mention - with my non-dairy regime, i use a protein shake with my cereal in the morning. if anyone tries this, i have found mixing it & putting it in the freezer for 45 minutes while i have my first cup of coffee (8 oz. - only 2 a day - mostly) makes it more better.

use the Vega stuff mixed weak only 1 heaping tablespoon to about 6 ounces of tap water in one of those shaker cups with the ball shaped spring gadget.

Amazon.com: Vega Organic All-in-One Vegan Protein Powder, Chocolate - Superfood Ingredients, Vitamins for Immunity Support, Keto Friendly, Pea Protein for Women & Men, 25 Oz (Packaging May Vary) : Health & Household

this stuff will put lead in your pencil:


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C'mon. It's two Fig Newtons across a twenty mile ride. That only qualifies as a snack on a technicality.

Well he did ask what the alternative would be and I suggested nothing. But I think he settled on a digestive biscuit or something 😂

Ehhhhhh it's 2 Fig Newtons, total of 100-110 calories depending on brand. It's neither harming nor helping much as you'll burn that off in 2 or 3 miles anyway, and the amount of additives in 2 of them is so miniscule as to be basically zero. If you enjoy them, maybe look at the Nature's Bakery Fig Bars as they have a bunch of different flavors and less additives.

A 20-25 mile ride doesn't require food or drink. I don't even throw a water bottle on the bike unless I'm going to ride more than 30 miles.

IMO, that'd be foolish not to have water for over a hour while riding. I'd be passed out with heat exhaustion down here.

I'll always tell people to take water or other drink with them for anything beyond their driveway for more than 15 minutes.