klepto1

Hello everyone. I am considering doing morning rides before work and was wondering what kind of breakfast I should have before riding. Before a workout of any kind I would normally have a good meal a few hours before. But I dont have that much time to spare in the morning. I am thinking something small just to hold me over until after the ride when I can have a full breakfast.

I am totally a newbie and have not built the endurance yet for any long rides. Right now I am doing about 3 miles a ride, but trying to go further each time out.

Would something like a banana or some yogurt suffice?

I_like_cereal

Plain Greek Yogurt and non instant oatmeal and honey. GTG.

Velo Gator

Bagel with honey.

CbadRider

If you're just going a short distance, a banana or other fruit should tide you over. Or a single piece of toast with a little peanut butter.

Carbonfiberboy 

Have a cup of coffee. Don't eat anything. By far the best for a ride under one hour. Anything you eat right before will just mess with your blood sugar. You won't even need water. Eat when you get back.

Machka 

Before a 3-mile morning ride ... you don't need to eat anything. Drink a glass of water and go ride. When you get back, have whatever you usually have for breakfast.

I used to commute to work by bicycle.

For many years, my commute was a little over 6 km (almost exactly 4 miles). I ate nothing before my commute, and nothing after my commute until a couple hours later ... about 10 am I would have a light snack.

Then my job changed and my commute became signficantly longer. 1-3 days a week during the summer, I would cycle 35 km to work which usually took me about 1.5 hours. I did not eat anything before the ride, but when I arrived, I usually had a couple pieces of toast. I did, however, have a bottle of water on board the bicycle. It is important to keep hydrated.


When your rides get over 2 hours, you might want to start thinking about eating before you ride. And it's a good idea to carry a granola bar or two with you on any rides over 1 hour, just in case.

eric_the_poor

If you had a full dinner the night before you should be fine riding before breakfast. Though Cheerios and almond milk is delicious, or old fashion oats if you have the time... Maybe it's just me, but i try and stay away form dairy before rides, it seems to give me stomach pains every now and then.

zkgiant

I ride before work 2-3 times a weeks. It is at fairly low intensity but I usually ride 55 - 65 min.
I drink a lot of water but usually don't eat anything till I get finished....

DataJunkie

I had this horrible commute to work in the morning for a few years. For the longest time I would eat food and my stomach would get upset.
Later I tried eating a small amount but eventually I settled on no food for a 28 mile ride. Your best bet is to experiment and see what works for your stomach.
Heck I can eat a decent sized breakfast and go ride an easy metric on just breakfast but you are not me.

pdlamb

Everybody's different, I guess. I found out that I have to eat something before getting on the bike in the morning, or I'll get nauseous (but usually after more than 3 miles!). My daughter had/has the same problem. Don't need to eat much; a small bowl of cereal, pack of yogurt, or even a glass of orange juice, and I'm good to go.

Try it both ways and see what works for you.

Guitarrick

I'll throw any number of things in the Vitamix before a morning ride, or just for breakfast in general. Strawberries, blueberries, honey, dates, natural no b.s. in it peanut butter, pineapple, mango, cantaloupe, banana, kiwi, almond butter, coconut milk/water. I switch it up so it doesn't get boring. I'll only use a few of those at a time, use too many different foods at once and it doesn't digest as easily. Or I'll just eat a pint of strawberries or a pineapple, depends. Fruit and/or honey is the best source of energy for me.

During the ride I'll have some Clif bars and Nature Valley granola bars in the panniers. Plain old water to drink. I'm looking into making my own granola/Clif-type bars.

And I definitely second having a solid meal the night before, that makes a huge difference to your next morning's performance, whether you're cycling or just going to work.

klepto1

Thanks everyone. I'll try a test run over the weekend with no breakfast and to see how that fares. I was afraid I would get light headed or something, but it sounds like its pretty normal to go light or empty in the morning. 3 miles is not a cake walk for me yet, so if it does not go well I will just add something light for the next ride. Thanks again for all the advice.


Update:

My schedule has not really allowed me to ride before work, but I did a ride first thing in the morning on the weekend after this post to try it out. I woke up really hungry, so I had a peanut butter sandwich on wheat bread and it seemed to work out for me. I went 4.5 miles which was my furthest ride at the time.

nash4343

I don't eat anything before a three mile bike ride as well. I do however find that I have very little energy afterwards. What do you all eat when you get back and how soon do you eat?

Thanks, Nash

Lawrence08648

For 3 miles, you don't need anything. For 20 miles you don't need anything.

Butcher

I have a 20 mile commute to work. Leaving around 4:30am leaves me with no time to eat. I sometimes eat a Cliff bar when I get to work [50mins] but I usually have two cups of coffee then lunch at 11:00. I ride back the same 20 miles at 6:00pm, shower, eat dinner.