Nutrition for Beginners

[BAtoo]

On my first 30M ride I took bananas, twix, haribos and 2 bottles of water and consumed the lot!!! Now for 30 miles I'd take just water and maybe a bit of flapjack if I had some in case I went further. I find I need to eat by 40M.
If I know I'm going further I will start eating after 2 hours then maybe 2 hours later.
I try to drink some water every 30 minutes or so; I don't usually bother with anything in the water.

 

[morrisman]

So, I've read all this and got to thinking about gels, went to various websites and find they come in at about 90p-100p a go and, anecdotally taste odd and are hard to digest and may give you the squitters. Tesco Fig Rolls are, currently, 51p a packet which is easily enough for two 75 mile rides, taste really nice, are easy to digest and don't have unfortunate side effects and taste really nice. Am I missing something

 

[BAtoo]

So, I've read all this and got to thinking about gels, went to various websites and find they come in at about 90p-100p a go and, anecdotally taste odd and are hard to digest and may give you the squitters. Tesco Fig Rolls are, currently, 51p a packet which is easily enough for two 75 mile rides, taste really nice, are easy to digest and don't have unfortunate side effects and taste really nice. Am I missing something

No, I don't think you are; they are about 70kcal a biscuit, 400kcal a half pack, 2/3rds carbs, 40% sugar so quick energy and some probably a bit slower.

I've some "iso-energy" powder and a the amount advised for a bottle of water (500ml) contains 154kcal (2 & a bit fig rolls) of which 75% sugar, not a lot of anything slower - but it does contain more salt which might be helpful (especially if it's hot).

So fig rolls to eat and a pinch of salt in your drinking water & maybe a little juice to flavour and there's not a lot of difference.

All in the opinion of someone who is NOT a sports nutritionist.......