what do you eat/drink when riding?

[Andrius.B]

Just wondering what stuff do you eat before/during a longer ride. by longer I mean more then a usual commute, so lets say 20 - 100+ miles.

Personally I just take a light sandwich before, and then fill my bottles with water and orange juice for the ride. Water keeps me hydrated, and I take orange juice for energy.

 

[ianrauk]

For my planned 120 miler today.
For breakfast I had 2 ham sandwiches and a cup of tea.
On the bike, 2 750ml bottles of High5
11'ses was going to be a bacon sarnie and a cup of tea.
That would have seen me though the day.
Do to rain we cut short the ride so only did 72 miles... no bacon sarnie

For my 20 miles morning commute. A bowl of cereal and a cup of tea.. that's enough to see me through to lunch.

But...everyone is different. What is good for me is different for others.

 

[Andrius.B]

So many people using High5. I gotta try this some time soon, if it's so popular it must be good.

 

[Willo]

I use High 5 Zero in my bottle. Sometimes use their gels too as find they are relatively easy to take on compared to others I've tried but, to be honest, a pocket full of jelly sweets seem just as, if not more, effective for keeping my energy up on longer rides of say 30+ miles. Usually carry a cereal bar or 2 also.

As for eating beforhand, for a recent sportive of 60 miles a banana and a bowl of porridge served me very well. Usually it's whatever I've had for lunch and/or breakfast that day and a couple of times recently a breakfast of poached eggs on a toasted bagel preceded rides where I felt really good.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Porridge for breakfast, beans on toast at the café stop, when I get back a light snack, chicken pieces or a cold meat sandwich, much later in the day when I can eat I'll have a proper meal.

 

[Hacienda71]

Oats soaked in skimmed milk and honey overnight for breakfast. On the ride high five zero in the bottle. Bannana during the ride and if necessary a couple of fig rolls or some malt loaf. If it is a more leisurely long ride with a cafe stop, whatever I feel like on the day, anything from a full english to a nice big slice of cake

 

[MrJamie]

I dont take much in the way of food, upto about 30 miles I usually take 1-2 bottles of water. 30-50 miles I make sure ive got a pack of jelly babies in the bag incase I start feeling exhausted. I have been known to stop for an icecream though.

So many people using High5. I gotta try this some time soon, if it's so popular it must be good.

Its also awesome for hangovers

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

What is the consensus on Chewits? I ask this because when I was quite ill in hospital and hadn't eaten anything for a few days, I had a few Chewits and almost immediately, I felt the sugar in my body and I started to feel a bit better.
Yes, I lost a stone, but the Chewits helped me through some dark days!

I'll obviously have to do more rigorous tests with them!

 

[MrJamie]

What is the consensus on Chewits? I ask this because when I was quite ill in hospital and hadn't eaten anything for a few days, I had a few Chewits and almost immediately, I felt the sugar in my body and I started to feel a bit better.
Yes, I lost a stone, but the Chewits helped me through some dark days!

I'll obviously have to do more rigorous tests with them!

I remember trying to eat them with the paper on like the godzilla thing did in the adverts

Ive not had them in years, the wrappers make me feel like a squirrel having to work for my food and the juice would probably induce a choking fit on a bike.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

I remember trying to eat them with the paper on like the godzilla thing did in the adverts

Yes, I did that once in a shop and my Mum ordered that I spit it out there are then. Bi*ch!
Even now I don't quite know why she did that, and ever since I have seen the paper as being a part of them

Ive not had them in years, the wrappers make me feel like a squirrel having to work for my food

To be fair, I think they probably are designed for kids.

and the juice would probably induce a choking fit on a bike.

Juice?
Have they changed?

 

[MrJamie]

Juice?
Have they changed?

Naa, just its just hard to eat chewy sweets while breathing heavily doing exercise, maybe i need more practice I have to stop to bite the heads off my jelly babies

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Naa, just its just hard to eat chewy sweets while breathing heavily doing exercise, maybe i need more practice

Oh yeah, that..... Yes, you need more practice!

I have to stop to bite the heads off my jelly babies

You need to stop?

To be fair, for some reason I rarely eat things on the move either. It is just an incredible faff otherwise, isn't it?

 

[Andrius.B]

So does high5 give an effect like what you get from energy drinks like redbull? I know they are made from different ingredients, but at the end, both provide energy. So besides the ingredients, do the effects differ much?

 

[black'n'yellow]

So does high5 give an effect like what you get from energy drinks like redbull? I know they are made from different ingredients, but at the end, both provide energy. So besides the ingredients, do the effects differ much?

if you are serious about exercise, leave the Red Bull on the shelf, or in the chilled cabinet of corner shops, where it belongs. Get your hydration from 'real' fluids and your energy from 'real' food.

In my experience, 'energy' drinks are a complete waste of money. All of your energy requirements on a bike can be met with proper food, while your drinks bottle is best containing something isotonic.

 

[Berties]

Depends if you are stopping for a break if you are building rides up and distance I do my commute 15 miles on breakfast of porridge never consume liquids on that ride ,upto 30 miles on a bottle of 5 zero or such supplement,up to 50 have jelly babies ,over that another bottle homemade flap jacks ,or malt loaf ,bananas ,and if I know I am in no hurry will take twenty pound note for a ice cream which I always regrete ,or lunch,all depends on you how fast you ride ,how far ,cadence,weather,hills etc always worth throwing a few gels and bars in if you are concerned