What to drink / eat while riding

[mattobrien]

Apologies if this has been done to death, but a brief search didn't answer my question so I wanted to post.

To date, all I take on a ride is one bottle filled with water. This would typically be for rides around 20 miles, although I have managed a handful of 30+ too.

I am now starting to up the mileage as I am planning to do my first 100 sportive in May.

After a bought ride today (bloody headwind) I am starting to think that I perhaps ought to be taking on some fuel during my longer rides.

I wanted to ask for suggestions and advice as to what I ought to be carrying, food and drink wise.

Is it worth investing in energy drinks or am I better off making something up myself?

Thanks in advance for any advice given or experience shared.

Thanks

Matt

 

[pepecat]

Suggestions will (probably) be:
Flapjack
bananas
jam sandwich - yep some people do take them out with them
fruit cake
wine gums / jelly babies if you want some quick fuel
carb gels

Just depends what you like really.......
I did a 65 mile sportive in june last year and took several flapjacks and a couple of bananas with me. I was sick of flapjack by the end of the day and didn't eat it again for months, but it did me ok. As for drinks, again, people take all different things - squash, diluted fruit juice, flat coke, electrolyte drink (such as High5).... again it depends on what you like. For a long ride you will probably need some fuel during the race. Experiment and see what you like!

 

[endoman]

60 miles today at a brisk pace in hills. Porridge before start, 1 cereal bar, 2 gels, bacon and egg buttie, bottle of SIS energy stuff, topped up with water at cafe stop. I try to eat something at least every hour.

 

[avsd]

A fig roll every 60/90 minutes or a slice of Soreen malt loaf. Usually have a banana with me as well. Drinks wise it is the Zero electrolyte drink about 750ml every 2/3 hours.

 

[broomwagon]

Yep, got some of the High5 Zero tablets on saturday. Taste is fine, just like a weak cordial drink. I did 60 miles on saturday and ate a banana, an energy bar and a gel. Breakfast was a crap cereal and a banana so I could have done with more

 

[HLaB]

Your right its been done to death Matt but you werent here Depends what you are wanting to get out of an event bananas/cereal bars/flap jacks and homemade energy drink is ideal if you are wanting to cover distance. To step up the paceI like to use Torq energy drinks and you may want to look at energy gels/bars too. How much of the extra performance is psychological though is anybody's guess.

 

[smutchin]

For that type of ride, you just want anything you find palatable and portable, and easy to eat while on the move. A powder in your water bottle is fine but I prefer to stick to just water and get my carbs in the form of energy gels, jelly babies or fruit (banana, little boxes of raisins or slices of apple). Or any of the stuff pepecat mentioned. And, like endoman, a decent high-carb breakfast at least an hour before the ride.

The only way to find out what really works for you is to experiment. Some people don't get on with gels and powders - they can play havoc with your digestive system. But you definitely need to be eating something to keep you going on a ride like that, to keep your glycogen topped up.

d.