What to eat & drink: London to Cambridge

[russ.will]

Okay. I've signed up to do London to Cambridge on Sunday. The bike is in good order with only 300 miles 'on the clock', with spare tube, levers, puncture repair kit and multi-tool in the Topeak Saddle bag. I may buy a foldable tyre to go in there as a just-in-case. A second bidon and cage, plus a compact waterproof shell/jacket will get added on Saturday.

I've been doing three 20mile+ rides a week and nailed a 32 miler last weekend with a few climbs thrown in for good measure. Despite my (now reduced) 16.5 stone, I'm confident that I'll manage the ride if we reduce our cruising speed to the 15-16mph range on the flat - Hills will dictate the rest.

The coach leaves from Cambridge at 5:45am and I'm 8 miles from that, so I'm envisaging a 4:30am start to cycle the 8 miles to the center of town. I'm guessing the hour or so on the coach would be a good time to eat in advance of the actual ride, but will obviously lack cooking facilities!

So, oh ye of experience; what would you pack for the coach breakfast and then for the ride itself? As I understand it, 'refreshment' stops along the route are provided, but detail on what is available seems slim.

Thanks in advance,

Russell

PS. Just realized I'll have an 8 mile ride home as well, so my first 60 miler will be a 76 miler all-in and therefore will be my first metric century.

 

[bianchi1]

My menu for todays 140 mile ride was:

4 shortbread biscuits
..................................................
1 ham and cheese baguette
bag of crisps
2 small pork pies
1 bottle of oasis
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1 chicken and stuffing baguette
1 can of doctor pepper
bag of peanuts (dry roasted)
8 choc chip cookies
......................................................

1 pint of bitter

...................................................

1 cheese and onion pasty

.................................................

2 pints of cider

.................................................

fish and chips


This is clearly not the diet of a highly trained athlete! However during a long ride, having something you actually want too eat is sometimes more important than forcing gels down yourself every 30 minutes.

Enjoy your ride!

 

[slowmotion]

I don't know about stuff to eat when out on the road, but a bowl of porridge before you leave home won't do you any harm at all, and it doesn't take long to prepare......
.....put 40g of porridge oats and 270g of semi-skimmed milk in a big plastic bowl and microwave it on High for three and a half minutes. It's a very good stuff for fuelling up before exercise.

 

[vickster]

+1 for porridge

Flapjack (tesco cranberry and seed ones nice and convenient, from the cake aisle in local store here), Alpen cereal bars, mixed nuts and raisins, haribo jelly babies (nicer than Bassetts), banana, then savoury if you like, sausage rolls, mini pork pies, plain water and water mixed with squash to drink

That's my plan for ride London, minus the savoury. I'll also take a gel to carry around and a torq mango energy bar so I look like a real road cyclist

 

[vickster]

On your tool kit, don't forget the pump on a new bike, for a one day ride, I certainly wouldn't bother with a spare tyre

 

[mjr]

I'd load up on mainly oats, seeds and slow burn fruits (dried, bananas, nectarines...) on the coach down. Some meat or cheese is often suggested but I can rarely face them before elevenses.

As well as the pump, I'd take magic links unless you're OK losing bottom gear from shortening a faulty chain.

 

[Pale Rider]

Malt loaf is one of my favourites, not least because a few slices in a plastic bag travel well.

Mate of mine likes olives.

I can never work those out nutritionally.

He also takes a couple of hard boiled eggs on a long ride.

 

[russ.will]

On your tool kit, don't forget the pump on a new bike, for a one day ride, I certainly wouldn't bother with a spare tyre

Got a mini-pump. I just forgot to mention it.

Russell

 

[vickster]

Got a mini-pump. I just forgot to mention it.

Russell

Check it works before you set off, I've had that issue before!

 

[vickster]

He also takes a couple of hard boiled eggs on a long ride.

 

[slowmotion]

You should try pickled ones.

 

[vickster]

You should try pickled ones.

*dis*like

 

[russ.will]

He also takes a couple of hard boiled eggs on a long ride.

The forecast is already for a bit of a tail wind, but every little helps...

Russell

 

[Pale Rider]

As an old roadie once told me: "You can cycle a long way on a banana and a Mars bar."

You could cycle even further on a bicycle, but I'm sure you get the idea.

 

[jefmcg]

I think @vickster should have shared our LND->CBG diet. Porridge at home, then a pub BLT baguette in Enfield, excellent cake from Simmons in Ware, refuel at a petrol station about 20km from the end, then a quick supper at fish&chip shop the Seatree near Cambridge Station.

Plus a couple of flapjacks.

More seriously, if you want something breakfasty to eat on the bus, I'm a big fan of oatmeal and yogourt. Just mix it in an old jar the night before - or in the morning. Add fruit or sugar to taste. Steal a plastic spoon from Pret. Bin the jar and spoon when you get to London. Or just make a jam or peanut butter sandwich.