Food and cycling

[Deleted member 17694]

Last few long rides I've done, I haven't felt too good afterwards, but felt back to normal after eating. According to a young friend of mine (Chris, who's into distance running), it's because I'm burning ever more calories as my distances increase, so I need to start planning ahead and set off with a greater fuel reserve in the old tumty.

I don't want to eat just before a ride, I don't particularly want to stop and eat during a ride either. Obviously I'm not a pro sportsman and I'm not competing, I'm also on an ebike!, but I'm still consuming energy and it makes me wonder what a healthy regime is (for an ageing cyclist doing a long ride)? For Chris's half/full marathon races for example, he gently loads up with pasta over several hours.

 

[flecc]

A banana is a popular favourite for a quick energy boost, even during exercise. Witness the Wimbledon tennis stars scoffing a banana in the breaks between sets. They get the best sports medical advice.

So no harm in eating one just before setting off or even taking one with you to eat during a rest break. Their carbohydrate is easily and quickly converted into sugars.
.

 

[grldtnr]

I swear by a good bowl of porridge at breakfast,made with 2 teaspoons of sugar/honey, you could add a combo of nuts/dried fruit, but make it more with water than milk ,1 pt milk ,2 pt water, milk and other dairy products contain Lactic acid which gets stored in your muscles, not good.
Breakfast is said to be the most important meal of day, if active ,I deffo eat brekkers, an hour or two before cycling, it is also important to snack on things with a high glucose/protein content, dried fruit, nuts are good for this, eat a little and often is the thing ,not forgetting keeping hydrated,plain water is best. You don't need these expensive sports food/ drink, it's of little benefit unless your a competitive.

 

[Gringo]

Personal favorites are fruit pastels and flapjack
When I did take a banana it got squished
I suppose I could invest in a banana cage

 

[Nealh]

For todays 50+mile ride I took and consumed some very nice ham and pickle door steps, toasted Garlic and Corriander Naan bread and some red grapes plus 1/2 Robinson's fruit drink and 1ltr H2O and brekkie a couple of hrs before I departed.

 

[DAJ]

For a recreational cyclist Wine Gums eaten on a regular basis throughout your ride will prevent the "Bonk". Many cycling groups aim for a mid ride stop at a cafe for Tea & cake, personally I prefer a nice ham and tomato sandwich and a bottle of beer .

 

[Gringo]

Tea & cake

Now you talking my language

 

[EddiePJ]

For todays 50+mile ride I took and consumed some very nice ham and pickle door steps, toasted Garlic and Corriander Naan bread and some red grapes plus 1/2 Robinson's fruit drink and 1ltr H2O and brekkie a couple of hrs before I departed.

Slightly disappointed in you.

You have neglected to state that it would have been washed down with a pint of Harveys. Not that I'm a massive fan of Harveys, but it fills an empty void.

If I'm out for an evening ride, I might take a long some jelly beans or raisins, and always take my Camelbak, filled with water.

Morning rides, as above plus a coffee and cake stop.

If I'm on the South Downs, I try to end up mid day at the deli in Alfriston for a pasty/sausage roll, a rake of olives, and whatever else grabs my attention. Often washed down with a pint before carrying on again.

If I'm not in the above direction, I usually find a fish and chip shop to stop at. I'm working next to the South Downs this coming Saturday, so it'll be an after work ride and fish and chip stop me.

Possibly the one and only time that I have been bloated out before carrying on again, was last year in Switzerland when I had a Rosti and a pint. Not sure which that I should have done without. Probably the Rosti.

If I'm out for a less leisurely ride, I quite often suffer badly from cramp in my hamstrings and calf muscles, but to stop this I have found that just a bit of Elete CutriLyte added to my water prevents it.

 

[Nealh]

I always have a tenner in the back pack for when a Guiness or a nice ale is needed.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Forget all the special cycle foods from the sport/cycle shops. Beryl Burton ate liquerice allsorts while she beat all the world records.

from Wiki:
"In 1967, she set a new 12-hour time trial record of 277.25 miles[4] – a mark that surpassed the men’s record of the time by 0.73 miles and was not superseded by a man until 1969.[5] While setting the record she caught and passed Mike McNamara who was on his way to setting the men's record at 276.52 miles and winning that year's men's British Best All-Rounder. She is reputed to have given him a liquorice allsort as she passed him.[6] Apparently, McNamara ate the sweet."

Whenever I go on a journey of over 100 miles, I always take liquerice allsorts with me. Not only do they give me energy, but they taste nice too.

 

[Deleted member 17694]

I couldn't stop and drink beer, I'd have the king of all headaches within a few hundred metres of restarting, plus I'd probably be going the wrong way

For a long ride, sounds like I do need to plan around it foodwise. I really need to be going out a couple of hours after I've had a decent nosh. Water is absolutely essential, especially in the recent heat. I shall invest in bananas for rapid energy boost, I think I'll pass on the rack though

Bag of wine gums, liqqy allsorts or similar sounds like a good idea too.

 

[anotherkiwi]

My long distance rides always include pintxo stops and either una cana con limon or vino del ano depending on the temperature.

 

[grldtnr]

Forget all the special cycle foods from the sport/cycle shops. Beryl Burton ate liquerice allsorts while she beat all the world records.

from Wiki:
"In 1967, she set a new 12-hour time trial record of 277.25 miles[4] – a mark that surpassed the men’s record of the time by 0.73 miles and was not superseded by a man until 1969.[5] While setting the record she caught and passed Mike McNamara who was on his way to setting the men's record at 276.52 miles and winning that year's men's British Best All-Rounder. She is reputed to have given him a liquorice allsort as she passed him.[6] Apparently, McNamara ate the sweet."

Whenever I go on a journey of over 100 miles, I always take liquerice allsorts with me. Not only do they give me energy, but they taste nice too.

Liquorice will certainly make you go, if eaten to excess!

My favourite' Bertie Basset ' huas to be the round pink& yellow coconut ones

 

[Angelnorth]

Beryl Burton ate liquerice allsorts while she beat all the world records.

Maybe lobbying the BBC would get them to repeat this excellent radio drama. There's a wee clip from it and an interview with Maxine Peake (writer and star of it) and her husband Charlie on Woman's Hour here (click the bit on the graphics bar to jump straight to the relevant section of the programme). Next year will be the 80th anniversary of her birth - a good opportunity for a celebration repeat?

My grandpa always had Allsorts in his tin of sweeties when we visited. I'd choose the pink or yellow coconut ones too - but only because it was easy to peel the outside off the liquorice core and ditch that bit, I've never quite developed a taste for the stuff!

 

[footpump]

about 3 years ago had small portion of baked beans on toast, topped by a small kipper fillet.
set out down the canal towpath about an hour later, and noticed my legs seemed to feel stronger than usual and proceeded to do my longest ride to date 40miles unpowered.
the strange thing is ive tried the same meal a few times , but it made no difference at all.
prefer tea and cake to stop feeling hungry.