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Best food to eat for/on a long muni/distance ride?

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01 / Original postBest food to eat for/on a long muni/distance ride?gkmac · 17 May 2006 02 / This pagePosts 1–11Page 1 of 1 · chronological order 03 / Latest replyPost #11underdog · 17 May 2006

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rec.sport.unicycling
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17 May 2006
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17 May 2006
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gkmac
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  1. Original post
    gkmac
    Archived post
    #1

    I usually go for my Wednesday muni ride in the morning. Beforehand I
    have a couple of slabs of Weetabix for breakfast with a dusting of
    brown sugar on the top, and that's it.

    You have to understand that at the moment I pay absolutely no attention
    to the food I eat, mainly because I am one of those slim lucky people
    who can seem to eat fast food and chips for a week without putting on
    weight.

    Anyway about a month ago I was "prisoned" in the house thanks to the
    landlord's builders who insisted they replaced my water heater in the
    mid-morning, so I had a ride in the afternoon that time.

    Since the work unexpectedly overran I resorted to eating a microwaved
    curry for lunch. I did the ride at about 3:30pm, and found it more
    tiring. I spent months learning to climb a long hill and succeeded it
    usually, but that afternoon it was exhausting, like I never attempted
    it at all.

    To me, this was a wake up call to start eating foods suitable for
    sustained exercise. But I know absolutely nothing about what
    ingredients give an energy boost, short or long term.

    So what are the best things to eat before, and during a long ride? I'm
    doing muni at the moment but intend to do distance rides in the future.

    --
    gkmac

    "It's a marvellous thing to see, someone in full flight on the
    unicycle." - Stuart Maconie, Radio 2
    "Oh no! Both my toes have gone numb!" - Joe Hodges
    "You also met me gk! I was the one eating the sandwich!" - Adam Gayne
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  2. rob.northcott
    Archived post
    #2

    While you're riding, something stodgy and sugary - malt loaf is good, or
    dried fruit. And bananas. Make sure you don't run out of water.

    Rob

    --
    rob.northcott

    'Dartmoor Muni Weekend'
    (http://www.unicyclist.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46116) - Last
    weekend in May 2006
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  3. johnhimsworth
    Archived post
    #3

    One of the main things that improved my riding endurance was learning
    the Power of Pasta. Consumed in sufficiently vast quantities an hour or
    so before riding, it's ace.

    Failing that just find snacks with lots of sugar. Bananas are supposed
    to be good, but have a tendancy to get mashed in a camelback - get a
    banana guard, or wait for chris dobie to sing the praises of dried
    bananas.

    Flapjack is nice, and easy to make so cheap.

    Finally, soreen is the king of riding food. It's nice, lots of
    calories, slow and quick release, and it can get squashed into any
    shape and remain the exact same consistency.

    john

    --
    johnhimsworth

    Never argue with an idiot; they drag you down to their level and then
    beat you with experience.
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  4. trials_uni
    Archived post
    #4

    I kno its not Muni but i can be just as tiring. I take trail mix when i
    do a lengthy trials session. Its a home made mix: Peanuts, raisins,
    cashews, chocolate chips, and some dried apricots. Its really yummy and
    it keeps ya going.

    -Phil

    --
    trials_uni

    TRIALS 4 LIFE !

    Quoted message said:

    <>UNICYCLING FOR MYSLELF<><


    'Check Out The Newbie Guide' (http://tinyurl.com/99yez)

    koebwil said:

    I'm too hardcore to type. I just punch the keyboard and delete the
    letters I don't want

    w00t...i got reply # 60666 in MR
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  5. underdog
    Archived post
    #5

    As a former long distance bicyclist, the big thing is high carbs for
    sustained energy, eaten anywhere from a couple of hours before to the
    night before. When I would do a century ride (100 miler) I'd eat a
    huge spaghetti dinner the night before and then some flapjacks for
    breakfast. For sustained energy so that I could stay in the saddle for
    5 or 6 hours I'd take a banana (as mentioned before, easily
    smashed😠 ) and some energy bars. Also, peanut butter sandwiches
    are great road food.

    --
    underdog

    'I tell you, we are here on Earth to fart around, and don't let anybody
    tell you different' - Kurt Vonnegut
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  6. phlegm
    Archived post
    #6

    I usually eat something light like a bowl of oatmeal and fruit for
    breakfast before I ride. If it's too heavy, not only might it upset
    your stomach, but your digestive system will consume more oxygen making
    it difficult to ride as hard.

    Like others mentioned, if you're planning a really long ride, eat a
    bunch carbs the night before--I like whole grain pasta.

    During the ride, fruit or energy bars are good. For longer rides (> 3
    hours) probably eat something more substantial during the ride--maybe a
    chicken sandwhich or PB&J, just nothing too dry.

    --
    phlegm
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  7. Trapper
    Archived post
    #7

    Get youself some Clif bars. Not only do they make some that taste too
    good to be called an energy bar, they are also designed to provide a
    more level release of energy over time vs. sugar based energy bars.
    Those type tend to spike quickly and then drop off almost as quick.
    This gives you a quick boost and then you burn off the calories very
    quickly. Sugar energy also tends to cause more muscle cramping on
    long rides. On my epic mountain bike rides I also filled up my
    hydrapak with Endurox. It's an energy drink designed to help rebalance
    your electolyte level. That's very important when you're sweating it
    out in the hot Texas sun.

    For the post ride (within 30 minutes if possible) get some fresh
    smoothies in you to replentish the glucose supplies in your large
    muscle mass. The body is most receptive to absorbing what you need
    within that 30 minute window and you'll fare much better for it on the
    next day.

    The most important thing is don't radically change your diet on the day
    of your ride. If you're doing something that your body is not used to
    it could riot and cause you great discomfort at a most inappropriate
    time. I saw that happen a lot on race days. Guys would suddenly eat
    something totally foreign to them for "fuel" and would end up on the
    side of the trail hurling (if they were lucky) after exerting
    themselves for a short while.

    Try some new stuff out in a training mode. Note how you feel before
    you eat and before the ride. Try to nail down some specific things
    about how the food change impacted your ride. Before the next ride try
    something different and note the same areas. Everyone is different.
    You may find that the Lima Bean is your secret weapon. Tell us how it
    goes.

    --
    Trapper
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  8. uni57
    Archived post
    #8

    For a mid-ride snack... coconut.

    Try shredded coconut or cut-up pieces of coconut instead of trail mix.

    Coconut contains a lot of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs). This is a
    ready-to-burn type of saturated fat. Your body will use it as a
    preferential fuel source. It doesn't require much digestion. In fact,
    people with liver disease who have trouble digesting fats are given MCT
    oil. It's also given to premature babies. The fat will circulate in
    your bloodstream until it is burned. It won't get stored as fat.

    I have good results with coconut on MUni rides. YMMV and please check
    my facts. I believe everything is correct, but I'm not a doctor.

    --
    uni57

    -\"what's a troll?\"- - billythemountain

    '8th Annual LBI Unithon' (http://jjuggle.unicyclist.com/lbiunithon) -
    Be there! - Saturday, June 3, 2006
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  9. phil
    Archived post
    #9

    [image:
    http://www.britsuperstore.com/acatalog/Soreen_Fruity_Malt_Loaf.jpg]
    [image:
    http://www.britsuperstore.com/acatalog/Bassetts_Jelly_Babies_215g.jpg]
    ...with a good helping of pasta the night before and a good supply of
    these during the ride you could keep cycling -forever-.

    Phil

    --
    phil

    "Cattle Prods solve most of life's little problems."
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  10. uni57
    Archived post
    #10

    Please read the ingredients, whether it's power bars or Jelly Babies.
    Choose something simple, natural, and wholesome. I don't want any
    hydrolyzed [genetically modified] soy protein isolate. Or MSG. Or
    artificial flavors made in a laboratory on the New Jersey Turnpike.

    If you can't grow it or make it in your own kitchen, it's probably not
    good. It's probably not food. (I ask that question regarding whatever
    I'm contemplating eating -- "is this food?"😉

    --
    uni57

    -\"what's a troll?\"- - billythemountain

    '8th Annual LBI Unithon' (http://jjuggle.unicyclist.com/lbiunithon) -
    Be there! - Saturday, June 3, 2006
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  11. underdog
    Archived post
    #11

    Trapper, good call on the Clif Bars. They're the best. I've used them
    for years. And interesting info on the coconut, uni57. I didn't know
    that. I think I'll give it a try.

    --
    underdog

    'I tell you, we are here on Earth to fart around, and don't let anybody
    tell you different' - Kurt Vonnegut
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