Q - Eating breakfast before commuting

[David Kerber]

In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] says...

...

> I really got a kick out of this. I don't know how old you
> are, Mike, but I suspect things might change as you get
> older. I'm 48 and I'm riding between 250 and 300 miles per
> week with the 25 year old racer dudes in my area. I can do
> it, but I absolutely MUST have fuel. And being an old
> fart, that leads to other absolute musts. Therefore, if
> the group is getting together at 9:00 for several hours on
> the road, I have to back out an hour to get there (I live
> out in the sticks), an hour for nature to take its course
> and another hour just to get up, feed the cats and prepare
> the mass quantities of food I must consume ... a smoothie,
> canadian bacon and cereal.
>
> But ... I find that, when we get to the last hour of
> the ride, I'm usually at the front most of the time
> and everyone else is complaining that they're feeling
> wiped out.

I think most of us old farts know our bodies much better
then the 20- somethings do theirs, and it really shows
during the longer events when we keep ourselves fueled and
paced better (usually, anyway).

--
Remove the ns_ from if replying by e-mail (but keep posts in
the newsgroups if possible).

 

[Mike Jacoubowsk]

> I really got a kick out of this. I don't know how old you
> are, Mike, but
I
> suspect things might change as you get older. I'm 48 and
> I'm riding
between
> 250 and 300 miles per week with the 25 year old racer
> dudes in my area. I can do it, but I absolutely MUST
> have fuel.

Uh-oh, do I have to worry about a very sudden onset of the
male version of change-of-life? According to my calendar I
turn 48 next week! So far I've noticed the opposite... that
I've been able to go longer (on the same amount of fuel)
than when I was younger.

I'm going to approach that next birthday with a *lot* more
fear & trepidation now! :>)

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
http://www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

"psycholist" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> > It shouldn't be too tough to figure out if you can go 10
> > miles without eating in the morning- try it and see!
> > What's the worst that can
happen?
> > Probably just a mild case of bonking, although at 5am, I
> > doubt your body would even recognize the symptoms :>)
> >
> > I'd just bring along a pack of gu or something else that
> > you can digest really quickly, just in case. But for
> > what it's worth, I do a 31 mile
> ride
> > (with just over 3k feet of climbing) twice a week,
> > leaving the house at
> > 7:30am, and eat absolutely nothing beforehand. My only
> > fuel while
riding
> is
> > a bottle of Cytomax, and I rarely feel bonked or really
> > hungry at the
end
> of
> > the ride. Maybe an hour or two after, yes, but not
> > during the ride.
> >
> > This, of course, is one of those your-mileage-may-vary
> > things. I know others who can't believe I don't eat
> > before I ride. In general, I can
do
> > about a 100k morning ride without food first, providing
> > I drink Cytomax (although I will most definitely start
> > feeling a but hungry towards the end). Of course, I
> > could be carrying more reserves than you!
> >
> > By the way, the only reason I don't eat prior to a
> > morning ride is
simply
> > that it allows me to get up a bit later. I put a high
> > value on being
able
> > to set the alarm for 7:05 (for a 7:30 ride) instead of
> > 6:45am. Then
> again,
> > it's well known that I'm simply not a morning person.
> >
> > --Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
> > http://www.ChainReactionBicycles.com
> >
>
> I really got a kick out of this. I don't know how old you
> are, Mike, but
I
> suspect things might change as you get older. I'm 48 and
> I'm riding
between
> 250 and 300 miles per week with the 25 year old racer
> dudes in my area. I can do it, but I absolutely MUST have
> fuel. And being an old fart, that leads to other absolute
> musts. Therefore, if the group is getting
together
> at 9:00 for several hours on the road, I have to back out
> an hour to get there (I live out in the sticks), an hour
> for nature to take its course
and
> another hour just to get up, feed the cats and prepare
> the mass
quantities
> of food I must consume ... a smoothie, canadian bacon
> and cereal.
>
> But ... I find that, when we get to the last hour of the
> ride, I'm usually at the front most of the time and
> everyone else is complaining that
they're
> feeling wiped out.
>
> You get what you pay for, I suppose.
>
> Bob C.

 

[Peter Cole]

"psycholist" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

> I really got a kick out of this. I don't know how old you
> are, Mike, but I suspect things might change as you get
> older. I'm 48 and I'm riding between 250 and 300 miles per
> week with the 25 year old racer dudes in my area. I can do
> it, but I absolutely MUST have fuel. And being an old
> fart, that leads to other absolute musts.

Being an old fart is a state of mind.

 

[Scott]

HarryB wrote:
> Background: My wife and I purchased a tandem this fall and
> have done a little (~400 miles) riding. I have so enjoyed
> the biking that I'm considering commuting to work (about
> 20 miles round trip.) I'm 50 years old, have not really
> ridden a bike since my early 20's, and am in reasonably
> good physical condition. I would need to purchase a
> commuting bike (riding the tandem alone just doesn't seem
> like a good idea - I'm considering a recumbent) but have
> to resolve a few issues first. One of them is about
> breakfast.
>
> Question: Presently I eat a cold cereal breakfast before
> driving to work. I'm wondering if it is "ok" to eat a
> breakfast just before getting on the bike and riding 10
> hilly miles. (I've heard that one shouldn't exercise
> immediately after eating a meal, but maybe that is an old
> wive's tale?) It would be possible for me to eat a
> breakfast after arriving at work, but I'm concerned about
> not having the energy to ride 10 miles without a
> breakfast. Since I would need to leave the house at about
> 5:00am, it might make a difference in my decision to
> commute if I would need to wait, let's say an hour,
> between eating and riding.

I usually eat (oatmeal or cold cereal & juice) before
my commute, and then nothing 'til I get home at night.
That works for me, although I'm usually pretty hungry
when I get home

My commute varies between 1 mile and 20, depending on the
route. In winter, it's almost always 1 The 20-mile route
is absolutely great in the Summer, though.

Scott really at notscape det not

 

[BanditManDan]

Originally posted by Harryb
Question: Presently I eat a cold cereal breakfast before
driving to work. I'm wondering if it is "ok" to eat a
breakfast just before getting on the bike and riding 10
hilly miles. (I've heard that one shouldn't exercise
immediately after eating a meal, but maybe that is an old
wive's tale?) It would be possible for me to eat a breakfast
after arriving at work, but I'm concerned about not having
the energy to ride 10 miles without a breakfast. Since I
would need to leave the house at about 5:00am, it might make
a difference in my decision to commute if I would need to
wait, let's say an hour, between eating and riding.

TIA, Harry

I eat breakfast every day before my commute (7 miles) and have never had a problem. I would say that you should give it a try and see how your stomach reacts.

Dan.

 

[Rick Onanian]

On Wed, 10 Mar 2004 21:38:34 -0800, HarryB <[email protected]>
wrote:
>Question: Presently I eat a cold cereal breakfast before
>driving to work. I'm wondering if it is "ok" to eat a
>breakfast just before getting on the bike and riding 10
>hilly miles. (I've heard that one

I eat mass quantities of Rice Krispies with whole milk
before I go on long rides, and it sustains me much better
than anything else. I have no problems.

That silly bit about getting cramps or vomiting if you eat
before exercising probably affects some, but has never
bothered me.

I wish I could commute to work by bike, but the 50 foot
commute is mostly stairs, and 100% indoors.
--
Rick Onanian

 

[Sam Yorko]

Mike Jacoubowsky wrote:
> By the way, the only reason I don't eat prior to a morning
> ride is simply that it allows me to get up a bit later. I
> put a high value on being able to set the alarm for 7:05
> (for a 7:30 ride) instead of 6:45am. Then again, it's well
> known that I'm simply not a morning person.
>
> --Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
> http://www.ChainReactionBicycles.com
>
>

Bright, or early: pick one.

That's me, too.

Sam

 

[Cheg]

"Rick Onanian" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news[email protected]...
> On Wed, 10 Mar 2004 21:38:34 -0800, HarryB
> <[email protected]> wrote:
.
>
> I wish I could commute to work by bike, but the 50 foot
> commute is mostly stairs, and 100% indoors.

You could just ride to some arbitrary point 5 or 10 miles
away and them come back every day. All the benefits of a
bike commute and you don't have to take a change of
clothes

 

[M. Barbee]

> Question: Presently I eat a cold cereal breakfast before
> driving to work. I'm wondering if it is "ok" to eat a
> breakfast just before getting on the bike and riding 10
> hilly miles. (I've heard that one shouldn't exercise
> immediately after eating a meal, but maybe that is an old
> wive's tale?) It would be possible for me to eat a
> breakfast after arriving at work, but I'm concerned about
> not having the energy to ride 10 miles without a
> breakfast. Since I would need to leave the house at about
> 5:00am, it might make a difference in my decision to
> commute if I would need to wait, let's say an hour,
> between eating and riding.
>
> TIA, Harry

I usually ride about 9 miles over mostly flat ground most
mornings after eating a bowl of oatmeal or two scrambled
eggs and toast. Doesn't bother
me. I didn't read all the previous posts, but at least one
other person commented that you don't get energy from a
meal that soon. I've gone a few times skipping
breakfast and was fine with that as well.

 

[David Reuteler]

Sam Yorko <[email protected]> wrote:
> Bright, or early: pick one.
>
> That's me, too.

i'm neither. "not too bright, not too early" is my mantra.

just pulling my 10am to 12am 6 days a week.
--
david reuteler [email protected]

 

[Bernie]

Elisa Francesca Roselli <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Bruce Frech wrote:
>
> > And enjoy the commute. It will make wonderful changes to
> > lots of things in your life.
>
> What wonderful changes? I'm not a troll. I've been slowly
> learning to cycle, with a lot of set backs lately, and
> have more or less given up my daily 1.5 km to work because
> over that distance it's so much less hassle to walk. But I
> may have to start commuting seriously, 10kms, in the Fall,
> so I'm curious about all these great life-changing claims
> that are made for it.
>
> EFR Ile de France

Well, A small part of my approx 12 kms commute is on a
footpath beside the mighy Fraser River, one of the great
salmon streams. I see it in all seasons - fog, night, rainy
mornings, sunny spring days like we are having now. It is
pleasant - especially for a bird watcher like myself. (lots
of merganzers, wintering loons, cormorants, ducks at the
moment). Motorists don't experience these things and
naturally can't share them. Currently I pass a mated pair of
Canada geese on a railway right of way, morning and evening.
They are so careful and domestic as I pass, gently honking
and slowly moving aside as I pass. I always go slow and make
an easy clicking sound as i pass so as to make myself
familiar and non threatening to them. They stand just a
couple of feet off the path as I pass.

Are these "great life-changing" things? I don't know. I
prefer them to my former car commute, tho. Carry your rain
gear, keep cranking. You will improve as we all do, in small
increments. Remember to smell the flowers along the way.
Very best regards, Bernie

 

[Bernie]

"cheg" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<k%94c.12045$Gm5.32846@attbi_s04>...
> "Rick Onanian" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news[email protected]...
> > On Wed, 10 Mar 2004 21:38:34 -0800, HarryB
> > <[email protected]> wrote:
> .
> >
> > I wish I could commute to work by bike, but the 50 foot
> > commute is mostly stairs, and 100% indoors.
>
>
> You could just ride to some arbitrary point 5 or 10 miles
> away and them come back every day. All the benefits of a
> bike commute and you don't have to take a change of
> clothes

Good point. He could go somewhere for breakfast, 5 or 10
miles away from home. Doncha hate people who stay home and
still make a living? Bernie

 

[Trg]

My commute is less than 5 km as the crow flys. I often
stretch it to 25 and end up crossing the Seine 4 times
(instead of 0 if I go in a straight line). But even the 15-
20 minutes it takes to get home if I go in a straight line
is enough to clear my head after work, instead of submerging
with the other rats in the Metro.

trg Ile de France

Elisa Francesca Roselli wrote:
> Bruce Frech wrote:
>
>> And enjoy the commute. It will make wonderful changes to
>> lots of things in your life.
>
> What wonderful changes? I'm not a troll. I've been slowly
> learning to cycle, with a lot of set backs lately, and
> have more or less given up my daily 1.5 km to work because
> over that distance it's so much less hassle to walk. But I
> may have to start commuting seriously, 10kms, in the Fall,
> so I'm curious about all these great life-changing claims
> that are made for it.
>
> EFR Ile de France

 

[Harryb]

I wish to thank each of you who took the time to reply to my
question. Your comments have helped ease my mind about this
issue. I'm now one step closer to making the decision
whether or not to commute.

Cheers, Harry

 

[Eric S. Sande]

>I'm curious about all these great life-changing claims that
>are made for it.

It may not change your life, but it will make it more
interesting.

--

_______________________ALL AMIGA IN MY
MIND_______________________ ------------------"Buddy Holly,
the Texas Elvis"------------------ __________306.350.357.38-
>>[email protected]__________

 

[Frederic Briere]

HarryB <[email protected]> wrote:
> Background: My wife and I purchased a tandem this fall and
> have done a little (~400 miles) riding.

400mi is not necessarily "a little"; that's more than many
people will ever do in a lifetime.

> I have so enjoyed the biking that I'm considering
> commuting to work (about 20 miles round trip.) I'm 50

Good for you!

> Question: Presently I eat a cold cereal breakfast before
> driving to work. I'm wondering if it is "ok" to eat a
> breakfast just before getting on the bike and riding 10
> hilly miles. (I've heard that one

Only you would know what is best for you. Some people
can't stand riding after a meal; me, I get nauseous riding
on an empty stomach. Since you've put up many miles, you
might already have some idea about how you fare
with/without a meal.

> shouldn't exercise immediately after eating a meal, but
> maybe that is an old wive's tale?) It would be possible
> for me to eat a breakfast

That's mostly a concern when swimming, for obvious reasons.
A wonderful aspect of cycling is that, no matter how
exhausted you are, there's a minimum speed that you can
maintain (almost) indefinitely, so that you never really end
up "stranded" out there.

> after arriving at work, but I'm concerned about not
> having the energy to ride 10 miles without a breakfast.
> Since I would need to leave the house at about 5:00am,
> it might make a difference in my decision to commute if
> I would need to wait, let's say an hour, between eating
> and riding.

My advice would be to give it a try. Pick a day off and make
the ride first thing after you get up. If it doesn't work
for you, try a light breakfast (maybe also a fruit, unless
you're on an Atkins diet), or take along one of those
breakfast bars. Don't be afraid to experiment; just make
sure you allow some extra time for your ride in case things
don't go as you planned.

And the best of luck to you!

--
Frederic Briere <*> [email protected]

=> <[email protected]> IS NO MORE:
=> <http://www.abacomsucks.com> <=

 

[Claire Petersky]

"Elisa Francesca Roselli" <[email protected]>
wrote in message news:[email protected]...
>
> Bruce Frech wrote:
>
> > And enjoy the commute. It will make wonderful changes to
> > lots of things
in
> > your life.
>
> What wonderful changes?

o It makes a complete, clean break between your work life
and your home life. I have found that if I take the bus home
from work, I carry work home with me in my head ("if only I
had said XYZ at the intradivisional meeting...") and right
into the house. Ditto things that happened at home. But you
can't carry these thoughts in your brain as you bike. When I
come out of the parking garage of my building, the cars
whizzing down Second Ave, and there's taxis pulling out and
buses pulling in, and panel trucks parked illegally loading
something. I have to focus, NOW, on traffic. If I'm still
feeling warm and logy from sitting before my computer, the
cold air and rain hitting my face is like someone splashing
cold water on me -- wake up! This clean break is good for
your mental health. When thoughts of that intradivisional
meeting float back into your mind, a couple miles later, you
have perspective on them.

o It builds bicycling, and therefore exercise, right into
your daily routine. You don't make the decision to ride your
bike twice a day. Rather, riding your bike is what you do
without having to decide. You don't look out the window and
think "cold", or "rain", or "dark" and then think, "oh, I'd
rather not bicycle". Instead, when you get dressed on that
cold, rainy dark morning, you pull on your warm tights and
thermal jersey, and ride. Oddly, you find that cold, dark,
or rainy isn't such a terrible thing to ride through after
all. And you get a work out every day, without having to pay
for, or go to, a gym.

o You get to be outdoors everyday. This can be tremendously
grounding. It's also wonderful to be aware of the seasons as
they change. Many of us cycling commuters are celebrating
that each and every day it gets just a little lighter for
the ride home. Here, the trees are full of fragrant
blossoms, and in certain neighborhoods, ornamental plums are
very popular as landscaping trees. You'll ride on certain
streets, and your nose will be filled with their scent.

Quite honestly, often the best part of my day is spent on my
bike, riding to or from the office.

--
Warm Regards,

Claire Petersky
Please replace earthlink for mouse-potato and .net for .com

Home of the meditative cyclist:
http://home.earthlink.net/~cpetersky/Welcome.htm
Email me re: the new Tiferet CD (http://www.tiferet.net)

 

[Just Zis Guy]

On Sun, 14 Mar 2004 15:18:54 GMT, "Claire Petersky"
<[email protected]> wrote in message
<xJ_4c.6241$J05.79906@attbi_s01>:

>Quite honestly, often the best part of my day is spent on
>my bike, riding to or from the office.

Yes! Amen to all of that. It's only when you stop driving
weverywhere that you realise just how horrible driving is
compared to cycling. With cycling, the process itself is
enjoyable. You're doing something you want to do in time you
would have wasted anyway just getting to work!

My commute now includes a stretch on the train. I get to
read books with no small people clamouring for my attention!
Great! And then I ride the 20 miles home and arrive feeling
tired, hungry, healthy, happy and glad to be alive.

--
Guy
===
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after
posting. http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

88% of helmet statistics are made up, 65% of them at
Washington University

 

[Occupant]

Elisa Francesca Roselli wrote:

> curious about all these great life-changing claims that
> are made for it cycling to work.

1. No worry about bus being early or late. You can pretty
well commute to work within a given time each day at a
pace of your choice.

2. Fresh air.

3. Passing friendly people and other cyclists offering and
reciprocating daily greetings.

4. Found objects. Most cyclst find interesting objeccts in
their daily commute. Some for the taking and some for
observing.

5. Bus transfer doesn't expire when you are on your bike.
You can stop and goes as you plase. Independence.

6. Exercise is good and important for us at all ages but
particularly when we get older and can sometimes be
less physically active. Cycling helps.

7. Buses are noisy. Bicycles are not.

8. Cycling saves money. A 20 - 30 minute bus ride is 2
dollars

9. You get to pick your route and scenery.

10. When you have cycle commuted to work, you are ready
with fresh energy to tackle the day with an enthusiasm
that isn't quite the same if you drive or use public
transportation. If you observe drivers and those that
use public transportation, they just don't have that
same look of enthusiasm that a cyclist has.

 

[Steve Knight]

On Sun, 11 Apr 2004 05:02:23 GMT, occupant <[email protected]>
>> curious about all these great life-changing claims that
>> are made for it cycling to work.
>
>1. No worry about bus being early or late. You can pretty
> well commute to work within a given time each day at a
> pace of your choice.

all true. it is now faster for me bike to work then take the
bus. took a bit but now it saves me time. my only complaint
is th bus is handy for reading time.

--
Knight-Toolworks & Custom Planes Custom made wooden planes
at reasonable prices See http://www.knight-toolworks.com For
prices and ordering instructions.