What do you eat before a ride?

[Jiffer]

Just curious what you eat before a ride, particularly a longer or more intense ride that you really want to be strong on.

I typically have half of a whole wheat english muffin with peanut butter, but wondering if on those longer/harder rides I should be doing more. I tried DH's "Preformance" drink he swears by twice and got a side ache. I read that too much fluid before hard exercise can do that to some people. So I probably need to stick with regular food mostly.

[ny biker]

Most of my long rides start in the morning. I have 4 eggo nutrigrain waffles with margarine and syrup plus a cup of tea for breakfast. That generally works for me because it's a fair amount of calories but not too heavy.

[indysteel]

For morning rides, I have instant oatmeal with a splash of milk and yogurt. As I'm actually gearing up for the ride, I eat a banana.

[Biciclista]

we eat oatmeal before our biggest rides, but we snack all day too.

[shootingstar]

Microwaved instant oatmeal with milk. Usually no more than 1/2 c. of oatmeal. Cup of tea.

For a longer ride, a slice of bread / fresh fruit --in addition to the oatmeal and tea.

Today was strange, I just had my lighter fare, oatmeal, tea. Towards the end of ride, my stomach was growling. Just so strange because I didn't cycle a long distance..only 38 kms. with 3 smallish hills along the way. But I know I'm not as fit at this time of year.

[HillSlugger]

before my triathlons I like a big bowl of Cheerios with milk and a yogurt smoothie.

[nscrbug]

Pre-ride meals for me are always 1 packet of instant unflavored oatmeal, made with 1 part water and 1 part skim milk...with a small banana sliced into the oatmeal before microwaving for 2m,20s. When it's done, I sprinkle on cinnamon. This will hold me until about 30-35 miles into the ride, which at that point...I'll have either a mini Clif Bar or a few Shot Bloks or other "chews".

[Owlie]

My normal breakfast--bowl of cereal and a glass of milk. As I'm heading out, I grab fruit--an apple or a banana.
My mode of exersize nutrition is snacking.

[moonfroggy]

i usually have my normal breakfast which is a green smoothie which sounds gross but is tasty

lettuce or other leafy greens (kale when i am feeling hardcore hehe)
dates
raw nuts and seeds such as (chia seeds and pumpkin seeds or cashews and flax seeds)
sometimes frozen bananas
raw cocoa powder or frozen blueberries and if we do blueberries we add vanilla
and enough water to make it a texture we like all blended up until smooth

i tend to snack on homemade trail while i am on the bike if it is a longish ride. nuts and seeds and dried fruit and chocolate chips bits of rice cake.

[OakLeaf]

My normal breakfast, but maybe a larger quantity as a pre-ride breakfast, than it would be if I wasn't going to ride or run until the evening.

Hot or cold cereal, a handful of raw nuts or a dollop of peanut butter, fresh or dried fruit.

I need to replace calories on any ride longer than about an hour and a half. I put HEED in my bottles. If it goes over around five hours, I'll need some protein, too. What goes down best for me is a tuna salad or egg salad sandwich. :cool: (I was surprised, too, how well it worked for me, the first time. :p)

[azfiddle]

I'm still on weightwatchers and also trying to balance fueling riding and burning calories to lose weight- 5 lbs to go!

I was not a big oatmeal fan until I returned to weightwatchers. I like it because it's relatively filling and not high in calories. I've gotten more fond of it since starting cycling. I'm gradually moving over to the quick cooking (not instant) oats, but don't have time for long cooking oats most of the time. I like to put some dried fruit, a little milk and little spoon of honey or brown sugar in it. Other breakfast that work for me are half a bagel with cream cheese and lox, or my favorite bread from the French bakery- pepper & onion, with a melted cheddar cheese (Kerry Gold Irish cheddar is my favorite!). Often, I also have half a banana. And in warmer weather, I like cottage cheese and fresh fruit.

Like Oakleaf, I need to add in snacks along the way after an hour or so, but am trying to rely as much as possible on "real" food (dried fruit, almonds etc), although I do take Luna bars because they are convenient. I haven't really used any other products - drinks, gels, etc. However I'm concerned about figuring out good choices for preventing heat exhaustion as it warms up- it was a problem as I got started riding last summer- but I think that's a topic that deserves its own thread.

Sharon

[limewave]

fried egg sandwich on eng. muffin
+ small bowl of oatmeal with teeny bit of soy milk, maybe a few walnuts

It's filling, hearty, and only 300 calories for the whole thing. Good mix of carb, protein and fat.

[artifactos]

Most days, I have a protein shake in the morning (skim milk + whey or soy protein powder) since my body has gotten used to working out in the morning and rejects solid food sometimes. If I wake up less than 2 hours before a workout/ride, the protein shake and some yogurt and tea are all I have before I drink tons of water during the activity.

If I have more than 2 hours between waking up and working out, I usually start with a protein shake and have a goetta and egg sandwich on an english muffin later in the morning. If I don't have time to cook goetta, it turns into an english muffin with peanut butter instead.

[KnottedYet]

2 fried eggs
1 pork chop smothered in carmelized onions and garlic
big pile of mashed potatoes with olive oil and plain yogurt
coffee

Breakfast of champions! Gets me through triathlons and long morning rides, and I expect it to get me through my first half marathon next week.
(salmon can be substituted for the pork chop)

[shootingstar]

2 fried eggs
1 pork chop smothered in carmelized onions and garlic
big pile of mashed potatoes with olive oil and plain yogurt
coffee

Breakfast of champions! Gets me through triathlons and long morning rides, and I expect it to get me through my first half marathon next week.
(salmon can be substituted for the pork chop)

Wow, this wins a gold medal on volume.
I have eaten breakfasts like that, just substitute the pork chop..with a sausage or slice of ham (yea, bad), toasted English muffin, etc....particularily on self-supported touring bike rides that run several days. Or before we go snowshoeing for several hrs. somewhere in the mountains during the day.

The biggest danger for me when we go on vacation somewhere are the buffet breakfasts at a hotel. Another reason why our vacations have to include some multi-hr. long fitness activity.

AFter such a breakfast, I barely have a lunch. Don't need to. The purpose of that type of breakfast is precisely for 1) convenience 2) to help me not pine for a ton of food at lunch but to have 1-2 small snacks before supper during bike ride or snowshoeing trip day.

[Jiffer]

Pre-ride meals for me are always 1 packet of instant unflavored oatmeal, made with 1 part water and 1 part skim milk...with a small banana sliced into the oatmeal before microwaving for 2m,20s. When it's done, I sprinkle on cinnamon. This will hold me until about 30-35 miles into the ride, which at that point...I'll have either a mini Clif Bar or a few Shot Bloks or other "chews".

Hmmm .... I might have to try that cooking the banana in the oatmeal thing. I do like banana on my oatmeal. I have done fresh banana and I have also sauteed banana with a little butter and vanilla. Mmmmm!

[Jiffer]

If it goes over around five hours, I'll need some protein, too. What goes down best for me is a tuna salad or egg salad sandwich. :cool: (I was surprised, too, how well it worked for me, the first time. :p)

Are you saying you have tuna or egg salad on the ride? Just clarifying.

[Jiffer]

2 fried eggs
1 pork chop smothered in carmelized onions and garlic
big pile of mashed potatoes with olive oil and plain yogurt
coffee

Breakfast of champions! Gets me through triathlons and long morning rides, and I expect it to get me through my first half marathon next week.
(salmon can be substituted for the pork chop)

Wow! So not the norm, but if it works for you. ;) In case you didn't know, pork is the hardest meat to digest, which means your body is working to digest that instead of giving you energy to ride (and run and swim). The last choice for most athletes. But again, whatever works for you.

Good luck on your half marathon!

[nscrbug]

Hmmm .... I might have to try that cooking the banana in the oatmeal thing. I do like banana on my oatmeal. I have done fresh banana and I have also sauteed banana with a little butter and vanilla. Mmmmm!

Oh you really should try it! The bananas get all warm and soft, and basically melt into the oatmeal...adding a wonderful flavor and sweetness. I like it much better than adding the bananas after cooking. I also do the same thing with blueberries, too. Adding them before cooking softens them and brings out the juices and natural sugar, plus it turns the oatmeal a funky "purplish-blue" color. :p

[OakLeaf]

Are you saying you have tuna or egg salad on the ride? Just clarifying.

Not carried with me! :p But available in most convenient stores where we stop for snacks and water refills. I'm fine to get back on right away and ride however much longer we go.

[KnottedYet]

Wow! So not the norm, but if it works for you. ;) In case you didn't know, pork is the hardest meat to digest, which means your body is working to digest that instead of giving you energy to ride (and run and swim). The last choice for most athletes. But again, whatever works for you.

Good luck on your half marathon!


When you kids get to be my age, you'll know what your body likes.

Don't be afraid of food, and don't be shy about food. If you are hungry, eat!

Body by Pork Chop:

[ny biker]

Honestly, just the thought of pork chops and mashed potatoes in the morning is enough to make me kinda queasy. But then I recall there are plenty of people here who don't like eggo waffles, and they work for me.

Variety is the spice of life...

[Trek420]

Knott can't eat eggo waffles unless they have a Gluten Free variety? :confused: But like we say here: whatever works, every body is different. Find what fuels you. :D Ride to work (or play), work to eat, eat to ride, ride to eat ....

Before a long ride I like oatmeal, I'm easy about breakfast as long as there's coffeeeeeeee. :cool: I can't seem to do real sweet stuff in the morning. Syrup disagrees with me although I loooove the taste. If there are pancakes, blintzes, waffles involved I'll use a home made jam, fruit or even have them plain.

[shootingstar]

One thing for sure, if I have a big breakfast, which is rare, then I prefer to eat without rushing and give myself, if possible, at least 1 hr. to digest after finishing and going to bathroom before cycling.

Otherwise I feel as if I'm lugging a supperbucket up the hill. :p

For many years I avoided oatmeal. I stopped eating oatmeal around 18. Then returned to oatmeal but in smaller daily amount (half of what I consumed as a teenager) when I was around 45. I continue to have oatmeal now as I did as a kid, more on milky side and no sugar.

If there's local fresh fruit..preferably a berry fruit which involves no peeling, slicing, then I add it in. It really is a small amount of oatmeal daily for me.

[marni]

this really depends on the individual metabolism. I am still trying too at least maintain my big weight loss and possibly lose a bit more so I routinely keep myself at a 500 calorie deficit. That being so, I know that I burn about 20 calories a mile and so adjust my snacking so that I don't take in much druing the ride. I start out with steel cut oatmeal and skim milk along with a cup of coffee. If I start to feel hungry I stop and get a piece of fruit, usually a banana, and after that I rely on a mini cliff bar or gu unless I go by a gas station or mini mart and find another piece of fruit. I also keep myself filled up with water or FRS. This allows me to do centuries, and also get through hot weather without feeling exhausted or drained. I do also make a point of eating and drinking as well as a latte or iced cappucinno within an hour of the ride.

marni

[mirliluck]

When you kids get to be my age, you'll know what your body likes.

Don't be afraid of food, and don't be shy about food. If you are hungry, eat!

Body by Pork Chop:

I have to say that while I couldn't stomach a breakfast like that either, the women I know who are the most cut and have low bf% eat A TON of protein and commonly have big hunks of meat at all meals. You have to feed the machine...but it's also tricky to find the right balance. I have had a lot of luck though with large breakfasts. For me it's usually greek yogurt, oats, nuts & ground flax w/ some berries mixed in. 600-800 cals for breakfast depending on what I'm doing that day keeps my metabolism happy.