Help! Just can't do it!

[GraysonKelly]

Hi all,
I apologize if this has been covered before in a different thread. I just cannot eat power bars, luna bars, etc while I ride. I just can't do it. I cannot stand the sweetness. And it isn't just my tastebuds that disagree, I have actually thrown up every time I try. i have to water down my gatorade for the same reason...I can't handle the sweetness. I can do apples. I can do a little bit of trail mix (my own trail mix: plain cheerios, peanuts, wholegrain chex, a very few M and M's and raisins). But I cannot do those bars. Apples are the best but they get kind of nasty after they've been in the pack for a while. I can barely choke down peanut butter when I'm riding or resting during a ride. I don't know what to do.
After a ride I can usually handle peanut butter with some apple slices or a smoothie with yogurt.
Gray

[Veronica]

How long are your rides? If they are short enough, maybe you don't need to eat.

Sounds like you need to experiment with things that aren't so sweet. I don't do bars either. I just don't like them.

Veronica

[GraysonKelly]

I'm doing 20 miles on basically rolling hills (not a lot of flat anything around here) and some pretty steep parts but I am about ready to start going further and I know I'll need to eat. I also try to do between 30 and 40 once a week.

[alpinerabbit]

Salty stuff - crackers? Cheese Bagel? dried fruit? Nuts?
I once had a period of eating oat bisquits with (!!) pepper, they tasted good.
Can you handle a Banana?

You don't have to eat sweet stuff, just get in some carbs. You'll be out there ~3 hours on a 40 mile ride - one food stop should be fine.

definitely can't do bars during a race, and training, only a few will work. I like dried fruit bars from the health food store.

[Veronica]

I know that if I am riding less than two hours, I don't need to eat. Of course everyone is different.

Bananas and kaiser rolls are things you might try. There is nothing wrong with carrying a baggie full of cereal. You have to eat what's going to work for you.

Personally, I get most of my riding calories from a liquid diet if I'm riding more than 4 or 5 hours. I combine Sustained Energy with Gatorade and water. But it took a lot of experimenting to find what works for me.

Veronica

[Becky]

I go through "real food" phases sometimes, and like dried fruit, Fig Newtons, granola bars (salty or sweet), and pretzels. For drinks, I use water in one bottle and Vitalyte mix in the other. The lemon, citrus, and fruit punch flavors are all pretty light and not too sweet. I find the orange to be a little too strongly-flavored though.

Good luck finding something that works for you!

[tulip]

fig newtons? little pb&j sandwiches? When I had my very hard ride yesterday, chocolate milk and potato chips saved me.

[Pedal Wench]

I know that if I am riding less than two hours, I don't need to eat. Of course everyone is different.

Bananas and kaiser rolls are things you might try. There is nothing wrong with carrying a baggie full of cereal. You have to eat what's going to work for you.

Personally, I get most of my riding calories from a liquid diet if I'm riding more than 4 or 5 hours. I combine Sustained Energy with Gatorade and water. But it took a lot of experimenting to find what works for me.

Veronica

Yup. Liquid too. You might try something like Gu2O powdered drink mix -- it's not nearly as sweet as Gatorade -- I like the raspberry Gu2O mixed with Perpetuem. Not sweet, but keeps me going for hours.

[makbike]

How about pretzels?