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.

[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!

[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.