Bonk!

[Kano]

So, now we've established that keeping blood sugar up is important, along with hydration.

Now it's time for suggestions -- what's going to do that best? What will get us off to a good start, and what's going to be the niftiest stuff to pack in my little handlebar bag that won't goober up my camera or cell phone!

Personal preferences -- I try to stay away from things like jelly beans.

Karen in Boise

[Veronica]

I eat yogurt and cereal for breakfast, every day pretty much, ride or no ride.

On the bike I eat Paydays, sport beans, cliff shot bloks, hammer gel. I eat a little something every 30 minutes. I also drink Sustain energy every 15 minutes.

If I'm doing an organized ride I eat whatever is at the rest stops that appeals, pretzils, fruit, pb and j or honey sandwiches.

If I'm riding on my own I'll buy cheese and crackers, m&m's with peanuts, Red Bull or a frappicino. Again I usually wander through the store and what I want jumps off the shelf.

If your ride is less than an hour, you probably don't need to worry about it. But everybody is different. I find right around the 90 minute mark I need to start eating - even if I'm only going to ride 15 more minutes.

I got really obsessive about eating when I started training for double centuries.

V.