Breakfast Before Early Rides?

[indysteel]

I'm glad this topic came up. This past weekend was the first weekend that our club rides started at 8 rather than 9 a.m., and I was in a world of hurt thanks to my sensitive early-morning tummy. Plus, I had to leave for Saturday's ride at 6:30 and for Sunday's, I rode to the ride and started off at 7 a.m. While I had enough time to eat and digest the food, it just didn't sit well. The food went down okay, but I felt horribly nauseous afterwards. At the first two SAGS on Saturday, I found myself very close to throwing up. That, and my routine of drinking a big bottle of water the minute I get up meant that everything, uh, "moved" through my system rather quickly. Let's just say that it could have gotten very ugly, but thankfully didn't. The only thing I could tolerate on the bike were Clif blocs (which are indeed the perfect food). Both rides were very hard, however, and I could have used something a bit more substantial. I hate riding with that empty belly feeling.

I felt a little sick to my stomach on Monday morning, too, so perhaps I just had a bit of a bug. I hope so because I'm not sure I can endure the next few months of early morning rides if I consistently feel sick to my stomach at start time.

A lot of the food that I eat--instant oatmeal, whole wheat waffles, cereal bars, yogurt, etc., is sweet, which is normally appeals to me, but I wonder if that's contributing to my upset tummy. Perhaps I should stick to bland or savory foods and cut out the little bit of coffee that I drink.

[Starfish]

Since I started this thread, I have been experimenting. I am beginning to think that I am trying to eat too much on the bike, and worrying too much about getting in enough fuel before I start an early morning ride.

The really nauseous times I have had recently have been at the starts of rides, and usually the early morning ones, when I have tried to eat breakfast.

I had read in some biking guru's book about how many calories we should try to get in before long rides, and the dangers of starting out a ride hungry. But, I seem to be doing better when I just get up and go, maybe a 1/2 cup of yogurt and a coffee, and then starting to eat bites of Powerbar, etc, within 20 minutes on the bike.

I have yet to try this minimalist approach on a ride longer than about 2 hours. But, next Saturday is Tour de Blast, so I guess I'll find out!

[Veronica]

Even though I'm a morning person, when a ride starts at 5 AM I have a hard time eating before that. I usually have about a half a serving of yogurt with some cereal on top. I try to eat the whole serving, but usually I can't.

It's worked out okay for me, I managed to finish my last two big rides. I do try to think about eating a little sooner on the bike than I might otherwise when I haven't had a full breakfast.

Tour de Blast is going to be... a blast. I'm really looking forward to it.

V.

[suzieqtwa]

Somebody posted a really easy recipe for" banana pancakes." Anyway,they are pretty good ,and you can eat them as you are driving to your ride ,or event. I found they gave me the energy I needed in the morning. Sometimes I dip them in maple syrup. Its really hard to eat at 4 or 5 in the morning.

[Starfish]

Somebody posted a really easy recipe for" banana pancakes." Anyway,they are pretty good ,and you can eat them as you are driving to your ride ,or event. I found they gave me the energy I needed in the morning. Sometimes I dip them in maple syrup. Its really hard to eat at 4 or 5 in the morning.

You know, I love banana pancakes...I have been making them for years. But, one of my recent terrible bouts with a.m. ride nausea has been after eating a couple of those. I think that it is just too much food for me in the morning. Great recovery food, though!!