Bonking isn't just about long rides

[mtbdarby]

Would this explain why after my club rides Thursday night I'm wiped out for the weekend? I go right from work to the trails and ride for two hours on maybe a banana drinking only water. Afterwards, maybe an hour or so, we all go out to grab a bite to eat, but sometimes I just head home to bed without eating cuz I'm so tired. I've shied away from the performance bars because most have iodine in them or artificial sweetners, both of which are a no-no for me. Any ideas on what to eat in place of them?

Very interesting thread. Definitely got me thinking. Now my conscience can just holler at me "HEY, BONEHEAD, eat something before and during your ride!!!" Heck, maybe I wouldn't be the slow one if I did. Novel idea, huh?

[emily_in_nc]

I've shied away from the performance bars because most have iodine in them or artificial sweetners, both of which are a no-no for me. Any ideas on what to eat in place of them?

Do you like to bake at all? If so, you can make "healthy" cookies/bars like peanut butter/oatmeal/raison (with added protein powder, if desired) and the like. My husband hates paying the inflated prices for Powerbars and such so is always baking us goodies for the road. I am lucky to have a spouse who enjoys cooking and baking more than I do!

Emily

[CorsairMac]

you can also buy Larabars. They are a tad pricey but they only have dates, nuts and sometimes some other fruit in them. No additives, no processing, nada! You can also try making your own trail mix: nuts and dried fruits to munch on before you ride.
as for the being tired - yes, if all you're eating is a banana and water and then going home to bed you aren't replacing what you burned off. I think of it as putting fuel in my engine. I try to eat carbs and protein within 1/2 hour after my rides.
There is also an electrolyte replacement mix you can get at the health food store made by Alacar called Electro-Lyte (I think, dang I can never remember that name!). Again no sugars and no icky stuff just the electrolytes your body needs to help fuel your engine. It mixes with just about any liquid you want!!

[nuthatch]

Corsair modestly did not mention her own energy bar recipe, which is alot like Lara bars. There's a whole thread about them somewhere around here...Also that Ultralight Joe's Moose Goo is a great recipe.

[mtbdarby]

Emily and Corsair,
Yes, I LOVE to bake! I would love to see some recipes on the bars you mentioned. Either send me a private message or point me to the place they're listed on the boards.

I get to pick up my new bike tonight - can you tell I'm excited???!!! And we finalized our race team. I hope you don't mind, whoever mentioned this name (cuz I'm sure I read it hear yesterday) but we're calling the team the "Slowspokes". We're just doing this for fun (ok, competivite when I'm on the course) but I'm sure we'll all try our hardest and have a blast.

[han-grrl]

its funny that i read this thread, because just this past friday, i was done work, and a little hungry and i thought, eh, i will just bike home. It was HOT. i had water, but boy it was a PAINFUL ride home. Its an hour bike ride (on the road) with a few long hills (including the brutal one to my house). i crawled to the kitchen and INHALED a sandwich and felt better.

Also, for carbo loading...it isn't a matter of eating lots of carbs (which many people do)
you have to deplete them COMPLETELY first. this means doing a few days of training and eating very high protein, very few cards. it makes you into a bit of a B**ch. then after 4 days or so you go nuts with cards. your body IN ThEORY will overcompensate and hence store extra carbs.

i have heard before that this doesn't work for women quite as well. but i asked my physiology teacher when we were learning about it and he didn't see why.

[CorsairMac]

Emily and Corsair,
Yes, I LOVE to bake! I would love to see some recipes on the bars you mentioned. Either send me a private message or point me to the place they're listed on the boards.

I get to pick up my new bike tonight - can you tell I'm excited???!!! And we finalized our race team. I hope you don't mind, whoever mentioned this name (cuz I'm sure I read it hear yesterday) but we're calling the team the "Slowspokes". We're just doing this for fun (ok, competivite when I'm on the course) but I'm sure we'll all try our hardest and have a blast.

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=2764

ask and ye shall receive. I also started making the Mookies as an alternative energy cookie. Last night I had a Mookie about 1/2 hr before I rode home. I sure didn't feel any different but I was kicking hinney on the hills and ended up having a guy draft off me coz I was just screaming on the ascents and descents so I guess they work! LOL

Just as a footnote: since I'm allergic to corn and I can only use gluten-free grains I substituted Teff Flour for the Corn Flour in the Mookie recipe and it was just fine. You could also use Rice Flour or Amaranth etc etc.

[amg]

I sometimes boil new potatoes the night before, and shake a bit of salt on them for long rides along with some energy bars. They taste fabulous, especially if I'm tired of sweet flavours from energy drinks and bars. Has anyone else tried this, or am I just weird?

CorsairMac, I read your Mookie recipe, and will have to try that. I hate paying so much for bars that are so small!

[Jo-n-NY]

We pretty much really like a couple of the Balance Bars. During the winter we were eating the Balance Bar Gold Caramel Blast but did not want the chocolate coating for the summer. They came out with a Balance Trail Mix Bar and the fruit and nut is really good. I buy these by the box from Traider Joe's at 99 cents each. I saw a new Peanut Butter Crisp just over the weekend and that was really good also. It a thin peanutbutter coating.

Emily, your husbands bars sound yummy. Is there a recipe to be followed if you don't mind offering it?

~JoAnn

[emily_in_nc]

Emily, your husbands bars sound yummy. Is there a recipe to be followed if you don't mind offering it?
~JoAnn

Unfortunately, not! He just takes any old cookie bar recipe and starts adding oats for some of the flour, uses whole wheat flour in place of white, throws in some whey protein powder and mashed banana, replaces chocolate chips with raisins, and the like!

But I remember seeing links to energy bar recipes online that were very similar. I suggest googling "energy bar recipe" and seeing what you come up with. Even if what you find isn't exactly what you want, you can do a little creative manipulation with the ingredients like Barry does. The key is not to change the amount of baking powder/soda, and to keep the proportions the same of dry/wet ingredients.

I know there have also been recipes posted on this forum in the past, so try the search function and maybe just look for "recipe".

Good luck, and sorry I can't be more specific!

Emily

[Jo-n-NY]

That's ok...thank you for the info. I will do a search.

BTW...hope you are continuing to do well.

~JoAnn