How do y'all fuel for long rides?

[Wahine]

Well, since you asked....

Fish and Chips the night before. Then yes I like the potatoes mentioned above by Zen. If I'm racing tho I stick to gels and perpetuem mixed with Dr. Pepper. Hmmmmm, not exactly yummy but somehow it works. Then a chocolate milk within 20 min of finishing, followed quickly by ample amounts of dark beer and some form of greasy food - burgers or pizza usually does the trick. And apparently I'm capable of consuming and entire bag of goldfish the next day without even batting an eyelash.

[andtckrtoo]

I'm really enjoying reading your suggestions! The potatoes sound wonderful! I'm definitely trying them! We used to do something similar with boiled eggs on hikes - peel and salt and pepper then put them into baggies. Great snack at 13,000 feet. Not sure I could do the fish and chips, though - I think my tummy would rebel - and the consequences would not be pretty. I'm impressed!

It's funny, but I've done all sorts of endurance events, but they are usually one shot deals. Now I'm finding my average weekend bike ride to be 2-3 hours, and with what I hope to do, that will just increase. I can fuel for a one shot deal - no biggie - but for ongoing training I realized I needed better ideas.

Oh and ITA on the hrm and calorie thing! I use mine strictly as a guide. If I tried to eat all of the calories it says I burned, I'd not be fitting through the door soon!

Keep the suggestion coming! I'm learning a lot and it sounds like others are as well.

[indysteel]

Before a morning ride, long or otherwise, I eat a bowl of instant oatmeal with a spash of milk and a cup of yogurt. If the ride is longish, I'll also eat a banana. I also drink at least one glass of water first thing when I get up (so I have time to expel as much as possible before the start of the ride). Hydration, rather than nutrition, is my Achilles' Heel. I try to focus on hydration on the days leading up to a long ride.

The night before a long ride, I'll usually eat pasta of some sort. I've found over time that as long as I eat a good meal, I feel just fine the next day. My body's not all that picky.

Afterwards, I'll eat whatever's available. I used to religiously drink some chocolate milk, but I've gotten kind of lazy about it.

As for eating while riding, I usually stop to eat, but I also keep some food in my top tube bag to nibble on for long rides or those where it might be hard to stop because I'm with a group. I find it easiest to put the food (and to cut it into small pieces if necessary) into snack bags. I can generally get to them without too much trouble. They came in really handy during the Ride Across Indiana since the SAG stops on that ride are about 35 to 40 miles apart.

[TrekTheKaty]

PROTEIN! I used to do half marathons and they are completely different. I couldn't eat eggs beforehand, because they would give me a stomach ache--but not on the bike! I warm up hash browns in a skillet (not the frozen ones), then add 1/4 c. eggbeaters and a little cheddar. Quick OJ and shot of espresso and I'm out the door.

I was doing yogurt for my "second breakfast," but I just switched to smoothies today--1/2 cup milk, 1/2 cup OJ, 1 banana, handful frozen fruit (strawberry, peach, blueberry, raspberry).