snack suggestions (yes... cycling related!)

[caligurl]

we are doing the amtrak century tomorrow (saturday the 10th) which is a ride from irvine to san diego... where you board a private train along with 800 other smelly riders for a ride back to irvine... we've never done it before... so we aren't sure what to expect other than a fun ride and a fun train trip!

you can bring a change of clothes (thank goodness) and a small cooler with snacks for the train ride back.... that they transport to san diego...

i'm at a loss to decide what i want! i mean... i KNOW i want tommy's after we get back and get the car on the way home but i know i'll be hungry and wanting to eat something on the train.... plus seeing everyone else eating... i'll want to eat!

sooooo any suggestions? naturally nothing that needs to be heated... i have made extra ice so i have tons for the cooler(s) (we can actually each take one if needed!)

off the top of my head the only things i've come up with are: nutter butters (yum) and subway (i'd go after work and pick up 2 sandwiches to pack for tomorrow...

anyone have better or just different suggestions? (nothing that takes a ton of prep time... i'll be getting my stuff together tonight and have to go to bed uber early to get up by 2ish to get to irvine in time to leave!

anyways... thanx for any suggestions!

[SadieKate]

A bottle of Mike's Hard Lemonade and a box of babywipes.

[caligurl]

the babywipes are already permanently in our cycling gear bag! hubby got that WONDERFUL suggestion a long time ago! LOVE babywipes!

hard lemonade, eh? would that be a me only thing cuz hubby had to drive home once get get back to irvine????

i planned to take some water... didn't think about taking anyting other than that.. hmmmmmmmm (but nothing alcoholic for hubby... he's designated driver!)

[profàvélo]

Water is good. You may want to put a Gatorade or Powerade in there, just in case you feel like drinking one. (Is it going to be hot?) I often like a Coke after a long ride, usually the only time I drink Coke. The Nutter Butters sound good; I would go for chocolate, like some Snickers. Salty is also good--chips, for example. Fruit? I'd take an orange. For some reason, oranges taste really good to me when I've been riding, even though I don't normally eat them. The sandwiches are a good idea--just don't let them put anything too wet on them, they'll be all soggy.

Can you pack a small towel in your change of clothes? Might be good for washing the face and drying off some of the sweat.

Have a great ride!

[caligurl]

i actually have some little individual towelettes for my face (like the baby wipes.. but for faces... so better "stuff" on them!) i plan to throw my mascara and blush in the bag too! (and deoderant!)

fruit sounds good! i thought of running to the grocery store and getting thier mixed fruit in the deli (rather than me buying all the different stuff and having to cut it all up tonight!) i love oranges and alwayd grab them at the sag stops when they have them!

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm chips! i'll have to see about that! i actually ate chips during one of the last organized rides i did!! hadn't had any in sooooooo long! (now i'm craving salty chips!)

ya... they (the sandwiches) would be soggy a bit anyways cuz i have to buy them this evening.... and yes.. i'd get oil on mine! and it would make the bread soggy! but i used to eat them like that before i started eating healthy... so i can handle that... i think i'm gonna leave the ice in the plastic zip lock baggies... that way as they melt.. the water won't make a mess!

gatorade is a good suggestion! hubby will probably want some.. i don't normally drink it once i'm off the bike... (too many calories in it) but may make an exception.... (especially since i discovered raspberry lemonade flavor!)

[CorsairMac]

actually PB&J sandwiches or tortillas. Get the salty PB....oh and fruit. I'm like Prof only I always want an apple after a long ride. and chocolate.

[Deanna]

We always bring string cheese and baby carrots. Also, if you're worried about soggy sandwiches, instead of using ice cubes, fill a water bottle up about two-thirds of the way, close securely and freeze. These don't leak nearly as much as bags of ice cubes, they stay frozen longer and when they do defrost, you have extra water if needed. And who among us doesn't have extra water bottles laying around?

[BIKEAWAY]

some here on this board suggested chocolate milk and I always have it waiting in my jeep after a long trail ride.. That is the best recovery and satisfying thing after a hard ride....

[bcipam]

Cali:

Done AMTRAK a number of years. Have fun. Looks like the weather will be perfect for you. The last few years were hot, hot, hot!!! This year the temp shouln't get over 70 - 72, perfect!

If you wish to shower, there is a local health club nearby that for $5 allows you to shower, use their towels, soap and shampoo. When you finish ask around. Most of the cyclists know the club. If it stays cool like it is today, I wouldn't bother. Just bring a change of clothes and change in the station before boarding.

As to snacks, in years past I bought tons of stuff, but the train is so crowded and there is so little room for your legs and body much less a cooler, just bring some light snacks. I like a can of Coke and nuts, string cheese, crackers and sausage. Anything that can be carried in a really small cooler. The train ride just doesn't last that long. We ate most of our food before boarding while waiting for the train. Of course, there are plenty of places nearby to get food and snacks. I think there is a StarBucks in the train station. If you are riding with a large group, mix up who is bringing what and plan opn sharing. Save's space that way.

Anyway have a great time. I opted out this year. Last year was so hot and I got so dehydrated I decided not to ride this year. You just never know!

PS: You know you eat food on the ride? Usually I'm so full after the ride I don't want to eat much. Just make sure you are fueling properly at the sag stops. Get your popsicle on top of Torrey Pines (even if its cool out).

PSS: Where do you live that you have to get up at 2? If you are a fairly strong rider, you can do the Century in about 8 hours or less. You can leave at 7 and be in at 3. Gives you plenty of time. I wouldn't bother with sandwiches especially if you plan on eating out after you get home.

PSSS: Park across the street from the train station in one of the business parks. Otherwise, you will be in the outer 40 hell and gone from the registration tables.

[caligurl]

thanx for the info pam!!!!!

ya... for me... the weather is gonna be COLD! (remember... i'm used to 100+ so 70's is cold... and when we start out.. it says irvine in the 50's in morning!) i'll be in tights and long sleeves! (and still be cold!)

ok... so one cooler for both me and hubby! i think maybe we will do the subway.. and probably eat it before the train! (just us... hubby did meet a few people on smog to surf that were riding it... but may not come across them... and he's riding with ME! since there's no hurry to get to san diego and have him sit! plus he's been off the bike for almost 2 weeks! (trip to florida.. not an injury)

the OCW page makes it sound like a party on the train.... and it sounded like a 2 hour train ride! (leaves 4:30 gets to irvine 6:30.) not so?????????? (hope not... that seems like and awfully long time!

i didn't know about the showers.... so planned to just do the babywipe thing and take comfy sweats for the train and subsequent 2.5 to 3+ hour drive home (depending on the 91.. and we KNOW how the 91 is! )

do you remember any of the places other then starbucks to get food? maybe we should just get something there instead of overnight, day old sandwhiches?

next year i'll know more what to do and what to expect.. i think "I'M" making a big deal over it and should just "sit back", relax and enjoy it (and there's always tommy's once we get back to OC!

we lucked out and got emailed for a late sign up! i was very excited! but didn't get to order the jerseys i got an email and they said i could order them in san diego... i hope enough people didn't pre-order so that they do DO an order! i LOVE the jersey (even though it's short sleeves)

[bcipam]

I would just do the Baby Wipe and change clothes. Just easier.

There are plenty of places to get food around the train station. This is a tourist area. It's also down town SD, so lots of food places nearby - but depends on how you feel. If tire and sore you may not be wanting to walk around much. SO I would bring your snacks.

As to the train, well, that's a "crap shoot". Last year the trains did not show up until almost 7. I got in early, around 2:30, it was 100 degrees and I didn't feel well (I rode really hard. Left Irvine at 7:45 and got in at 2:30. A personal best for an Century). Last thing I wanted to do was sit and wait for a train. The station was not air conditioned. It's really old!

The train will be packed. Some cars will be loud, noisy and obnoxious. If that's your cup of tea look for the BCI/OCW or Arizona folks and board with them. I try and avoid the noisy groups so usually go to the front cars away from the party people. That way I can have a nice conversation with the folks around me. The ride last year only took about an hour but we were the last train for the evening and there were no stops. The 4:30 train will stop in Del Mar, San Clemente, San Juan etc.

If you tend to get cold make sure you bring a jacket or something to put on while waiting at the station. SInce you will be right on the water, it can be cold (although like I said last year it was 100 blasting degrees!).

[RoadRaven]

We always bring string cheese and baby carrots.

Um... culture ignorance here... string cheese???

[Kimred]

Baggie of Cheerios and PB and J on whole Weat. It's my staple and never upsets my stomach and easily portable.

[Hammer]

String cheese is good stuff. It's a packaged chunk of cheese, a bit shorter in length than a pencil would be... and about the diameter of a person's thumb, maybe SLIGHTLY bigger. Anyway, it's white cheese, I think something like mozzarella or swiss cheese, but without the holes... I don't know what kind of cheese it actually is. It's called string cheese because you can peel 'strings of cheese' off of the stick. Very handy. I used to eat them for lunch in high school when we had open campus and would run downtown to the grocery store for food.

[Dogmama]

Caligurl -- how was it???