Breakfast first, or later?

[shootingstar]

I think it really depends on your own body. I used to ride a 14 mile commute (hilly) on an empty stomach and then I'd eat when I got into work. I never felt weak or that I was going to fall off the bike!

That said, everyone is different. If you don't think you can make it without something, I agree with some of the suggestions here to try a piece of fruit or something else easily digestable and small.

But, if what you are doing works for you, why change? Are you not getting the results/peformance that you want by eating first?

I used to be able to jump onto bike and do a 16 kms. ride on an empty stomach in the summer time. Not anymore. In last 5 years, body seems to have changed that I like a small amount of food and fluid before starting off on ride of same length.

And it depends if one with cycling with extra pannier weight. On 2 different touring trips, I did a 45 kms. ride with over 25 lbs. of pannier weight starting off on humid summer morning. I ate nothing in advance and had only a few sips of water. Towards the end of the ride, which included trying to outcycle an impending lightning and thunderstorm, I nearly blacked out/fainted and nearly fell over from lack of food in a major highway. Never so glad to see a donut shop, as the heavens opened up with rain and thunder.

The other situation was similar with same pannier weight, but was only cycling for lst 25 kms. with pannier weight after we decamped for morning ride. Again, I nearly collapsed from lack of breakfast.