50 miles...is that all?

[shootingstar]

I would have to be desperate to have a corned beef sandwich during a ride stop. But I would and need a drink/water.

Preferred sandwiches: ham, cheese, veggie, or turkey
a small mini pizza or pizza-like bun

I could have also sushi...a couple of pieces would be the same thing. Remember there is vegetarian sushi...

I actually find bananas abit too drying during a ride, but I will have half of one with water. I prefer tangerines or orange slices or grapes/other berries.

Slices of fresh mango, would be so nice. I like to fantasize.

[bikerchic]

My guess is better nutrition and lots of hydration beyond sugary stuff. Protien will help you endure!

Another suggestion is better said in the Old Bull, Young Bull story:

"The old bull and the young bull were standing at the top of the hill overlooking a paddock of many gorgeous young heifers. The young bull said "Let's charge down the hill, knock over that fence and each service one of those heifers". The old bull replied "Why don't we saunter down the hill, open the gate, take a sip at the water trough and then service ALL of those heifers??"

In other words don't go all out at first it's not how fast you can be but it's can you finish the ride. Slow down and enjoy yourself!

[1morcyclist]

After reading everyone's responses to their eating habits while riding, I've come to the conclusion that I'm not taking in enough calories!

I've ridden for quite a while now...but I think it's really come to light for me this season (probably due to being a little older)! But anyway, I've got a request to get Nancy Clark's book on nutrition from the libary (which I'm looking forward to reading) and I'm going to start experimenting with eating more on these long rides.

I've done some additonal research on the number of calories and carbs needed each hour of riding so this has given me a good idea of what to take on the next long ride (this weekend). Also I've invested in some different flavors of gel and I'm going to try those too!

I hope to have a better ride this weekend...I'll let you know!

[TrekTheKaty]

Nancy Clark's book is excellent. I actually have three versions. Even her recipes are good!

Just glossing over "Fueling during and after exercise" says:

100-250 calories of carbs per hour after the first hour
Mix it up--use food and fluids to get a variety of fuel
Experiment to see what you can tolerate
"Keep in mind that too much sugar or food taken at once can slow down the rate at which fluids leave the stomach and become available to replace sweat losses. Be more conservative with your sugar fixes during intense exercise in hot weather, when rapid fluid replacement is perhaps more important than carb replacement........."
Weigh yourself before and after to determine if you are consuming enough fluids.

During our first century, I actually set a timer for every 45 min, so we didn't get behind on intake. I can't say we ate the right things, but we ATE! If I rolled into a stop and one bottle wasn't empty, I knew I wasn't drinking enough (stomach sloshing is bad--I used to get that running!)

Marathon books are also great sources of info. For some reason there just aren't as many books about endurance cycling! Although runners stomaches tend to me more sensitive, the info is still applicable. Try Marathon by Galloway.