Food Experiments

[maillotpois]

Great thread! I just joined this forum, having learned of it from BikeJournal. Hope it's okay if I throw in my 2 cents...

It's a challenge to find food that works for a double, but most of the rides I have been on have been so well supported with a variety of things so you can experiment and find out what works for you. I particularly like when they have the hammer gel you can fill your flask with.

Some things that have worked for me are:

v8 - I had 9 v8s during the Death Ride last year and frankly was too tired to keep track at the Mt. Tam Double. For my other doubles, I probably had at least 5. LOVE v8!! I Know some folks who will fill one of their bottles with the stuff.

HammerGel - I have decided I like banana best. Not too sweet. But I prefer the real thing... next...

Dried bananas - my secret weapon. Not "banana chips" but actual chewy dried bananas. You can get them in bulk food section at Whole Foods. I also have a friend who dries them herself with a bit of honey in them. It's a little over the top, but the end product is amazing.

Noah's bagels - For Davis (my first double), we got salt bagels and I carried one with me on the ride. There is also a stick-like bagel thing they have that is wheaty and fruity and nutty. It took me about 2 hours to eat the thing, 1 bite at a time from my back pocket. That was great.

Wheat thins - yum! Very good if your stomach is getting at all iffy.

Nuts.

I pretty much only drink the Power Bar Endurance sports drink. And water. I will throw in a coke or mountain dew, but not til very late in the ride.

I have found that a bento box is only good for me on rides where there's not a lot of out of the saddle climbing. If I am out of the saddle a lot, the bento hits my legs so then I climb all wonky and my knee hurts. I may just have big legs. Well, I know I do!

I have a friend who is a raw food vegan who trained for and rode the death ride with me. I was amazed that he could literally fuel himself only on figs and dates for a ride like that. I say that to make the point that everyone's different, and what works for some may not work for all!

Sarah

[SadieKate]

Figs and dates! Yeah, I can believe this. They're a staple in our household. Fig Nutins are pretty good also.

Cheese and peanut butter cracker sandwiches.

[SadieKate]

Maillotpois, glad to have you over here also. Introduce yourself on the aptly-named "Introduce Yourself" thread so CorsairMac can chime in and provide an official welcome.

[Veronica]

I figured it was that picture. Fluffy now has no rack and no big bag. That has migrated to Milo my MB1, which is now my commute bike. There is not much else I'll be able to take off Fluffy. Tires will change and the fenders will come off before Solvang, but for now I'm leaving them on.

I don't like to eat while I ride. One of the things I like about having my HRM on my handlebars is I am more aware of passing time. I am now making myself eat on the half hour and hour on my rides. I'm taking a drink of Sustained Energy on the quarters.

I like the bagel idea. Kim, tell Jesse we need Noah's bagels on DMD.

I am a little freaked. Due to scheduling conflicts, I'm actually going to do the official DMD ride. I was sort of counting on seeing Thom at every stop. But, doing the real thing has lots of pluses. I can get an earlier start, which means I should be off Hamilton before it's dark. There will be more riders around - at least passing me anyway. Jesse thinks I should be able to finish an hour faster, due to shorter rest breaks and being able to work with the other riders. I actually hope it's a warmish day, since I do better when it's warm.

V.

[SadieKate]

Jesse thinks I should be able to finish an hour faster, due to shorter rest breaks and being able to work with the other riders. I actually hope it's a warmish day, since I do better when it's warm.

V.

I suspect the same thing. I think you'll find a lot of energy and momentum can be gained from the group. I know it isn't a large group but still there always seems to be a boost of energy on such days. And you'll have the Solvang under your belt by then.

[aka_kim]

And I always thought you should do the real ride - alot more energy and people to ride with. Plus, Thom will still be there, and me too. I'm not sure about the Noah's bagels... hmmm they'd need to be fresh, could we pick them up before 5am on ride day?

aka - locked myself out of car, stuck at work, starving - kim

[Veronica]

I feel better already.

Are you still stuck at work?

V.

[Veronica]

Today's pre ride fueling - fat laden chcocolate chip scones! Hmmm... scones.

I've moved up to doing my advanced abs tape - ouch!

V.

[Nanci]

Large bowl of chicken chow mein with rice and noodles- yum!!! I rode 80 miles, and only took in an additional one pack of Jelly Belly Sport Beans, one bottle of Gatorade, and one Hershey's Strawberry Milkshake.

When I got home, I was entitled to a nice dinner, perhaps some General Tso's Chicken that I would never normally be in enough calorie deficit to eat, but after a hot bath, it was all over, no way was I going to drive somewhere...frozen Stouffer's Chicken Alfredo for me. That was good, too.

I don't see how people can start a ride on a bagel and a bananna, or whatever. I need real food!!

Nanci

Wondering if I have the motivation for dates/walnuts for my 300k Saturday...