help with what to eat.

[salsabike]

I just read a whole shpiel on pre-event eating by Hammer Nutrition, in which they said: The first best thing would be to eat about three hours before the event. The second best thing, if you can't do that, is to eat about an hour after you start riding. They said, try not to eat just before you go. This is them, not me--but it was interesting reading. I'll try to find the "why" later and post that here too. They did have an explanation for it.

[KSH]

How far did you go? That would pay a factor here.

I know for me, I cannot go into a bike ride with food in my belly.

For a Sunday morning ride (12 mph average, 30 miles), I will consume around 300-500 calories 30 minutes before I ride... not a specific plan... it just happens that way since I eat as I drive to the ride. Then I eat around another 200 calories on the ride.

When I am going to do a longer and harder ride (faster average), I keep with the 500 calories, but I eat more while riding.

I know for me, I can eat and ride at the same time. Sure, it's not a HUGE meal... but I snack on peanut butter crackers... and shot blocks. My tummy always feels fine. But I can't eat and go run, or eat and go swim. So, it's not that I have an iron stomach.

Also, if I haven't consumed enough calories pre/post ride, my body will FEEL it. Just an over fatigued feeling. One time, I wasn't hungry after a fast paced 30 mile ride, so I just went to bed. MISTAKE! The next morning, I was so fatigued, I almost couldn't get out of bed for work. Just walking up my stairs winded me.

So, maybe look at your diet a little closer and find what works for you. Good luck!

[velogirl]

I just read a whole shpiel on pre-event eating by Hammer Nutrition, in which they said: The first best thing would be to eat about three hours before the event. The second best thing, if you can't do that, is to eat about an hour after you start riding. They said, try not to eat just before you go. This is them, not me--but it was interesting reading. I'll try to find the "why" later and post that here too. They did have an explanation for it.

The "why" is twofold:

First, if you want to be able to utilize the calories you just ate, it takes up to three hours for you to fully digest them.

Second, when you digest food, a higher volume of blood moves to your internal organs to aid in the digestive process. When you exercise, a higher volume of blood moves to your working muscles (in this case, your legs). Can you see the conflict there? Unfortunately, your performance will be compromised AND you'll probably get an upset stomach, stitches, or cramps.

[tulip]

I've found that I can do my commute to work fine without eating in the morning, but I'm really hungry by the time I get to work, so I have breakfast then (my commute is 14 miles and takes a bit more than one hour). But everyone is different. Try different ways things and you'll find the one that works for you.

[Cassandra_Cain]

Interestingly enough, I never had a problem eating a decent breakfast and then proceeding to ride, even long rides of 50+ miles. Mind you, I didn't stuff myself or gorge on pancakes - just a little cereal and toast.

While the physiology of it all is what it is, I think there is a lot of variety.

Why not try a couple of different alternatives and see what works best?

a) go sans breakfast
b) eat something light and that gets into your blood streamfast (maybe fruit)
c) something more conventional but w/o feeling stuffed or overly full

Or something else entirely different.

[DDH]

Well this morning, I ate a small bowl of Cheerios, drank the milk and had 1/2 cup off coffee. I rode 8 miles and did not feel like I did yesterday. Not sure if it was the food, or if it was the fact that I am sore today and had my focus on something else. LOL

I am sure I will figure out my nitch, and I am really sure it will take more than a couple of rides to do so. LOL

Thanks for the help and suggestions. I will try different things and then use what works.

[spokewench]

It is usually a good idea to eat something for breakfast, even if you don't ride immediately thereafter. Sometimes, if my time is limited, that is a piece of toast but then I know I will need to take something to eat on my bike ride afterwards, i.e. powerbars of some sort, gel, fig newtons, bananas, something like that.

What I find is that if I eat a little protein in the morning I have more energy and more sustained energy on the bike, i.e. a piece of toast or english muffin with peanut butter on it, with a piece of fruit and orange juice; or an english muffin with a cooked egg, fruit and orange juice. This works for me, but everyone is different. Some people have a hard time eating before riding and have to give their stomach time to digest, others can just go out and ride after eating a bunch. The training advice usually is that you shouldn't probably try to eat too much since then all the body's energy is going to your stomach to try to digest rather than to your body (Don't know if this is true or not).