Breakfast, before or after commute?

manick0de

For those which have an early commute of a decent distance, do you have breakfast before or after your morning ride?

biondino

After, assuming 7 miles is a decent distance. But then I do the same if I'm taking the train. I can't eat within about 90 mins of waking up. I'm glad the commute isn't say more than 10 miles as I think I might suffer for it if so.

squired

After. I get up and am on the bike within 15 minutes. The ride in takes almost an hour, so when I get to the office I can have a nice large breakfast.

AndyManc

After .... I'm out at 5:30 am ( rotating shift ) , at work at 6am where I have cornflakes topped with mixed nuts and fruit / semi-skimmed milk ( all organic ).

Then I sit down with a cup of tea

Not sure it's the right thing to do , most of the info I've seen says you should have it before you ride .... but I can't be bothered / and I haven't got the time .

andrewc3142

I have muesli with some yoghurt and a glass of orange juice about 30 mins before setting off for my commute, about 30 miles.

If I'm working from home I try and fit in about 18 miles first thing and it doesn't seem to make a whole lot of difference if I have breakfast before or after.

Probably not that helpful.

girv73

I can't eat shortly before my 7.5 mile commute, so I usually grab an espresso, water and a piece of toast immediately when I get up as at that stage it's about 45-60 minutes before I'll be on the bike.

Get to work, shower, then have a big bowl of cereal or porridge usually with dried fruit. And probably more coffee.

ChrisLS

...breakfast befoe I set off...and another one when I get to work...

graeme_s-2

Just a glass of water before I set off for my 6 miles, then a bowl of muesli at work.

I've read that you can do fasted rides up to a maximum of about an hour, so I suppose it depends on your commute distance and your body.

ride_whenever

Something that i can have in my stomach but still push hard against for the commute, starburst work well! then breakfast when i get to work of fresh fruit muesli and low fat yoghurt. That said, I didn't eat anything the first time i cycled in and got a bit lost, 35 miles having not eaten since the night before was not fun.

lost_in_thought

I am quite proud of my ability to be out on the bike approximately 10 minutes after leaving my bed in the morning, breakfast is always at the desk after the commute, maybe a swig of water before i go, but my commute is only about 7 miles...

jstutters

Bowl of muesli and a cup of coffee about half an hour before I set off. I don't think I could manage 10.5 miles on an empty stomach. When I tried a couple of early morning loops of Richmond Park without eating beforehand I definitely struggled more on the climbs.

Littigator

coffee and a yoghurt before leaving

sausage sandwich or porridge and marmite on toast when I get to work.

ride_whenever

lost_in_thought wrote:

I am quite proud of my ability to be out on the bike approximately 10 minutes after leaving my bed in the morning, breakfast is always at the desk after the commute, maybe a swig of water before i go, but my commute is only about 7 miles...

I've done bed to lectures in 5 minutes before, 1mile in so a really quick sprint on my mtb with lots of illegal manouvres and bunnyhopping...

2wheelzgood

Muesli,porridge, toast OR (not and) crumpets about half an hour before my measily 5 miles cycling.. no wonder I am not losing weight!

I also make sure I eat a nice meal a bit before going out for evening rides in town which are only 10 miles longer or so... :oops:

dafruk

After in preference.

Cycle to work, clock on, go have a shower, eat breakfast, have a read of the newspapers/this website and then contemplate how my work is much better than when I start when I'm supposed to!

nwallace

Shower and Breakfast are an essential part of my waking up procedure, actually dinner and tea are also part of my waking up procedure and work just gets in the way. So to get out on the road without the shower (showers at work) I really really need the breakfast bit.

attica

15 miles fasted, I pretty much always have a brunch rather than lunch, a sarnie, mixed fruit and nut, fruit and homemade flapjack or a Geo bar depending what's in the cupboard in the morning.

If it's really hot (duh, that's like NEVER!) I'll grab an energy drink for on the bike (mainly cause it'll have electrolytes in it).

I've read that training fasted can help your body get used to working off it's own reserves, not sure if that's gospel though.

DonDaddyD

I don't tend to eat Breakfast, I think I need to change that though.

Even IF I eat before I cycle after I've ridden I'm hungry and need sugar. This means I make up for it at lunch time and then nothing until dinner 7-9pm. Its bad I know.

As of September. Cycle to work, breakfast bar once I'm at work.... smaller lunch, etc.

Incidentally I find that if I ride in the mornings on the weekend I eat before I cycle.

passout

Doesn't it depend on whether you want to eat at home or at work more than anything? Anyway, cereal & tea at home for me. Give 15 mins for it settle while you get ready, no probs.

pst88

I used to have breakfast before but it always made me feel sick on the way in. Didn't really have time to let it settle before jumping on the bike. Now I have breakfast when I get in to work, scrambled eggs on toast or something.

lynseyf

I only cycle 4 miles so when I get to work. I ate breakfast at home once and I felt sick by the time I got to work. I've got to have a big drink of juice/water before I leave the house though or I will be very thirsty by the time I get to work.

snooks

Water and a bananananana before I set off

13 odd miles later it's a shower and breakfast at work...if it's been a good ride in and I'm feeling healthy it's porridge, sultanas and honey

bad commute = sausage in a bun

OR if I just go for a morning cycle, it's straight out on my bike 10-15 miles, breakfast, shower and off to work by train

eyes like marbles

i can't eat much before i commute ( only 9 miles) or i burp it back up and feel sick so i have an orange ... or a mint.... kit kat and a mug of tea then have cereal when i get to work, topped off with a few coffees.

woodgob

I wake-up hungry. Mmmm......

Jabster101

Never fancy / have time in the morning. So a couple of cups of tea often does me - and ride in 13 miles (used to be 19) - just take it pretty easy.
,

Leedsblue

Up and out within 15 minutes for my 12 mile commute. Just a glass of water. Shave the night before and shower at work
Breakfast about an hour after I get to work

AndrewC - 30 mile commute. That is impressive. Must be worth a poll to determine commute distance

RSV_Ecosse

16 mile commute here, I also make sure I have a shave the night before and get showered once I arrive at the fire station. 8)

As soon as I get up, I have either a small bowl of porridge oats with some sultanas in it or a bowl of Crunchy Nut Cornflakes.

Then get kitted up and out the door in about 15 mins.

Once I have got to work and been showered, changed into uniform, I have a bannana before roll call and a small glass of Prolab N-Large afterwards.

Fixedweasel

I start the day with a little porridge, raisins and honey and a glass of water before a 25ish mile commute. If I do not eat prior to the ride I arrive at work in a very sorry state.

At work tend to graze all day until the return home ……. Actual thinking about it, I never appear to stop eating.

linsen

small bowl of porridge and a coffee or tea bafore I leave. 12 miles there. Spend rest of the day scavenging for whatever food I've left at work the day before!

wgwarburton

Both.

singlespeedexplosif

both. The important part of breakfast - a double ristretto - upon rising at 05:20.
Ride.
24km later, I have the more boring part of breakfast. And some more coffee.