Cheapskates Parade

Westerberg

I'd like to get some opinions on how to (or if I can) make my own food/drink products to replace the expensive powders, gels, bars that are on the market. For example, I've heard some people commenting that diluted orange juice with a dash of salt is "as good" as SIS PSP22! Alternatively, are there any cheaper brands on the market?

I'm looking for the cheapest way to reproduce or buy the following:-

1. Pre-ride fuel

2. Energy Drink while riding

3. Snacks while riding

4. Recovery drink / food.

ride_whenever

The home made ones are not "as good" unless you go to the lengths of getting the concentrations right.

Whether you're actually going to need that depends on your training load.

Westerberg

thanks - I should probably add, I'm not a slave to training and neither am I working to a specific plan. It's mainly for club runs and sportives - just to keep things ticking over.

ut_och_cykla

buy normal food, cook it /prepare it, wrap it into suitable portions.Unwrap adn eat as desired? :roll:
Fruit, sarnies with low fat fillings, fig rolls, flapjack, milk, smoothies etc etc - you don't need all the other stuff - its quick and convenient but thats basically what you're paying for - convenience... take some time and gather inspiration from other riders....make your own REAL food.
Cheaper suppliments can be had in bulk from various websites - one mentioned on here is my something - no doubt someone with a functioning memory will be along soon

Anonymous

Look at jibber jim's website for recipes, I just received a load of stuff from MyProtein and will be making my recovery and energy drinks soon.

I like the idea of adding caffeine and/or electrolytes if I want.

Miles cheaper!

Westerberg

NapoleonD wrote:

Look at jibber jim's website for recipes!

thanks - do you have the URL?

Anonymous

http://www.jibbering.com/sports/

phil s

2 tsps olive oil. Sorted.

Anonymous

Jam, soft cheese and salty ham sandwich, wrapped in foil on the bike.
Soreen malt loaf with margarine as well, on the bike.
Scrambled eggs, coffee, OJ and toast with jam/marmalade pre ride.

Ribena with a dash of salt drink ride.

Banana or cheese sandwich recovery.

I also have 1 promax meal bar with protein a day when I train hard. I know this goes against the grain of DIY but it really really is brilliant.

jibberjim

ride_whenever wrote:

The home made ones are not "as good" unless you go to the lengths of getting the concentrations right.

Not really, the relative concentrations of different carbohydrate sources are pretty irrelevant, and you can find a commercial product to match pretty much any variery you care to make. You can also find commercial products which are based on sugars which studies have shown to be considerably worse compared to a basic maltodextrin product (such as the simple glucose based drinks)

Getting concentrations wrong is also something you can do with commercial products, since it's really about the amount of water you get.

100%

I found this article on the Torq website quite interesting:

http://www.torqfitness.co.uk/news/big-ride-day

Matt Hart suggests some quite simple things e.g. his top pre-big ride breakfast is beans on (wholemeal) toast. Also mentions some other simple things you can use.

I quite like rice crackers - they're something like 80% carbohydrate, but they're very dry. I find I need to drink quite a bit with them - water or a fairly dilute energy drink.

I've also made rice cakes according to the Garmin recipie.

I also find fig rolls pretty good, and also hot cross buns are surprisingly good! Mainly use those last two when I'm out on long mountain bike rides rather than on the road or hard training. Hot cross buns are great at a cafe stop though!

Not made my own on the bike drinks though, so can't comment on this. I have made my own 'recovery' shakes - just milk, banana and yoghurt blended. Nothing special - there is probably more I should be adding really - but I found having that straight after a hard hour of cyclo-cross training kept me going quite well where as waiting to get home and eat/cook just left me feeling so drained by the time I ate.

Hope that helps - interesting to hear what others are up to.

Cheers,
Steve

dennisn

Westerberg wrote:

I'm looking for the cheapest way to reproduce or buy the following:-

1. Pre-ride fuel

2. Energy Drink while riding

3. Snacks while riding

4. Recovery drink / food.

1.) Two eggs, oatmeal, couple of bananas, coffee
2.) Water, drink a Coke every hour or so.
3.) Fig bars, peanuts, bananas, bagel.
4.) Pasta, pizza, beer, or whatever.

oldwelshman

Drink coke? Thats the worst thing you can drink. Put am old coin in coke and see what it does Full of additives and sugar. Water alon is not much use when riding unless you intend to pour it over you to cool.
Other stuff in your list is good tho

Pokerface

oldwelshman wrote:

Drink coke? Thats the worst thing you can drink.

Someone better tell these so called 'athlete' that you know better than all of them:

Anonymous

Coke (of the cola variety) is supposed to be excellent. Good levels of phosphor, sugar and caffeine...

oldwelshman

Err yes let me see, sponsorhip maybe? Coke is full of crap with lots of sugar, which is probably hwy the pros gulp it down like the pics but it is crap full stop.
These days less caffeine in it but still about equivalent of 12 spoons or sugar.
Speak to any dentist and ask them what they think of coke (not zero or diet) and what it does to enamel on teeth !!

dennisn

oldwelshman wrote:

Err yes let me see, sponsorhip maybe? Coke is full of crap with lots of sugar, which is probably hwy the pros gulp it down like the pics but it is crap full stop.
These days less caffeine in it but still about equivalent of 12 spoons or sugar.
Speak to any dentist and ask them what they think of coke (not zero or diet) and what it does to enamel on teeth !!

I agree. It's not the best stuff for the human system but we were talking energy producing substances. Not health care. Things to help you make it through those long rides.

Headhuunter

NapoleonD wrote:

Look at jibber jim's website for recipes, I just received a load of stuff from MyProtein and will be making my recovery and energy drinks soon.

I like the idea of adding caffeine and/or electrolytes if I want.

Miles cheaper!

Exactly, I've got protein, maltodextrin, electrolytes etc all from My Protein and I make my own. Waaaaaay cheaper than the pre made stuff and just as good.

oldwelshman

Headhuunter wrote:

NapoleonD wrote:

Look at jibber jim's website for recipes, I just received a load of stuff from MyProtein and will be making my recovery and energy drinks soon.

I like the idea of adding caffeine and/or electrolytes if I want.

Miles cheaper!

Exactly, I've got protein, maltodextrin, electrolytes etc all from My Protein and I make my own. Waaaaaay cheaper than the pre made stuff and just as good.

I use their tri energy drink which is very good.
What proportions do you mix and what do you flavour it with?

barrybridges

If I remember correctly, there was an interview with a soigneur many years ago in which they said that all the riders drink coke, but they add a small amount of water to it first which causes it to go flat first, otherwise it causes stomach problems mid-race.

Fizzy coke = bad.
Flat coke = good

neil²

Whatever you use make sure that you use it with total confidence and it will increase its power!

Poulsy

Have been using myprotein and making my own for ages for during and recovery. For the caffeine, I buy the tablets, cut them in half and then crush. Then you dont need uber scales ;-)