Best way to carry food on Sportives

sampras38

Hi all

Been toying with the idea of getting something like this for use on Sportives. Has anyone got one, or can you recommend something better?

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... y-10-37543

It will be going on a Scott CR1 Pro

Scrumple

pockets

ratsbeyfus

Yep - pockets are all you need. Most sportives have feed stations now, and you can stuff a lot of mars bars/gels in your jersey pockets to get you between them. Also, if you carry a couple of bottles you can have water in one and a carb drink in the other.

AndyD2574

pockets and a tail pack

sampras38

How did I know you'd say pockets..?

;-)

Yep, been doing that for a while now but thought I might try something different. As for feed stops, yeah, I tend to ignore the first one and stop at the rest. Hoping to do a good time at this year's Dragon and a few others.

sampras38

ratsbeyfus wrote:

Yep - pockets are all you need. Most sportives have feed stations now, and you can stuff a lot of mars bars/gels in your jersey pockets to get you between them. Also, if you carry a couple of bottles you can have water in one and a carb drink in the other.

Mars bars?

Yuck..and not particularly good for sustained energy either.

ratsbeyfus

Mars bars are great for the dreaded bonk though.

Smokin Joe

There is no need to carry food on a sportive. Just ride in a large group and do a few of those cafe raids like they used to in the Tour de France, bursting into a Mini-Mart and clearing the shelves of biscuits and cake.

The owners will appreciate you bring a continental flavour to their business.

ratsbeyfus

Re 'Cafe raids' - Just don't do a Tommy Simpson and go for the whiskey/amphtamine 'energy' bar mix. :shock:

redddraggon

softlad

Smokin Joe wrote:

There is no need to carry food on a sportive. Just ride in a large group and do a few of those cafe raids like they used to in the Tour de France, bursting into a Mini-Mart and clearing the shelves of biscuits and cake.

The owners will appreciate you bring a continental flavour to their business.

I like it - is there an approved list of mini-marts where we can do this on the Tour of Pembs route..?

Smokin Joe

softlad wrote:

Smokin Joe wrote:

There is no need to carry food on a sportive. Just ride in a large group and do a few of those cafe raids like they used to in the Tour de France, bursting into a Mini-Mart and clearing the shelves of biscuits and cake.

The owners will appreciate you bring a continental flavour to their business.

I like it - is there an approved list of mini-marts where we can do this on the Tour of Pembs route..?

Tescos in Goodwick, but don't say I told you!

sampras38

ratsbeyfus wrote:

Mars bars are great for the dreaded bonk though.

Only ever bonked once in my life and there really is no excuse for not having enough food/drink on the bike. If I am desperate I'll use a gel over a mars bar every time.

;-)

bendertherobot

sampras38 wrote:

Hi all

Been toying with the idea of getting something like this for use on Sportives. Has anyone got one, or can you recommend something better?

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... y-10-37543

It will be going on a Scott CR1 Pro

I've been looking at those. Seems good. I'll be using one in conjunction with a medium Fizik bag on the saddle (for puncture kit etc).

I hate putting stuff in my pocket. And I like to carry stuff like SIS electrolyte drink (I suffer easily from cramping). I also chuck a corned beef pasty in for later in the ride as the Dragon doesn't really do savoury.

sampras38

bendertherobot wrote:

sampras38 wrote:

Hi all

Been toying with the idea of getting something like this for use on Sportives. Has anyone got one, or can you recommend something better?

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... y-10-37543

It will be going on a Scott CR1 Pro

I've been looking at those. Seems good. I'll be using one in conjunction with a medium Fizik bag on the saddle (for puncture kit etc).

I hate putting stuff in my pocket. And I like to carry stuff like SIS electrolyte drink (I suffer easily from cramping). I also chuck a corned beef pasty in for later in the ride as the Dragon doesn't really do savoury.

Don't take it the wrong way but all those fatty foods such as pasties etc really aren't that great for long distance riding. Too much fat and you're body will struggle to digest what it needs for energy. And if you struggle with cramps, can I suggested you give elete water a go? Stick some in your usual drink/carb drink and i'l be very suprised if you cramp as much.

hammerite

sampras38 wrote:

Don't take it the wrong way but all those fatty foods such as pasties etc really aren't that great for long distance riding. Too much fat and you're body will struggle to digest what it needs for energy. And if you struggle with cramps, can I suggested you give elete water a go? Stick some in your usual drink/carb drink and i'l be very suprised if you cramp as much.

Pasties really aren't that bad. Some guy ran across the USA powered daily by Ginsters* pasties! Sometimes you need something savoury to get away from all the sweet stuff from energy drinks, gels and bars.

I have one of those top tube bags - different make though. They're called Bento boxes. I don't use it for everyday rides where I keep everything in my pockets, but I do for triathlon where there isn't enough room in your pockets. The one advantage of them though, if you have some food you want to keep a bit cooler they work well, food in pockets tends to warm to sweaty body temperature after a while.



*other pasties are available, and I think he used energy products too, and wasn't purely running on pasty power.

sampras38

hammerite wrote:

sampras38 wrote:

Don't take it the wrong way but all those fatty foods such as pasties etc really aren't that great for long distance riding. Too much fat and you're body will struggle to digest what it needs for energy. And if you struggle with cramps, can I suggested you give elete water a go? Stick some in your usual drink/carb drink and i'l be very suprised if you cramp as much.

Pasties really aren't that bad. Some guy ran across the USA powered daily by Ginsters* pasties! Sometimes you need something savoury to get away from all the sweet stuff from energy drinks, gels and bars.

I have one of those top tube bags - different make though. They're called Bento boxes. I don't use it for everyday rides where I keep everything in my pockets, but I do for triathlon where there isn't enough room in your pockets. The one advantage of them though, if you have some food you want to keep a bit cooler they work well, food in pockets tends to warm to sweaty body temperature after a while.



*other pasties are available, and I think he used energy products too, and wasn't purely running on pasty power.

Haha...a Bedford boy....says it all..;-)

I'm originally from Bedford too, although have lived in West London for the last 15 odd years. As for the bike bag, I usually carry food in my pockets on training rides, and have done on all my sportives so far. I just thought it might be a little more convenient to use when i don't want to muck about at feed stops. Going for some quicker times this year.

Have you got a link to one of those boxes is all i can find is Japanese sushi boxes under Bento?

mzm70

I've just bought one of these, there are 2 options, one with a waterproof cover and one without.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=11335

sampras38

mzm70 wrote:

I've just bought one of these, there are 2 options, one with a waterproof cover and one without.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=11335

That's more like it...nice one..;-)

Do you know how secure they are?

hammerite

You were the one that got a way then I don't actually live in the town, a village a few miles outside. I did escape for a while, but for various reasons came back.

The boxes work fine, they're not very expensive, so worth experimenting with and see how you get on. If you work out it's not for you it's not really an expensive mistake.

sampras38

hammerite wrote:

You were the one that got a way then I don't actually live in the town, a village a few miles outside. I did escape for a while, but for various reasons came back.

The boxes work fine, they're not very expensive, so worth experimenting with and see how you get on. If you work out it's not for you it's not really an expensive mistake.

Haha..I go back occasionally as still have family and friends there, but only occasionally. Got a few friends in Bromham, Great Barford and over Goldington Road way.

Most people like to come to me..;-)

and yep, I'll definately give the bag a try.

Once again BR comes up trumps.

amaferanga

sampras38 wrote:

mzm70 wrote:

I've just bought one of these, there are 2 options, one with a waterproof cover and one without.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=11335

That's more like it...nice one..;-)

Do you know how secure they are?

I used one of these quite a bit last year. They're pretty secure, but make sure you tape the top tube where the bag sits otherwise it'll slowly wear away the paint/lacquer.

sampras38

amaferanga wrote:

sampras38 wrote:

mzm70 wrote:

I've just bought one of these, there are 2 options, one with a waterproof cover and one without.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=11335

That's more like it...nice one..;-)

Do you know how secure they are?

I used one of these quite a bit last year. They're pretty secure, but make sure you tape the top tube where the bag sits otherwise it'll slowly wear away the paint/lacquer.

Thanks for the tip, although I'll only use for Sportives so it won't be on the bike that much. got 3 to do this year plus the Alps.

mzm70

♦

amaferanga wrote:

sampras38 wrote:

mzm70 wrote:

I've just bought one of these, there are 2 options, one with a waterproof cover and one without.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=11335

That's more like it...nice one..;-)

Do you know how secure they are?

I used one of these quite a bit last year. They're pretty secure, but make sure you tape the top tube where the bag sits otherwise it'll slowly wear away the paint/lacquer.

No haven't got it yet, should be here tomorrow, you're welcome to have a look as you don't live too far it seems.

Nice tip from amaferanga, thanks♦

sampras38

mzm70 wrote:

♦

amaferanga wrote:

sampras38 wrote:

mzm70 wrote:

I've just bought one of these, there are 2 options, one with a waterproof cover and one without.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=11335

That's more like it...nice one..;-)

Do you know how secure they are?

I used one of these quite a bit last year. They're pretty secure, but make sure you tape the top tube where the bag sits otherwise it'll slowly wear away the paint/lacquer.

No haven't got it yet, should be here tomorrow, you're welcome to have a look as you don't live too far it seems.

Nice tip from amaferanga, thanks♦

Cheers for the offer but I think I can take a risk for a tenner..;-)

And yep, I am close to you, I'm in Ickenham.

bendertherobot

sampras38 wrote:

Don't take it the wrong way but all those fatty foods such as pasties etc really aren't that great for long distance riding. Too much fat and you're body will struggle to digest what it needs for energy. And if you struggle with cramps, can I suggested you give elete water a go? Stick some in your usual drink/carb drink and i'l be very suprised if you cramp as much.

No offence taken. It's not about the pasty. It's about the salt it has. SIS electrolyte helps me enourmously. But a Peter's Corned Beef pasty bailed me out last year on a huge hill. It also tells the mind something other than sweet sickly glucose is coming in. Pasty's are great. But no-one should ever use them for energy.

sampras38

bendertherobot wrote:

sampras38 wrote:

Don't take it the wrong way but all those fatty foods such as pasties etc really aren't that great for long distance riding. Too much fat and you're body will struggle to digest what it needs for energy. And if you struggle with cramps, can I suggested you give elete water a go? Stick some in your usual drink/carb drink and i'l be very suprised if you cramp as much.

No offence taken. It's not about the pasty. It's about the salt it has. SIS electrolyte helps me enourmously. But a Peter's Corned Beef pasty bailed me out last year on a huge hill. It also tells the mind something other than sweet sickly glucose is coming in. Pasty's are great. But no-one should ever use them for energy.

You don't need to eat pastry to get the required sodium or other electrolytes though, and Elete or Nuun will give you all the electrolytes you'll need for a sportive. And personally, pastry would sit in my stomach like a lead weight..;-)

I know what you mean about fancying something savory though. Personally it's never really bothered me and I think that's coz I try to mix up what I eat. I tend to vary it with bananas, the odd cliff or mule bar, and homemade muffins and flapjacks. I try not to make them too sweet so I can eat more of them.

hammerite

I often have a half a sandwich in the box for a long triathlon, just ham or pate or something similar. Don't always eat it, but it's there just in case the gloopy sweet stuff ever feels too much.

I tend not to bother on the bike, but then I don't think I've been out for more than 4 hrs very often without having a cafe stop

holybinch

Mmm, the idea of the warm pate sarnie :shock:

mzm70

sampras38 wrote:

mzm70 wrote:

♦

amaferanga wrote:

sampras38 wrote:

mzm70 wrote:

I've just bought one of these, there are 2 options, one with a waterproof cover and one without.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=11335

That's more like it...nice one..;-)

Do you know how secure they are?

I used one of these quite a bit last year. They're pretty secure, but make sure you tape the top tube where the bag sits otherwise it'll slowly wear away the paint/lacquer.

No haven't got it yet, should be here tomorrow, you're welcome to have a look as you don't live too far it seems.

Nice tip from amaferanga, thanks♦

Cheers for the offer but I think I can take a risk for a tenner..;-)

And yep, I am close to you, I'm in Ickenham.

Ahh, mere pennies to an Ickenham resident

sampras38

hammerite wrote:

I often have a half a sandwich in the box for a long triathlon, just ham or pate or something similar. Don't always eat it, but it's there just in case the gloopy sweet stuff ever feels too much.

I tend not to bother on the bike, but then I don't think I've been out for more than 4 hrs very often without having a cafe stop

Yeah, you shouldn't need much food for 4 hours, and hardly any if you're stopping for a cafe stop..;-)

A lot depends on how fast you want to do the rides tbh and most of my sportives are 100+ and 7 odd hours, if I'm doing well. Hoping to get under 7 hours on the Dragon this year as missed it by a whisker last year with not a lot of training and too much time at feedstops.