Supermarket on-bike nutrition

Bradders87
Bradders87 Posts: 93
edited July 2010 in Road beginners
Hi all,

Just a quick one here. I'm fairly new to proper road cycling - having got a new Orbea I've covered about 500 miles on it in the last few weeks including a couple of 7 hours 110's.

I've broken those 110s up nicely with a break for lunch, but I'm planning a 160 tomorrow (Bristol to Swansea & back) and basically wondered what you guys would recommend for solid energy on the bike that's readily available cheaply in supermarkets rather than specialist energy bars? I'd like to make lunch in Swansea the only real stop on the ride if possible.

Comments

  • Peddle Up!
    Peddle Up! Posts: 2,040
    Did a sixty miler the other week munching on some fruit-rich "health bars". Very tasty and they stood up well in the heat too (unlike my choc :( )
    Purveyor of "up" :)
  • acidstrato
    acidstrato Posts: 945
    you can buy SiS and lucosade gels in alot of supermarkets and foil plates of flapjack for about 80p in tesco are good also. you cant go wrong with a banana or 2 as well. wouldnt carry much that could melt as I got the feeling its gonna be a warm one round these parts tomorrow so dont forget about your fluids too
    Crafted in Italy apparantly
  • fast as fupp
    fast as fupp Posts: 2,277
    malt loaf mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm malt loaf!!!
    'dont forget lads, one evertonian is worth twenty kopites'
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    Jordan Fruesli bars of Kellogs Nutri-grain are both tasty
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • Paul E
    Paul E Posts: 2,052
    +1 for malt loaf and then for variety banana, I can't eat too much banana though makes me gag a bit.

    I ate a few of the eleveness' bars last weekend when I did the 57 miles around the Isle of Arran and they kept me going.
  • Weejie54
    Weejie54 Posts: 750
    I ate a few of the eleveness' bars last weekend when I did the 57 miles around the Isle of Arran and they kept me going.

    Must have kept you going a bit longer. The Arran 'ring road' is just under 55 miles long. It is, of course, shorter anti-clockwise than clockwise, if you keep to the side of the road.
    It was just across the water from me when I stayed in North Ayrshire.
    Many a banana was consumed on the ring road.
  • woodywmb
    woodywmb Posts: 669
    They used a heavy-duty road roller when replacing the tar recently on the Arran perimeter. It spread the stuff out like a rolling pin on dough. Extended the length by two miles - to 57 in total. So you're right Paul.
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  • Nerrep
    Nerrep Posts: 112
    Malt loaf is good. You can squash it down to a really tiny size to go in pockets.
  • Bradders87
    Bradders87 Posts: 93
    Well I went for Sainsbury's cereal bars. £1 for 800 cals in 162g, let's see how they hold up..
  • Lagavulin
    Lagavulin Posts: 1,688
    Monty Dog wrote:
    Jordan Fruesli bars of Kellogs Nutri-grain are both tasty
    +1

    and fig rolls.
    2010 Cannondale CAAD 9
    2008 Wilier Izoard
  • Weejie54
    Weejie54 Posts: 750
    They used a heavy-duty road roller when replacing the tar recently on the Arran perimeter. It spread the stuff out like a rolling pin on dough. Extended the length by two miles - to 57 in total. So you're right Paul.

    Work ....in Arran? Must be the bananas.
  • mr_poll
    mr_poll Posts: 1,547
    Paul E wrote:

    I ate a few of the eleveness' bars last weekend when I did the 57 miles around the Isle of Arran and they kept me going.

    Yep had a cpl of elevenses bars in my pockets for 2 sportives i did recently and they were great - i checked out the carb/energy content and they equalled or beat anything else you can get in a supermarket, bar wise. Need drink with them though as they are a bit gooey.

    Jelly babies/Jelly beans are nice for a treat too. Supermarkets tend to stock gels too which are always handy.
  • White Line
    White Line Posts: 887
    IIRC a pack of fig rolls has a wee bit more carbs/protein/fat than six Nutri-Grain bars.

    One Nutri-Grain bar = 130cal
    One pack of fig rolls = 900cal

    So, almost seven Nurti-Grain bars. :shock: Two packs of fig rolls, two bananas and two bottles and you're set for a very very long time.

    Plus, at 72p per pack they're really cheap. :)
    Emiliana the CAAD9
  • rake
    rake Posts: 3,204
    mars bars are cheap and compact.
  • Weejie54
    Weejie54 Posts: 750
    mars bars are cheap and compact.
    And you can get them deep fried......
  • Garz
    Garz Posts: 1,155
    ..just ask the sweaty socks
  • MrChuck
    MrChuck Posts: 1,663
    I like those Rice Krispies square thingys (only the chocolate ones though, the others are revolting) and fig rolls.
  • EBM Biker
    EBM Biker Posts: 47
    Which supermarkets do SIS products? I've been to Sainsbury and ASDA but no joy.
  • anto164
    anto164 Posts: 3,500
    IIRC, Tescos do a small range of SIS products (It's a Tescos Extra which is MASSIVE and you can buy everything there). Find it near the fitness/body building department.
  • EBM Biker
    EBM Biker Posts: 47
    Cheers for that. Tesco is the other end of town for me so not one I automatically think of.
  • anto164
    anto164 Posts: 3,500
    http://direct.tesco.com/browse/?Ne=1&Nt ... tk=PRIMARY does that link work?

    Most of those were sold at my local Tesco Extra.
  • nickwill
    nickwill Posts: 2,735
    Trouble is most of these cereal bars are packed solid with bad fats and empty calories!
    As for Mars Bars!!!!
    http://lakescyclist.wordpress.com/
  • EBM Biker
    EBM Biker Posts: 47
    anto164 wrote:
    http://direct.tesco.com/browse/?Ne=1&Ntt=energy&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Nr=99&N=1998907+4294958508&Ntk=PRIMARY does that link work?

    Most of those were sold at my local Tesco Extra.

    That's the stuff! I'm going to try the gel as I struggle to eat and breathe at the same time due to my sinuses constantly draining.
  • anto164
    anto164 Posts: 3,500
    When i was there, they sold them in singles, so great to try them, then order a box off the internet if you like them.
  • Bradders87
    Bradders87 Posts: 93
    Nickwill wrote:
    Trouble is most of these cereal bars are packed solid with bad fats and empty calories!
    As for Mars Bars!!!!

    Seemed to work alright for me.

    Though I definitely did not think about the Welsh hills whilst planning. Took advantage of a friend's hospitality last night and came back this morning. 5 hours each way over 85 miles of hills and after today's weather I've got some amazing burn lines :lol:
  • vorsprung
    vorsprung Posts: 1,953
    I quite like Nut flavoured Tracker Bars. Available widely

    Another good one is Friji milkshake
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  • hammerite
    hammerite Posts: 3,408
    You might want something savoury with all that sweet stuff from the supermarket. I'd go for just a simple ham or cheese sandwich without any gunk like mayo in.

    Other than that ekevenses bars as have been recommended are really quite tasty.
  • sampurnell
    sampurnell Posts: 126
    brioche with choclate chips.
    one brand actually come individually wrapped to go in your pockets. :P
  • sampurnell
    sampurnell Posts: 126
    brioche with choclate chips.
    one brand actually come individually wrapped to go in your pockets. :P
  • sampurnell
    sampurnell Posts: 126
    brioche with choclate chips.
    one brand actually come individually wrapped to go in your pockets. :P

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