Best cycling food?

wellbeloved747

Benn thinking about this lately.
I have in my cupboard a load of energy stuff because i usually get free race packs with products i buy.

If i go out for over 2 hours i will take some gels but i feel that i ruin the reason for the ride (exercise), because a typical energy gel isn't that good is it? its thick and has the texture of treacle and it is full of synthetic stuff and sugars!

Is the humble banana as good as it gets?

TakeTurns

teisetrotter

Figs, dates and Soreen lunch box loaves.

Sprool

just because gels are man-made and optimised for giving energy during exercise does not mean they are bad. The exercise you get on a good ride is not ruined by eating a synthetic product.

teisetrotter

Maybe, but why bother when the original is so good!

Porridge, honey and a seed mix ......... the food of gods before the ride.

charlie_potatoes

TakeTurns wrote:

+1
Easy to eat on the move

Grill

TakeTurns wrote:

+2

Dates (especially medjool) and bananas are pretty much all you should need.

cerv52

peanut butter and strawberry jam sandwiches work for me

phil_smeeth

wellbeloved747 wrote:

Benn thinking about this lately.
I have in my cupboard a load of energy stuff because i usually get free race packs with products i buy.

If i go out for over 2 hours i will take some gels but i feel that i ruin the reason for the ride (exercise), because a typical energy gel isn't that good is it? its thick and has the texture of treacle and it is full of synthetic stuff and sugars!

Is the humble banana as good as it gets?

I think it really comes down to personal preference. I find it easier eating man made energy foods on the go. Every brand of energy food has a different texture so don't give up on them. Just try as many different ones you can and remember the ones you like. I like Torq energy bars and Science in sport gels. Personally I don't like zipvit gels as they were too thick for me. SIS gels are more like jelly. I just miss the ice cream to go with them

roypsb

Soreen banana loaf for me on the go and normally a bowl of branflakes an hour before a morning ride.

I know lots on here favour bananas but I couldn't peel one on the go, so not for me.

chrisaonabike

Flapjack for me.

freddiegrubb

If you eat the dates get the stoned variety, spit out the stone into the side of the road/hedge & if global warming comes along, bingo ,we get palm trees.

englander

Flapjacks for me, too. I make my own and cut them up small for mid ride snacks.

MattC59

Bacon sandwiches. Got one on the go now..... Yum yum yum !

jcondylis01

Long pre-ride breakfast= porride, banana, apple, oj/aj, coffee, pint of water.

I like the High5 IsoGel Plus as a back up for if I run out of isotonic drinks, as they are liquidy and tasty. Bananas are good. If I stop for lunch then a tuna and cucumber sarnie is perfect, lots of lean protein and carbs.

philwint

Flapjack for me too. Cut into handy sizes i individually wrap them. About 3/4 of a batch usually gets stolen by my daughter though!

Yesterdays batch:



I am really not a fan of bananas, I'll eat them if i have to, but would never choose them.

I do like the dates idea though - but are they not a bit sticky?

Maybe I could mix chopped dates into my flapjack (would stop the thefts by my daughter too!)

Azhar

Chocolate! About less than an hour u leave for cycling. Works very well.

iPete

A banana in the pocket and cake, at the cake stop, you are having a cake stop right?

mmm cake

Grill

Azhar wrote:

Chocolate! About less than an hour u leave for cycling. Works very well.

Terrible idea. You're either a seasoned randonneur or you don't go for long/hard rides.

iPete

I go for long hard rides, snickers and banana in my back pocket.

Unless you are talking about your kind of 12 hour long rides!

Lycra-Byka

I got a pb on strava today whilst peeling (with teeth) and eating (also used teeth) a bannnananana. They really are the best food on the go. But, if you care, weigh the most.

I prefer real food. As its cheaper.

Sorreen loaf with jam (moisture helps it go down quicker)
Alpen bars (or similar)
Almonds
Anything with plenty of carbs, sugar and as a bonus protein(the new carbs apparently)

Although I always carry an emergency energy gel in my saddlebag.

wellbeloved747

freddiegrubb wrote:

If you eat the dates get the stoned variety, spit out the stone into the side of the road/hedge & if global warming comes along, bingo ,we get palm trees.

I like that idea

chuckla

philwint wrote:

Flapjack for me too. Cut into handy sizes i individually wrap them. About 3/4 of a batch usually gets stolen by my daughter though!

Yesterdays batch:



I am really not a fan of bananas, I'll eat them if i have to, but would never choose them.

I do like the dates idea though - but are they not a bit sticky?

Maybe I could mix chopped dates into my flapjack (would stop the thefts by my daughter too!)

What's your recipe Phil?

smoggysteve

Teisetrotter wrote:

Figs, dates and Soreen lunch box loaves.

Ive got addicted to Soreen recently, lovely stuff, Very low fat too.

supermurph09

Had some points left over so bought these, tried them today. http://www.maxishop.com/viper-active-bars

Bit dry to the taste but easy to digest with a swig of water, i.e not chewy. Felt pretty good today.Well 17mph average for 55 miles says so anyway!

philwint

chuckla wrote:

What's your recipe Phil?

250g butter
250g good dark sugar
250g golden syrup
good shake of salt
500g oats

Oven heating to 150C

Melt the butter in a large saucepan, add in the sugar, salt and syrup and mix til the sugar has dissolved.

Fold in the oats

Tip it all into a 9" square greased deep baking tin

Pop in the oven for about 15 mins (until golden). Leave to cool in the tin for a while then turn out onto a board and cut it up before it's gone cold/hard

From this thread i'm thinking figs, or nuts, or seeds, or just about anything could also go in the mix nomnomnom

backo

wife makes a mean banana bread...ideal for long rides.

flapjacks ( homemade) with nuts and dried fruit and peanutbutter/jam butties are also a winner for me

Inutero

I have a bowl of porridge with nuts, seeds, berries (Goji atm) and raisins pre-ride. Then i either take some soreen bananananana :P loaf, homemade flapjacks ( Phil's picture looks very yummy, going to make some tomorrow) or raisins.

philwint wrote:

From this thread i'm thinking figs, or nuts, or seeds, or just about anything could also go in the mix nomnomnom

I used to make them similar to yours, but then i started adding seeds, nuts and berries/ raisins. Basically whatever was lying around

elderone

freddiegrubb wrote:

If you eat the dates get the stoned variety, spit out the stone into the side of the road/hedge & if global warming comes along, bingo ,we get palm trees.

Not really,with global warming we will get colder in britain,apparently.

verylonglegs

I like to put a splash of dark rum or bourbon in my flapjacks for an extra subtle flavour. I mean just a splash too, not enough so it tastes like you are doing shots whilst out on your ride.

Camus

Before a ride I'll fuel up on porridge made with 1 cup of oats, 1 cup Alpro light, 1 cup water, pinch of salt, 2 tsp honey, into that I'll mix a banana that has been boiled for about three minutes, mashed up and mixed with an Alpro yoghurt (saw this idea on team sky's website). If I'm still hungry afterwards I'll either go for fruit salad or scrambled egg with two pieces of wholemeal toast. Drinks would be a large cup of coffee, 1 average glass of juice and as much water as I want.

During the ride I'll take a couple of the following: energy gel, energy powder mixed into my water, bottle of pure water, banana, flapjack, nakd bar.