eaglesandcycling

..

shelbyfv

Someone asked a very similar question a couple of days ago, maybe some of those responses will be of help. https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycl...-question.html

venturi95

Do you have easy access to potable water? Are we talking about the heat of summer (temperature extremes?) Any chance to hit up a gas station or convenience store (is chocolate milk ever a bad choice?). If you are going for an all day ride totally unsupported you should probably think about mounting everything on the bike. If it’s a “once in a while” ride a backpack may be OK.

venturi95

*Chocolate milk (nearly frozen in a Polar bottle before leaving).
*Vegan lunch meat with honest to goodness Swiss cheese sandwich.
*Almond butter, banana, and raspberry preserves sandwich.
*Nunn or Skratch nutrition for electrolytes.
*Apples, oranges, orange juice, peaches.
*Left over pizza.
*Organic energy bars.
*Cherry phosphate

Gconan

Mangos. Their messy but when you are out of energy they are a good boost.
Orange bell peppers. Delicious!
Coconut water.

blacknbluebikes 

Rye Whisky, Red vermouth, bitters.
oh, wrong forum. sorry.

wheelsmcgee

I lose a lot of salt during rides, so I tend to crave salty things on long rides...particularly salty/sweet mix. One of my faves is a mix of 1/2 almonds, 1/2 dates (or craisens), sprinkled with extra lite salt or sea salt. Otherwise, it’s usually something like a clif bar.

If I’m going less than 3 hours, I usually end up just consuming a GU or two or maybe some electrolyte mix...Often on rides less than 2 hours, I just drink water and eat “real food” when I finish.

Garfield Cat

Longer rides means getting off the bike and spending time for a leisurely meal. Perhaps at a park bench. Much like what we experience on an Organized Century at the lunch stop. Might be tough to replicate these days with the Virus situation.

dwmckee

I carry two water bottles and some powdered electrolyte mix no matter the distance. When I run out of water I stop and any house with someone out front mowing the lawn and ask if I can refill my water bottles. Often we meet some really nice folks and have a nice chat before we shove off again. People offer ice sometimes too if we look really bad and I have even been offered a popsicle. Last fall at a water stop the farmer hauled our group to the top of a hill in the back of his truck to show us the windmills he has installed to help produce extra farm income with electricity generation. Nice way to meet some new folks. Almost everyone is really nice, and if they are not, just go a little further down the road instead. Surprisingly, even people with posted no trespassing signs everywhere generally are really nice and seem happy to have someone stop and talk to them for a few minutes.

Hondo Gravel

I swear by orange juice. Long days on the C&O and a bottle of OJ at a pit stop and I was rejuvenated. I know it can cause tummy trouble in some.

richdirector

Peanut butter and jam sandwich or bagel, banana, date cake, small bag of salted baby potatoes (excellent carb dump) emergency gel, jelly babies sometimes... All this if over 50 miles otherwise pack light for anything under 2 hours.

ypspidsi

Fruits, vegetables, nuts, sandwiches, canned food.

unterhausen

The OP's definition of a longer ride was 3 hours or more. I rode 3 1/2 hours yesterday. In the middle of the second climb, I stopped and drank an ensure. It's a little weird, but they are made for people who get no other nutrition, so it's a pretty balanced formula. Might not be the most weight efficient food, but I tend to be a little dehydrated, so the water content is good.

u235

Under 3 hour, just water. More... I can drink enough to empty my bottles at any time. Fig Newton's or cookies, if longer than 6+ hours I'll try to stop somewhere and eat a lunch and a coffee, even if just a sub or fast food. I haven't mastered the mineral balance on really long hot humid days (95+ and east coast humidity). Some of those days I just cramp up hard after 8 hours no matter what and how much I drink and the impact lasts several days. My avg HR on my rides is 140-150 which is upper zone 3/lower 4 for my age so I am working it. The relative effort level I am doing greatly determines my food and fluid requirements and will for everyone. There is no miracle food or drink that solves a problem for everyone. What would be ideal is what those velodrone 24 hour record distance chasers use, continuous blood monitoring and feed and repenlish specifics as required. I'm not waiting for that device to hit the shelves anytime soon so we experiment and hope it works.

shelbyfv

Also a good post ride recovery drink.