Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Cyclocross and Gravelbiking (Recreational)
Reload this Page >

what is your go to mid-ride food(nutrition if you want to sound fancy)

Notices
Cyclocross and Gravelbiking (Recreational) This has to be the most physically intense sport ever invented. It's high speed bicycle racing on a short off road course or riding the off pavement rides on gravel like : "Unbound Gravel". We also have a dedicated Racing forum for the Cyclocross Hard Core Racers.

what is your go to mid-ride food(nutrition if you want to sound fancy)

Old 09-17-20, 09:49 AM
  #1  
mstateglfr 
Sunshine
Thread Starter
 
mstateglfr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,538

Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo

Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10902 Post(s)
Liked 7,390 Times in 4,148 Posts
what is your go to mid-ride food(nutrition if you want to sound fancy)

Yesterday, I had a lot of saddle time to think about what and how I eat on rides.

On anything less than 20mi, I dont have anything.
Rides over that, I always have on the bike a couple of apple sauce squeeze pouches and a Kind granola bar. If its a 30mi rides or so, Ill for sure have these while riding.
Mid-day rides are always a loop(i hate out and back) and inevitably route through a small town around the mid-point so there is for sure a Casey's or Kum & Go. Ill grab a slice of pizza and a gatorade then.

I was actually thinking about this yesterday while sitting in the shade on a curb at a small town Casey's. I only eat Casey's pizza or have gatorade on a long ride.
Not exactly the fuel of champions, but man its good!
mstateglfr is offline  
Likes For mstateglfr:
Old 09-17-20, 10:21 AM
  #2  
Rolla
Guest
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 2,888
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1346 Post(s)
Liked 3,269 Times in 1,439 Posts
I always fuel up before a ride with some carbs and protein. When it's not blazing hot I sometimes don't need anything else for several hours, but in warm weather or if the route is hilly, it usually goes something like this:

2-hour rides get a couple of Clif Bloks
2 to 3-hour rides add a bar of some kind and a Nuun in water
Over 3 hours add a PBJ
All rides get a beer afterwards or during. Sometimes a taco.
Rolla is offline  
Old 09-17-20, 07:25 PM
  #3  
Koyote
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 7,766
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6882 Post(s)
Liked 10,873 Times in 4,637 Posts
I live near Amish country, and I know an Amish lady who makes fried pies; imagine something like those Hostess fruit pies, but homemade, of good ingredients, and about 1000% better. After I get a dozen or two dozen from her, I will place them individually in ziplock bags....Then, when going on a long ride (>50 mi) I will put one in my jersey pocket when heading out. After a couple hours it is thawed, and it's like rocket fuel.

Shorter rides, and early and later on a longer ride, I also use Clif Shot Blocks and stuff like that. But right in the middle of a long ride, the fried pie is awesome.

Oh, and cookies. Yeah.
Koyote is online now  
Likes For Koyote:
Old 09-17-20, 07:45 PM
  #4  
Beach Bob
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Calgary, AB, Canada
Posts: 253

Bikes: Giant Defy Pro 0, Cervelo Aspero

Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 92 Post(s)
Liked 29 Times in 21 Posts
On three hour or longer rides, I stock a baggie of fig newtons to graze on as I go. Easy two bite morsels that seem to digest easy and quickly, and much cheaper than compressed saw dust Clif bars.
Beach Bob is offline  
Old 09-17-20, 09:29 PM
  #5  
dwmckee
Senior Member
 
dwmckee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 2,468

Bikes: Co-Motion Cappuccino Tandem,'88 Bob Jackson Touring, Co-Motion Cascadia Touring, Open U.P., Ritchie Titanium Breakaway, Frances Cycles SmallHaul cargo bike. Those are the permanent ones; others wander in and out of the stable occasionally as well.

Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 427 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 339 Times in 229 Posts
If over 30 miles I bring an apple or two, maybe a fig bar or a couple of carrots. I do not eat much even on a longer ride but I do drink watered down sport drink for quick absorption of calories. Most importantly I try not to put in many more calories than I burn up, but what calories I do put in I shoot for things that provide quick energy (other than the carrots, but I like carrots!).. Too many solid foods have a lot of calories that metabolize slowly and hit your system too late to do much on the ride.
dwmckee is offline  
Old 09-18-20, 06:53 AM
  #6  
mack_turtle
n00b
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 1,397

Bikes: Surly Karate Monkey, Twin Six Standard Rando

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 428 Post(s)
Liked 466 Times in 273 Posts
I just buy Clif bars in bulk at Costco and munch on one of those for every hour or so I am out.
I buy a tub of Gatorade mix and carry one bottle of that stuff if it's hot outside. nothing fancy because I'm cheap and not winning anything.
mack_turtle is offline  
Old 09-18-20, 06:58 AM
  #7  
KenCT
Full Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 207

Bikes: Cannondale Synapse Carbon 105 (2021) Cannondale Cujo 2 (2018) Cannondale Quick Carbon 1 (2017) Giant Sedona (2006) Cannondale R1000 (2001)

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 65 Post(s)
Liked 237 Times in 104 Posts
For any ride over 3 hours for me it is any combination of Fig Newtons, a zip lock bag with dried dates and pineapple chunks and mini cliff bars.
KenCT is offline  
Likes For KenCT:
Old 09-18-20, 07:30 AM
  #8  
aggiegrads
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Sherwood, OR
Posts: 1,279
Mentioned: 29 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 336 Post(s)
Liked 309 Times in 180 Posts
I like real foods for rides over 3 hours. Trader Joe’s has individually wrapped packages of olives and those are my current favorites. Salty, oily goodness.

Fig newtons are good, and peanut butter Snickers are my main convenience store go-to. Peanut butter and banana burrito is less likely to fall apart than a sandwich.
aggiegrads is offline  
Likes For aggiegrads:
Old 09-18-20, 11:43 AM
  #9  
Toadmeister
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Iowa
Posts: 682

Bikes: 2021 Salsa Fargo 1x12, 2019 Jamis Renegade Exploit 1x11. Motobacne NX Fat Tire

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 198 Post(s)
Liked 332 Times in 170 Posts
Originally Posted by mstateglfr
Yesterday, I had a lot of saddle time to think about what and how I eat on rides.

On anything less than 20mi, I dont have anything.
Rides over that, I always have on the bike a couple of apple sauce squeeze pouches and a Kind granola bar. If its a 30mi rides or so, Ill for sure have these while riding.
Mid-day rides are always a loop(i hate out and back) and inevitably route through a small town around the mid-point so there is for sure a Casey's or Kum & Go. Ill grab a slice of pizza and a gatorade then.

I was actually thinking about this yesterday while sitting in the shade on a curb at a small town Casey's. I only eat Casey's pizza or have gatorade on a long ride.
Not exactly the fuel of champions, but man its good!
I too crave Casey’s pizza on longer rides! Their breakfast pizza is my favorite with chocolate milk!

under 20 or so miles I like a snack bar, banana, or those small PBJs like Crustables, pic below. I freeze them than throw it in my bike bag.


Toadmeister is offline  
Old 09-20-20, 06:14 AM
  #10  
Ghazmh
Senior Member
 
Ghazmh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: The banks of the River Charles
Posts: 2,020

Bikes: 2022 Salsa Beargrease, 2020 Seven Evergreen, 2019 Honey Allroads Ti, 2018 Seven Redsky XX, 2017 Trek Boon 7, 2014 Trek 520

Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 693 Post(s)
Liked 903 Times in 486 Posts
Snack size zip top bag filled with dates and figs.
Ghazmh is offline  
Old 09-20-20, 10:21 AM
  #11  
pbass
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SoCal
Posts: 1,186

Bikes: 2016 Surly Cross Check, 2019 Kona Rove ST

Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 284 Post(s)
Liked 313 Times in 211 Posts
Good 'ol PBJ for me.
pbass is offline  
Old 09-20-20, 04:20 PM
  #12  
wheelsmcgee
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 506
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 101 Post(s)
Liked 41 Times in 33 Posts
This thread is getting me hungry.

I rarely do anything beyond electrolyte mix for rides under 30 miles (maybe a gu or a clif bar if I haven’t eaten anything yet that morning). Much over that (40 or so) and I am definitely going to be taking in steady calories during the whole ride if possible.

My go-to easy snack is a dried fruit (dates, craisens, figs, etc) mixed with some almonds or peanuts with extra sea salt. Sometimes I convince myself I need some M&Ms too 😁

edit: Beer after.

Last edited by wheelsmcgee; 09-20-20 at 04:26 PM.
wheelsmcgee is offline  
Likes For wheelsmcgee:
Old 09-21-20, 01:19 PM
  #13  
Badger6
Obsessed with Eddington
 
Badger6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Brussels (BE) 🇧🇪
Posts: 1,330

Bikes: '16 Spesh Diverge, '14 Spesh Fatboy, '18 Spesh Epic, '18 Spesh SL6, '21 Spesh SL7, '21 Spesh Diverge...and maybe n+1?

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 532 Post(s)
Liked 621 Times in 368 Posts
Eat every hour, as a rule of thumb. Clif Bloks, Clif Shots, Picky Bars, home made fruit/nut bars, PBJ, banana, something easily consumed while pedaling, but not too messy. So, any ride over 1 hour I take in something, generally speaking (not a rigid rule). Long rides (160km and longer) almost always have a food stop in the middle, since I don't rate a SAG vehicle and a feed bag, I have to stop for real food, like a real meal. It has to be quick (stops under 30 minutes, so I don't wind down)...burger, pizza, Döner, pasta plate, charcuterie, pomme frites (I live in Europe, it's what they do here)...protein and fat for a real food meal, but not huge amounts, for obvious reasons. Edit: this is easily achieved over here, there are restaurants and beer gardens everywhere, even in the forests.

Also, I ALWAYS roll with some sort of electrolyte in the water bottles (starting out); my go to is Nuun (I get a pro deal, so they're the least expensive for me and they work).
Badger6 is offline  
Old 09-21-20, 06:47 PM
  #14  
Toadmeister
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Iowa
Posts: 682

Bikes: 2021 Salsa Fargo 1x12, 2019 Jamis Renegade Exploit 1x11. Motobacne NX Fat Tire

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 198 Post(s)
Liked 332 Times in 170 Posts
I also eat about every hour. Gotta keep the furnace burning.
Toadmeister is offline  
Old 09-23-20, 05:56 AM
  #15  
DorkDisk
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Kips Bay, NY
Posts: 2,212

Bikes: Ritchey Swiss Cross | Teesdale Kona Hot | Haro Extreme | Specialized Stumpjumper Comp | Cannondale F1000 | Shogun 1000 | Cannondale M500 | Norco Charger | Marin Muirwoods 29er | Shogun Kaze | Breezer Lightning

Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 576 Post(s)
Liked 991 Times in 484 Posts
I normally drink four cups of black coffee and do about 30-40 miles without stopping and eating. On longer rides I do eat before but I rarely eat during a ride.
DorkDisk is offline  
Old 09-23-20, 06:11 AM
  #16  
Toadmeister
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Iowa
Posts: 682

Bikes: 2021 Salsa Fargo 1x12, 2019 Jamis Renegade Exploit 1x11. Motobacne NX Fat Tire

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 198 Post(s)
Liked 332 Times in 170 Posts
Originally Posted by DorkDisk
I normally drink four cups of black coffee and do about 30-40 miles without stopping and eating. On longer rides I do eat before but I rarely eat during a ride.
I keep to one strong cup in the morning, it tends to clean me out. If I time it right that happens before I get on the bike!
Toadmeister is offline  
Old 09-23-20, 02:22 PM
  #17  
grubetown
Senior Member
 
grubetown's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 384
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 110 Post(s)
Liked 24 Times in 21 Posts
I always try to balance sweet/salty and make sure it's easy to pack/consume. Nuun is my go to electrolyte drink. I too have been gravitating towards olives on my longer rides.
grubetown is offline  
Likes For grubetown:
Old 09-23-20, 06:46 PM
  #18  
zen_
Full Member
 
zen_'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: USA
Posts: 232
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 95 Post(s)
Liked 88 Times in 55 Posts
I've regressed to mostly Lemon-Lime Gatorade powder and Nature's Valley crunchy granola bars for my ride calories. Far from optimum, but they are very cheap, digest, and taste reasonably good regardless of temperature.

Had a couple blow ups using maltodextrin based drinks this year, which do digest better, and don't spike blood sugar as much, but they taste so bad when the fluid gets hot, and don't always mix well. It's hard to force down something that taste awful 5-6 hours into a tough ride.
zen_ is offline  
Old 09-24-20, 02:21 PM
  #19  
xseal
Junior Member
 
xseal's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 94
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 34 Post(s)
Liked 46 Times in 25 Posts
Almond butter and jelly.
xseal is offline  
Likes For xseal:
Old 09-24-20, 03:09 PM
  #20  
Gundo
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 58

Bikes: Domane SLR 7

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 19 Post(s)
Liked 21 Times in 16 Posts
Fig Newtons
Gundo is offline  
Likes For Gundo:
Old 09-29-20, 07:04 PM
  #21  
GrainBrain
Senior Member
 
GrainBrain's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Central Io-way
Posts: 2,655

Bikes: LeMond Zurich, Giant Talon 29er

Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1218 Post(s)
Liked 609 Times in 458 Posts
Originally Posted by zen_
Had a couple blow ups using maltodextrin based drinks this year, which do digest better, and don't spike blood sugar as much, but they taste so bad when the fluid gets hot, and don't always mix well. It's hard to force down something that taste awful 5-6 hours into a tough ride.
I stopped mixing my carbs with my water on long rides. I wouldn't drink enough water early in the ride because I was fueled from breakfast. I figured out I can recover from being slightly hungry way easier then being dehydrated.

Anything under 4 hours I'll eat a Stinger waffle about every 1.5hrs. I'm on a Stinger kick right now because I haven't gotten around to ordering from Hammer. They're less then a $1/piece from Walmart when you buy a box of them. I don't get tired of the taste, but I do have to stop and eat one unlike gels.

80+ miles I continue the malto-madness with gels/waffles but I'll alternate each hour with a quarter of a "butter and bread" sandwich. Just butter, italian bread, maybe a couple slices of salami or cured meat. Works well in quarters because two slices of bread are close to 300 calories, then the butter and meat for an extra 100 calories. It's tough to ride over a century without something savory.
GrainBrain is offline  
Old 09-29-20, 07:06 PM
  #22  
GrainBrain
Senior Member
 
GrainBrain's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Central Io-way
Posts: 2,655

Bikes: LeMond Zurich, Giant Talon 29er

Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1218 Post(s)
Liked 609 Times in 458 Posts
Oh yeah, Kum & Go eggrolls are where it's at! Or - their hash brown sticks.
GrainBrain is offline  
Old 09-30-20, 12:31 PM
  #23  
trailangel
Senior Member
 
trailangel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Pasadena, CA
Posts: 4,847

Bikes: Schwinn Varsity

Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1931 Post(s)
Liked 741 Times in 421 Posts
My mom always packs a snack for me.
trailangel is offline  
Likes For trailangel:
Old 09-30-20, 08:46 PM
  #24  
Metieval
Senior Member
 
Metieval's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Ohio
Posts: 2,857

Bikes: Road bike, Hybrid, Gravel, Drop bar SS, hard tail MTB

Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1218 Post(s)
Liked 298 Times in 214 Posts
Originally Posted by mstateglfr
or Kum & Go.
Not exactly the fuel of champions, but man its good!
Kum & Go sells Black Rifle Coffee in a can. Or at least in Colorado they do. Its my new favorite store.... but I'm on withdraw for the moment.
Metieval is offline  
Old 09-30-20, 08:51 PM
  #25  
Metieval
Senior Member
 
Metieval's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Ohio
Posts: 2,857

Bikes: Road bike, Hybrid, Gravel, Drop bar SS, hard tail MTB

Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1218 Post(s)
Liked 298 Times in 214 Posts
LARABAR Has been my new go to to throw in my top tube and in my camelbak.
I still have 1 water bottle mixed with pink sea salt, baking soda, and potassium chloride powder. For electrolyte loss. Been needing less of it in the dryer climates though.
Metieval is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.