Food for events

aquanaut

Hi. Ive done a bit of reading and know not to eat new things on day of events, but im very new to the whole gels, drinks and eating on the go. Can anyone give me some advise on pre, during and post nutition - also do I need to store everything in jersey pockets? Was thinking mint cake, few gels and some of the tablets with electrolytes that add to water - advise welcome!

thebouldwhacker

Well for me (when I am organised)

Evening before:

Big supper, pasta, meat or fish and plenty of it.
Drink plenty of water to slow dehydration the next day.
prepare drinks for the next morning by filling one bidon with water and the other with 2 table spoons of sugar, a sachet of salt, a small amount of dilute fruit drink to flavour.
early to bed.
(what normally happens:
Am running around to get a pair of matching socks until about 11pm and then have a pizza with a bottle of wine and hit the sack about 2am moaning that I never filled my bidons or found matching socks )

Morning of-
2 hours before start:
Porridge, as much coffee as possible, banana's, toast etc, ie fill up but not too much
Just before start:
Banana and water
(what normally happens:
wake up late, buy 2 sausages and a croissant from a petrol station en route and eat while driving, cursing and probibly smoking a fag)

During the cycle: (distance dependant this would be for 200k)

The water mix is as good an isotonic drink as you'll get, stick a sachet of salt in your pocket to fill up at food stops, they will have sugar)
Depending on the mood I'd bring 1 or more portions of:
Fig rolls
Cereal bars
1 or 2 Turkish Delights (as good as energy gels but at a fraction of the cost and they taste sooooo much better)
Banana or two

All in pockets but the Turkish Delights go in the saddle bag or they will melt...... not so tasty then.

(Oh and a €50 note in case I need to stop for espresso or pay someone for something or just decide to skip the cycle and head into town for myself)


Oh and for after:

Usually anything I can get my hands on (I do try and stay away from fast food though)


But thats just me....

aquanaut

That sounds cool - actually just read http://www.cptips.com/bsnutpl.htm which is similar put more jargon for me, and no where near as funny! No doubt ill see you up there (TDC) - ill be stressing about pack ettiquete or somthing

monkeyslayer

i'm sure theres much more thorough advice to come but my two cents would be stay away from anything like gels and high sugar content for as long as possible on a big sportif. I spent much of my first 200 wishing i'd brought a tooth brush... and for a time half doubled up from the sugar cramps! Beware of eating all the **** they give you on sportifs, just cause its free its not necessarily a good idea to eat it all whatever works on your training spins will work on the day

thebouldwhacker

aquanaut wrote: »

ill be stressing about pack ettiquete or somthing

This'll sort ya

ashleey

Put dioralyte sachets in your water and carry a few kelloggs nutigrain bars, eat a good breakfast, avoid pro energy gel type stuff unless you want to be sick, eat bananas at food stops. Easy. Then as others have said, get up late and forget it all as I did for the skyride and end up in the ditch with cramp after 100km courtesy of zipfit

ROK ON

Don't change what you eat unless its total crap.

Night before an event I always make a risotto.

Morning. Cornflakes, some nice bread with chocolate spread, bananas, apple, orange and OJ.
I avoid coffee as it gives me an urge to pee, particularly on cold mornings.

I got very ill last year on an event due to a combination of gels, energy drinks etc. Came out both ends if you understand me.

Now I take water and water with electrolyte.
Cereal bar (natures way).
Either strawberry Clif ShotBloks or Cherry Honey Stingers.

The key I think with energy products is to use sparingly and usually on a very long event.

Hail 2 Da Thief

Would a tube of Honey be a good & natural alternative to energy gels?

chakattack

Hail 2 Da Thief wrote: »

Would a tube of Honey be a good & natural alternative to energy gels?

Try it for yourself and report back..............

Hail 2 Da Thief

chakattack wrote: »

Try it for yourself and report back..............

Captain Havoc

I go for vindaloo the evening before but early, around 6 or 7 o'clock and müesli in the morning (when I'm behaving). I have been known to have a dirty breakfast roll in the morning though I guess you've realised, you should not follow any advice on nutrition from me.

Lumen

Hail 2 Da Thief wrote: »

Would a tube of Honey be a good & natural alternative to energy gels?

Maybe.

The comments on that article suggest to me that speculating about such things on the internet as a non-scientist only creates more confusion.

C3PO

I'm becoming more convinced that energy drinks really don't work for me! I only use them (High 5 4:1) for racing but I find my stomach is upset for days afterwards! I know that this could also be a reaction to the sustained effort but I don't think that's the case with me! I also hate the "tacky" aftertaste! I would definately suggest trying them for training before using them on raceday!

Lumen

RPL1 wrote: »

I'm becoming more convinced that energy drinks really don't work for me! I only use them (High 5 4:1) for racing but I find my stomach is upset for days afterwards!

Just use sugar (glucose or maltodextrin) and salt instead. It is most likely to be the fructose you have a problem with.

aquanaut

A lot to go through here, thanks very much - appreciated! I hate bananas but some great alternatives!