Stop for food or not?

GT_TDI_150

Probably going out over the w/e for a 4-4:30hrs spin, should i be planning a food stop for myself or stuff my pocket with brekkiebars, jellies, jam sangers and eat on the fly on the bike?

I did an 85k charity cycle few weeks back and they had a foodstop at 35k and a top-up stop at 60k.

But this is a solo spin, so not sure what to prep for (bring €€€ or stuff pockets)?

Mint Sauce

Jelly babies, figrolls, and bananas in the back pockets. Done one charity run which had two stops, really broke my rythem.

ratracer

Bring energy gels/bars plenty of fluids, maybe a banana or two. Stopping is a bad habit, takes a long time (for me anyway) to get going again after.

clog

For a solo spin of that time I would plan to bring enough stuff with me to go non stop. Some energy drink in one of the bidons a few gels and maybe a nutrigrain bar, also I usually bring a few mini packets of wine gums with me for emergencies perfect size for eating a packet on the move and they only cost 17c in tesco's.
That said i would always bring a few euro with me in case i wanted to stop for something.

Tonyandthewhale

If you're liable to get hungry over the course of the 85km, bring food. If not, don't. Although it's always a good idea to bring a little something in the saddle bag in case you bonk.

Always bring plenty of fluids anywho, extra money is handy but carrying actual food means if you run out of go you don't have keep trudging until you find a shop.

petethedrummer

4hours solo? I'd stop for food if it was a round trip.

If I was going somewhere I might push on to my destination.

route66

Remember it's nice to stop sometimes and chill a little; enjoy the cycle! And with that duration, I'd say its better to have a proper stop than to fill up on junk. Bring sangers, etc or stop somewhere - whatever suits. I have no problem myself getting going again after a 20 min rest - others will differ.
Enjoy it!

Wishbone Ash

petethedrummer wrote: »

4hours solo? I'd stop for food if it was a round trip.

If I was going somewhere I might push on to my destination.

What difference would it make if it was a 4 hour round trip or a 4 hour trip to another destination? Isn't it still 4 hours on the move regardless?

route66 wrote: »

I have no problem myself getting going again after a 20 min rest

I tend to stop as I'm partial to a large coffee during a long spin. I also feel revitalised after a break whereas I'd get sluggish if I kept moving.

happytramp

Depends on the ride. With a group of people a coffee and a quick bite to eat is nice. Although on my own I tend not to bother. That said one of my favourite things in the world is stopping at the Sally Gap crossroads for a few minutes with some fruit and biscuits in complete silence with no living thing around except for a few sheep hanging around.

seamus

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

What difference would it make if it was a 4 hour round trip or a 4 hour trip to another destination? Isn't it still 4 hours on the move regardless?

Yeah, I think his point is more to do with enjoying the trip. If you start and destination are home, then stopping in the middle gives you a chance to take in the new environment.

If your destination is somewhere else, then you may as well bull on and enjoy yourself there.

I personally don't stop if I'm on my own, except to pee or maybe open a troublesome piece of food. Don't mind stopping in the group, but if it's a big group they can tend to stop for too long.

torydiver

Each to their own.........
On a cycle that length I would be trying to make it as enjoyable as possible..
That's why I cycle;)

Only tip I can offer is I have always found it useful to have a few euros on me so I can stop at a shop if necessary en-route.....
It saves trying to cram your pockets at the start with what you think you need for a ride of that duration....

Kav0777

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

What difference would it make if it was a 4 hour round trip or a 4 hour trip to another destination? Isn't it still 4 hours on the move regardless?

Maybe he has nothing in the fridge at home.....

smacl

Four hours is probably on the borderline for me, and is largely down to whether my ass wants a break from the saddle, or I'm passing a place I like the look of. Lovely cake and coffee four hours into a seven hour spin last Sunday, which left me totally rejuvenated and encouraged me to throw a few more hills into the route home. I also tend to cycle solo much of the time, so a bit of brief banter over a coffee can be nice.

Sitting on the side of the road with a banana in the pissings of rain would not have had the desired effect, though on one of those rare sunny days it's all good.