On Tuesday, May 26, 2020 at 4:58:53 PM UTC-7, Duane wrote:
jbeattie wrote:
On Tuesday, May 26, 2020 at 10:58:40 AM UTC-7, Frank Krygowski wrote:
Riffing off the "bonk" thread:

For most of my family's bicycling career (now approaching 50 years) we
took various snacks along on rides greater than 25 miles or so. But
somehow, with changes in life and changes in riding habits, we seem to
have gotten out of that snack habit.

On a couple of recent mid-30 miler rides on country roads, my wife
didn't bonk, but she certainly ran out of steam. During one of them, I
happened to find a gel packet buried in my bag, so I gave her that. It
helped noticeably; so we should get back to carrying snacks.

But I'd prefer something a little more like food, a little less like a
medical infusion. Since we're no longer performance riders, actually
stopping the bike to eat would be OK. even though on solo rides I prefer
to keep moving.

What are people's preferences for on-bike snacks?


--
- Frank Krygowski

Hammer HEED (drink), so long as I can get it pro-deal. Cliff Bars from
Costco and GU packs for my birthday. Designer bike foods can be as
expensive as magical chain oils, so I try to get things as cheaply as I can.

GU packs give you a little pop and are not serious food. Hammer HEED
really makes my legs feel better, and makes me feel less fatigued. It
could be placebo effect, but so what. Cliff Bars are food. If worse comes
to worst, I'll stop at a 7-11 and get some donettes. Food of the gods.
https://voltcandyonline.com/wp-conte...Donettes-1.jpg

Another good and cheap on-bike food is Fig Newtons. Don't put them in a
bag. Let them get all crummy and funky in a jersey pocket. It adds to the flavor.

-- Jay Beattie.



I was using hammer heed for a while until someone suggested nuun tabs.
About the same effect for less money. And easy to cary a couple on the
ride.

A friend swears by fig newtons and she brings extra.

The big fat Yosemite marmots love them. https://www.flickr.com/photos/43928559@N00/3676256346 My wife and I were riding through the park on the way up the Sierra. We stopped at a turn out, and my wife produced some Fig Newtons from her handlebar bag, whereupon we were beset by marmots. Beggars! They appear from nowhere.

I used Fig Newtons as my first racing food back in the '70s. Ten years later, scientists were engineering food. I'm lucky to have lived through the Pocket Rocket era, which were nothing more than maltodextrin, ephedra (ma-huang) and caffeine (guarana). After three packs, you have to go to detox. I had the shakes after one race and couldn't sleep that night. At about the same time, we got PowerBars, which were like dog chew toys on a cold day. I raced with one guy who used to wrap them around his top tube. Then endless drink mixes with long-chain polymers that did nothing but tie-up my gut. So much for science. The best food is the one that makes you feel better and not worse.

Speaking of, my wife and I did an impromptu wine tour while riding down to California. Not a good idea on a hot day. Wine is not a performance enhancing beverage -- same goes with beer. Joerg's stories about his trip to the beer garden sound half-fun.

-- Jay Beattie.