Sandwiches While Riding?

it wouldn't take that long before you eat them. try once. you'll soon love bringing them. 😄

I find that I do not need to eat on rides of less than about two hours. Beyond that I find it necessary, usually I stop at a bar for a cappuccino and cornetto/pastry, but that is just me. I am fortunate I live in Italy! 😄

For longer rides, I sometimes make small ham and cheese (or jam for the sugar) sandwiches with a bit of olive oil as seasoning, really bite-sized, and I eat one every so often. I stay away from chemical stuff and fancy-schmancy energy bars. I do not race, so it is not an issue for me to pull over by the side of the road and wolf something down.

Also, I regularly carry fruit (bananas - a pre-packaged energy food already in biodegradable wrapping or apple slices wrapped in foil) and that is also good.

I make sure to eat a good breakfast. I usually have a couple of bagels and some cereal with milk. Maybe a banana as well as I leave the house.

What I then bring depends on the length of the ride, who I'm going with, and the terrain.

I generally bring two water bottles mixed with a powdered energy drink, and I pack extra mix in case I want it when I refill the bottles - whether I use it or not depends on the outside temperature and how long the ride is. I sweat quite a bit on hot days, and the energy drink also replaces lost electrolytes and stops me from getting the headaches that I used to get when I used only water. I use E-Load, but there is tons of other stuff on the market.

I also bring 2 or 3 energy bars (I like Cliff Bars), maybe more if the ride is over 105 km. I always pack a couple of sandwiches (or a bagel or two) for lunch because I don't want to rely on restaurant or donut shop food, although the group I usually go with doesn't share this concern. I'm also wary of finding out the lunch place is closed, and then being short of food.

I used to just use peanut butter and jam, but then this got very boring so now I have sliced meats, cheese, and hot mustard in my sandwich. I'm not bothered about the meat going off in the short time period it is out of the fridge.

I eat the energy bars and drink while riding, and I have the sandwich(es) at a lunch stop.

I don't always eat everything I bring with me. Quite often I will return home with a left over energy bar, some unused drink mix, and a portion of my sandwich.

You can get more technical than this if you want. You can estimate your BMR and estimate how many calories you will spend on the ride, and then develop your feeding program accordingly. I don't do this, because after awhile you just get a feel for what you need.

I usually just take a couple of bananas, apples, and/or pears with me. If it is a long ride, I will usually plan a rest stop at a restaurant. I always carry two water bottles, one filled with an energy drink and the other with plain water to wash away the unpleasant after taste of the energy drink.

RedRider2009 said:

As you can see by this question, I am relatively new to the idea of needing to bring food on long rides. I have noticed books/ people say to bring sandwiches along, but doesn't the meat get bad from not being refridgerated? What do you put on your sandwiches? How far along into a ride are you when you eat these sandwiches? Any nutrition suggestions like this would be helpful.

Hi, it is a must eat every two hours some solid things other then liquid, my best is take some musli (oat) bars along the way on back pockets, always take'em just in case, some spares could be nice to have in case you have unplanned routes 🙂 ... sadcwiches can be a little heavy on stomach in my opinion...

hakan_the_rider said:

Hi, it is a must eat every two hours some solid things other then liquid, my best is take some musli (oat) bars along the way on back pockets, always take'em just in case, some spares could be nice to have in case you have unplanned routes 🙂 ... sadcwiches can be a little heavy on stomach in my opinion...

To each his own. Oat bars would not make me feel very well. I would much rather my sandwich and/or my cappuccino and pastry. But that's just me! 😄

- Dried fruit (apricots, cranberries, pears)--doesn't drip like regular fruit.
- I'm a fan of gatorade
- yogurt (they sell it in a tube...and it doesn't go to ick all that quickly)
- grapes

If you're concerned about spoilage, try the salted, cured meats. You NEED to carry pastrami or corned beef in order to make sure it keeps. Salami works good too.

Beef Jerk works for me, can even be left in a seat bag if you have one, also, I carry tubes of peanut butter as well as gel-shots, cliff bars...........cookies and creme 😎😎😎

granola bars work well for me, what about those vitamins waters, anyone recomend those?

We have SunLite packs on our racks, my wifes is a cooler with drop sides, works great.

Cycler6n said:

granola bars work well for me, what about those vitamins waters, anyone recomend those?

Unless I am out for long rides in the summer I have never felt the need for funny water (gatorade or any of that kind of stuff). Lots of water does me just fine!

Nobody's mentioned fig newtons? they seem to be a classic among cyclists. Of course, it's good to vary.

chainstretched said:

Nobody's mentioned fig newtons? they seem to be a classic among cyclists. Of course, it's good to vary.

Well, we do not have fig newtons on this side of the pond. 🙂

RedRider2009 said:

As you can see by this question, I am relatively new to the idea of needing to bring food on long rides. I have noticed books/ people say to bring sandwiches along, but doesn't the meat get bad from not being refridgerated? What do you put on your sandwiches? How far along into a ride are you when you eat these sandwiches? Any nutrition suggestions like this would be helpful.

IMO sandwiches are a must for rides longer than 3 hours. Powerbars are not enough, you need natural food as well. I recommend you whole-wheat bread with low-fat chicken salami. Eat one sandwich per two hours or something. Don´t worry...it wouldn´t get bad in a few hours time, even in the middle of summer...[img]cyclingforums.comsmile.gifOpen ↗[/img]

Powerful Pete said:

Well, we do not have fig newtons on this side of the pond. 🙂

They sell these in France, it's the LU brand. I'm not sure where else they're available, but I'm surprised there's nothing similar on the Italian market?

chainstretched said:

They sell these in France, it's the LU brand. I'm not sure where else they're available, but I'm surprised there's nothing similar on the Italian market?

Never seen them, but that does not mean much, as I am not in the market for 'em.

I prefer fresh figs in the summer (not riding, they are too delicate for that)... 😄

Ah yes fresh figs, I know they grow in Italy (my father is from Friuli 🙂). Some like to eat them with parma ham or san daniele ham I think.

chainstretched said:

Ah yes fresh figs, I know they grow in Italy (my father is from Friuli 🙂). Some like to eat them with parma ham or san daniele ham I think.

Bingo! 😄