What Do You Eat Since You Ride 6 to 8 Hours Per Day

This morning, I made scrambled eggs, whole wheat toast with homemade strawberry preserves and coffee. Most days breakfast is cold and very simple.

I shop for groceries as I travel. I try to have a banana with breakfast each day and another one, usually in the afternoon.

I eat a lot of granola bars. John Howard at Performance Sports says you can have 240 to 360 calories per hour as you ride. The granola bars give me 190 calories. Since it got hot a couple of days ago, I picked up a sport drink mix. I mix raisins and almonds for a snack.

I ate whole wheat English muffins for a while. They pack well, but cost a lot more than bread. Peanut butter is a staple. I found that if you let dry soup mix soak, it is okay to eat cold. Tuna fish cans are small, light and easy to pack in my bag. Tortillas pack well and substitute for bread.

Until I rode into the heat, I was carrying summer sausage. Making sandwiches before I started in the morning made lunch easy. I have not stopped at a fast food place since a cold rainy day in Sandpoint, Idaho. Extra sharp cheddar cheese traveled well until the heat.

water bottle oatmeal

Most days, I have cold oatmeal. The recipe is simple. I put dry oatmeal in a bicycle water bottle and water. It stands overnight. In the morning I add almonds and raisins.  When I finished a jar of peanut butter, I started using that instead of the water bottle. The wider opening is more convenient. Packing a big container of oatmeal in my bag is not easy. I tried a time or two. Now, I distribute the oats into two zip bags.

When a grocery store is near where I camp, I pick up a container or two of yogurt. Must places stock only the light versions. I am looking for the fat and the calories. Prices have been as high as 95 cents for a little container. I skip it at that price.

When I was riding with Dylan, we split a cantaloupe and a bag of grapes. I have an apple in my handlebar bag now.

Some of you know I hardly ever drink soda. Research shows caffeine while riding does enhance endurance. With the heat Monday and Tuesday I did have soda. The sugar is okay, as long as you are riding.

I tried a bag of pretzels. It was too large and not easy to pack.

While I seldom eat at a restaurant, I did eat at Jordie’s Cafe in Bowles, MN. Jordie supervises the city park across the street from the cafe where I camped. Monday night was taco night. The Soo Line trail is almost in front of the cafe. That trail seems to bring a lot of riders to the cafe.

I am open to suggestions on simple meal ideas.