Hello,
Currently commuting and just wondering what snacks (if any) you use before your commute back in the evening, currently I'm loving kit-kat chunkys but my waistline is not!
Any recommendations?
Bike Forum
Commuting - Energy...
-
Posted 6 months ago #
-
nuts. Gert big handful of almonds and hazelnuts sorts me out a treat.
Posted 6 months ago # -
When I was a regular commuter, I didn't eat anything different from what I would have had if I'd been in the car. But that was only 17 miles/1 hour each way.
Now, I'm an irregular commuter (and much less fit), and my journey is longer (25 miles/1:30 each way) and I do tend to get hungry towards the end of the ride (esp in the morning, as I set off on an empty stomach).
Just apply normal riding principles - if it's less than 90 mins, you don't need any extra fuel. If it's over that, you might.
Posted 6 months ago # -
Well it is regular but it's short... only 5.5 miles each way. I have no problem doing it without eating, i just find that i feel much better if i do provide my body with some quick energy reserves!
Posted 6 months ago # -
At 5.5 miles each way (20 mins-ish?), all eating will do is make you fat..!
Think of it less as "commuting" (i.e. a special activity) and more as just riding a bike. If someone said "ride a bike for 20 mins", I bet you wouldn't eat a kit-kat in order to do it..!
Enjoy the commute - I used to love mine.
Posted 6 months ago # -
When I did 15miles each way, 5days a week I used to eat the following.........
4weetabix
Ride
Cereal
Bag of harribo
lunch
packet of jammy dodgers
packet of 3 magnums
more harribo
ride
dinner + side bowl of pastaAnd still lost weight! I did used to ride it hell for leather though.
Posted 6 months ago # -
You're asking about fuel for the return trip. People are right you don't need much for that distance but you'll be tired from work as well and a little something will help. Do the energy drink thing but just don't over fuel yourself - you might put weight on! And remember to drink water through the day, that will help and is calorie free!
I do 15/25 miles each way depending on how I feel and what the weathers like and I have energy drink and a recovery drink post ride, if I don't then by the time about day 3 I definitely have less energy or inclination to do it yet another day.
Posted 6 months ago # -
5 miles? nowt, abstain from snacking for a few days and you'll get used to it. If you really can't do without have a piece of fruit.
Posted 6 months ago # -
Blimey Spoony! 3 magnum ice creams and a packet of jammie dodgers... everyday?????
That's got to be the best part of 2000 calories right there!
Posted 6 months ago # -
Just extra water for me, before & after each commute
Posted 6 months ago # -
TINAS - bloody hell..! That's some eating for that commute.
I have to say that I probably ought to have had more by the way of recovery stuff when I was riding regularly, as by Friday the old legs would be tired.
I shall be riding in tomorrow (but not home), the only extra food will be some toast when I get to work. Gotta get thin somehow..!
Posted 6 months ago # -
Thanks for the tips guys,
I know it's a short commute but it's uphill the entire 5 miles so it's enough to work up a small sweat. That said, i rarely eat much on weekend rides. It might just be a habit thing i've gotten used to. I'll have plenty of water over the next few weeks and see how i get on!
Posted 6 months ago # -
If you must... have a banana.
Spoony - I'm guessing you imagined you were a TdF cyclist to be getting through all that without getting fat.
Posted 6 months ago # -
Just say the secret magic word before leaving?
Posted 6 months ago # -
@Aidy that would be cheating
Posted 6 months ago # -
I ride just over 12 miles each way (45-50 minutes) on my shortest route, this can go upto 20 miles on the return leg in the lighter months.
I don't eat anything unusual other than a normal breakfast - bowl of cereal with semi-skimmed milk, lunch - typically a baguette with cheese or ham with some crisps, an apple and a cookie, and then dinner.
It's not exactly a long time to spend on the bike.
Posted 6 months ago # -
I find a piece of bread with peanut butter & jam once I get home stops me from being a useless cabbage in the evening (16ish miles each way)
otherwise just eat good sized meals and (for me) lots of carbs
Posted 6 months ago # -
Spoony - I'm guessing you imagined you were a TdF cyclist to be getting through all that without getting fat.
I was going through a thrash metal phase and MP3 players had just come out.
Looking back I've no idea how I did it. Lunch quite often came from the chip shop as well!
I'm sure my metabolism slowed right down when I hit 21 as I eat a fraction of what I used to and never seem to lose weight.
Posted 6 months ago # -
Do the energy drink thing but just don't over fuel yourself - you might put weight on!
You certainly don't need energy drink, that will just make you fat if you're not burning the energy off.
It's 20 minutes. You really really don't need anything. You'll just get fat.
What you eat afterwards is more important to not feeling dead than before/during.
Posted 6 months ago # -
mine is a similar distance and i struggle. it's not extra food i eat but i eat some of my lunch, half a sarnie, a bannana or a couple of biscuits say, about 5. so that it hasn't been 6 hours since food.
Posted 6 months ago # -
I did used to ride it hell for leather though.
Posted 6 months ago # -
have more protein and fat at breakfast and lunch, you don't need extra carbs for a 5 mile ride.
where is this 5 mile climb or do you mean that your house is at a higher altitude than your office?
Posted 6 months ago # -
I'm sure my metabolism slowed right down when I hit 21 as I eat a fraction of what I used to and never seem to lose weight.
I refer my honourable (ahem) friend to... (first 30 secs - N(particularly)SFW)
Posted 6 months ago # -
mine is a similar distance and i struggle. it's not extra food i eat but i eat some of my lunch, half a sarnie, a bannana or a couple of biscuits say, about 5. so that it hasn't been 6 hours since food.
Good advice this, I do around 16 miles each way and a fair chunk of uphill - didn't want to eat anymore as I'm trying to lose weight but I was flagging on the way home. Taking a slightly larger lunch and spacing it out through the day really helped. On 5 miles you should be able to get away without adding to the lunch.
Posted 6 months ago # -
For my not every day 19 mile commute (38 round) I usually have breakfast before I leave for work (3 weetabix and a load of sugar), then have the same when I get into work.
I eat a normal lunch, but then in the evening about 30-60 mins before setting off I have a cereal bar and a banana. Not necessarily because I need the fuel, but mainly so I don't feel really hungry when riding home.
Posted 6 months ago # -
Normal size bowl of cereal, 23 mile ride (3 days a week), hot chocolate at work, normal lunch with a bottle of Coke, maybe a cookie in the afternoon, 23 miles home. Sorted! Admittedly I'm pretty knackered if I do it 3 days on the bounce, but I think that's the 130 sets of traffic lights each way and the 600w+ sprint from each one!
Posted 6 months ago # -
My commute is 13 miles each way, and if I'm going to bez it, I neck half a soreen.
If I go slow I don't need any extra food
Posted 6 months ago # -
I leave work at 5 and find on days that I'm riding (sadly not every day) that a coffee about 3:30 ish helps to keep me feeling peppy for the ride home ( I finish at 5:00). Mind you, if you drink lots of coffee during the day you probably wouldn't notice it.
Edit FYI: my commute home is 12 miles or so, and slightly uphill, but hardly tough.
Posted 6 months ago # -
My commute is only 5-6 miles depending upon route but by say 6 or 6:30 I am starving and so often eat a sarnie or flapjack before riding home. As for putting on weight that surely comes down to your overall daily calorie intake rather than one extra snackette. If i finished luch at 1:15 ! think I need a snack about 6PM whatever I am doing.
Its more about grazing than pigging out.
Posted 6 months ago # -
Solo - Member
I did used to ride it hell for leather though.Is that saying that going hell for leather was a good thing or a bad thing?
I did suffer from realy painfull joints for about a year after I stopped though!
Posted 6 months ago # -
When I read it yesterday Spoony I assumed it meant you were pregnant?
Posted 6 months ago # -
13 miles each way, no extra food.
Posted 6 months ago # -
You told me you used protection!
Posted 6 months ago # -
Yes, I'm 'pro' helmet... no matter what TeeJ says.
And I still feel bad for making you wear a full face.
Posted 6 months ago # -
25 miles in this morning. Nothing before leaving, and water with electrolyte during. 3 slices of toast with butter + jam 45 mins after getting in.
Getting a lift home tonight..!
Posted 6 months ago #
Reply »
You must log in to post.
