Meals while touring

[pdxstriper]

Hi,
I am a relatively new rider - 4 years ago I bought my first big bike - but I like road trips of 1,500 to 3,000 mile over a week or two. I ride with all kinds of nuts like many of you on this forum. We usually start the day out with a big breakfast (say, chicken-fried steak) and equally big lunches (burger, french dip, fries) a couple of hours later. The last 10 years or so (I am currently 62) I have found that I get huge 'sleepy time attacks' about 30-60 minutes after these horse-sized meals. (Technically I believe the carbos turn into sugars and make one tired or some such bio-magic). So one of my nut/riding friends is *really smart* and eats a bit different and I've asked him why. So here's what I've learned:

For breakfast he orders 3 scrambled eggs and coffee. Nothing else! Why? "Eggs are protean and that's what you need in the morning before a long ride, and coffee is a stimulant". "Avoid bread, it makes you sleepy and greasy foods just sit on your stomach". Huh, says I.

For lunch he usually has a dinner salad and sometimes soup. Why? "You just need to fill your stomach to hold you over til dinner. Too much at lunch and you get sleepy an hour later". Yep, that's me.

Note that by dinner we are at our destination for the night and all hell breaks lose eating- and drinking-wise.

So I have adopted these evil ways and I must say that they work really well. BTW I slip a lot and order bacon with breakfast.

Interested in other's experiences.

[blueverclear]

Hi,
I am a relatively new rider - 4 years ago I bought my first big bike - but I like road trips of 1,500 to 3,000 mile over a week or two. I ride with all kinds of nuts like many of you on this forum. We usually start the day out with a big breakfast (say, chicken-fried steak) and equally big lunches (burger, french dip, fries) a couple of hours later. The last 10 years or so (I am currently 62) I have found that I get huge 'sleepy time attacks' about 30-60 minutes after these horse-sized meals. (Technically I believe the carbos turn into sugars and make one tired or some such bio-magic). So one of my nut/riding friends is *really smart* and eats a bit different and I've asked him why. So here's what I've learned:

For breakfast he orders 3 scrambled eggs and coffee. Nothing else! Why? "Eggs are protean and that's what you need in the morning before a long ride, and coffee is a stimulant". "Avoid bread, it makes you sleepy and greasy foods just sit on your stomach". Huh, says I.

For lunch he usually has a dinner salad and sometimes soup. Why? "You just need to fill your stomach to hold you over til dinner. Too much at lunch and you get sleepy an hour later". Yep, that's me.

Note that by dinner we are at our destination for the night and all hell breaks lose eating- and drinking-wise.

So I have adopted these evil ways and I must say that they work really well. BTW I slip a lot and order bacon with breakfast.

Interested in other's experiences.

That's really good advise. I tend to have some similar habits but normally if we are leaving pretty early all I will have is some orange juice or something really small in the morning (cant drink coffee because it goes right threw me lol)

For lunch I do cheat a bit and eat a mid size meal, especially since breakfast is usually really like but I try to stay away from really greasy foods

For dinner I don't hold anything back lol

[unsub]

Hi,
We usually start the day out with a big breakfast (say, chicken-fried steak) and equally big lunches (burger, french dip, fries) a couple of hours later.

Keep it simple and light. You can stop as many times as you see fit to rest, refuel, rehydrate and recycle, and at those times eat a light snack. Yup big meals are not necessary and as you have discovered, not good for you either.

[Steve 0080]

Breakfast eat as a king, lunch as a prince, dinner as a pauper ...Doctor recommended !

[willtill]

Breakfast eat as a king, lunch as a prince, dinner as a pauper ...Doctor recommended !

So true.

[wjduke]

Breakfast eat as a king, lunch as a prince, dinner as a pauper ...Doctor recommended !

Hard to do when you're me.

[Bob Penn]

If I'm riding I'm probably going someplace to eat. If I'm speeding it's probably because I'm hungry. If I'm not riding it's probably because I ate too much. If I ate too much then I'm probably napping,
Retirement is good but probably fattening!

[edgeman55]

If I'm riding I'm probably going someplace to eat. If I'm speeding it's probably because I'm hungry. If I'm not riding it's probably because I ate too much. If I ate too much then I'm probably napping,
Retirement is good but probably fattening!

Ditto Bob.I live by this motto:And by the way doctors have killed many people with there advise-I know I have out lived almost all my thin friends!003.jpg

[lgjhn]

Hi,
I am a relatively new rider - 4 years ago I bought my first big bike - but I like road trips of 1,500 to 3,000 mile over a week or two. I ride with all kinds of nuts like many of you on this forum. We usually start the day out with a big breakfast (say, chicken-fried steak) and equally big lunches (burger, french dip, fries) a couple of hours later. The last 10 years or so (I am currently 62) I have found that I get huge 'sleepy time attacks' about 30-60 minutes after these horse-sized meals. (Technically I believe the carbos turn into sugars and make one tired or some such bio-magic). So one of my nut/riding friends is *really smart* and eats a bit different and I've asked him why. So here's what I've learned:

For breakfast he orders 3 scrambled eggs and coffee. Nothing else! Why? "Eggs are protean and that's what you need in the morning before a long ride, and coffee is a stimulant". "Avoid bread, it makes you sleepy and greasy foods just sit on your stomach". Huh, says I.

For lunch he usually has a dinner salad and sometimes soup. Why? "You just need to fill your stomach to hold you over til dinner. Too much at lunch and you get sleepy an hour later". Yep, that's me.

Note that by dinner we are at our destination for the night and all hell breaks lose eating- and drinking-wise.

So I have adopted these evil ways and I must say that they work really well. BTW I slip a lot and order bacon with breakfast.

Interested in other's experiences.

I've been a long-haul rider for many, many years.
What's stated above is fairly sound advice and one I follow as well.
Everyb9dy's body is somewhat different, but I adhere closely with the above, especially if I know it's gonna be a 700+ mile day.
Sleepy nods on a bike are the bell toll of death IMHO.

[adventurous1]

Just returned from a 7 dayer (3K miles) and this is the way I generally eat (even the woman I was with - starting eating the same for breakfast).

Breakfast about 7 or 8 a.m. 4 eggs (usually over ez) w/ about 4 pieces of sausage. Large Americano (usually w/ 3 or 4 shots). An American is espresso shots w/ infused hot water. The protein keeps me satisfied 'til about 1 or 2 p.m. When my lady friend began eating this way on the trip, she was kinda amazed she wasn't hungry for most of the day.

A very lite lunch ( tuna salad w/ avocado or something similar) - if hot outside, a beer and a shot of tequila (which I sip), lots of water. It's generally enjoyed on a patio overlooking majestic vistas or watching other bikers passing by for about an hour or so.

Dinner - rare to mid-rare steak w/ a couple of beers and tequila of course. Again, w/ lots of water. If the restaurant has decent wine, may be some wine that's as thick as lamb's blood. I generally stop or try micro - brews along the way. Always wanting to experience something new. Not into coronas,bud-light, etc., etc. And some micro brew places have excellent dinners. Moab brewery (Moab, UT) is one, Deschutes Brewery Bend Public House and Bend Brewing Company (Bend, OR), Kern River Brewing Company (Kernville, CA).