On-bike food might not be fine dining; but it’s food! Keeping fueled during long rides is important, so as to avoid bonking. You don’t necessarily have to use food designed especially for sports; but if you want them, there are many options.

For my Sunday long rides, I’ve tried peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, cut in quarters; but they proved to be too bulky for my top-tube pouch. Protein bars are much more compact; and there are many flavors out there. But I need to watch the carbs, as I have prediabetes; and I’m also keeping an eye on the saturated fat content of the protein bars that I use.

How about meat snacks? Their protein content can help counterbalance the carbs in the bars; but for a fact they do make me too thirsty. They get jammed between my teeth, too; and I find that most annoying! Most meat snacks also take considerable chewing; not what I want when I’m riding. I take some meat snacks along now and then, just to get some variety; but I admit that they’re not my preferred ride food.

I always carry a few energy gels with me, even on short rides. My usual snack before a shorter ride (up to 15 miles) is a banana with peanut butter; and sometimes I start to get too hungry when I’m still several miles short of getting back home. A “goo” comes in handy then! My favorite GU-Gel is Chocolate Outrage.

Hydration is very important; more so than food. If you bonk, you’ll probably be able to keep going, although much more slowly; but dehydration is serious; and can even be life-threatening. It’s better to have a load of three liters of water on your back, and drink only half of it; than to take along one water bottle and run out. Electrolyte drinks are important, too, especially in hot weather. Too much water with no electrolyte replacement can lead to potentially fatal hyponatremia.