Food on the move

Chaps, hope the training is going well. I personally started in earnest on Sunday which was difficult; lingering chest infection is playing havoc with me. For anyone who hasn't done long rides before here is some general advice (not mine) on keeping nourished during the ride. This will be even more important for us as we have to get up and do the whole thing the next day............. and again the next day! What you eat in Paris is your choice but I know the fat content will be higher for me! My advice is pack light on clothing and high on food and equipment etc. These are the real necessities for this outing. I have done a few 3 day stage races in my younger days and you cannot eat enough good food. The advice was for someone about six foot and average build. As part of you training now test different foods and see how your body reacts...Fig rolls and bagels do it for me. ' from the beginning to the end of the ride: have a few big bites of something high in carbohydrate, with a small amount or protein or no protein at all and minimal fat every 15-20 minutes. Someone your size should be able to absorb about 300 Calories per hour. In 15-20 minute chunks, that's 75-100 Calories per chunk. Do not go more than 20 minutes without a bite. Forget the cheese. You can use athletic energy foods, or choose from among these long-time cyclist favorites: pretzels, fig bars, bananas, potatoes, PB&J, crackers, bagels, rolls. Eating every 15 minutes is going to require carrying several hours worth of food. Recharge your pockets at your store stops, but don't do your eating there. Eat on the bike to save time. Drink enough that you need to urinate a few times during one of your long rides and that when you urinate, the color is pale, in the lemonade rather than the apple juice range' Andrew