Modern cycling nutrition is at the best it has ever been. Watch any pro cyclist behind the scenes on YouTube or read any cycling nutrition article and they all say the same. CARBS are King! Any time you are heading out on a ride for over an hour, you should be eating something on the bike, specifically carbohydrates, and consuming 60-90 grams an hour.
Why does the body need carbohydrates when cycling? They are quickly broken down into glucose, which fuels muscles and provides the energy required for sustained pedaling, helping cyclists maintain their performance and prevent fatigue.
As dads, we need to be performing at our highest level each time we are out on the bike since we have such limited time to train. So, the question is what to eat when cycling? One of my go-to foods to eat when cycling is my homemade chocolate chip cookies.
Why Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies Are Great
- I always prefer to eat homemade foods whenever possible, and they give you an opportunity to bake with your kids!
- Eating should be fun when you are out biking. Who doesn’t love a chocolate chip cookie?
- You can make two dozen ahead of time and then freeze them in individual zip-lock bags.
- They fit in your jersey pocket and are easy to eat while biking.
- They are loaded with carbohydrates, which are great for cycling! 20 grams per cookie!
Note: The information provided in this blog post is based solely on my personal experiences and research. It should not be considered a substitute for professional medical or nutritional advice. What worked for me may not work for you.
On the Bike Food – Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients
- 1/2 Cup Granulated Sugar (100g)
- 3/4 Cup Brown Sugar (165g)
- 1 tsp Kosher Salt
- 1 Egg
- 2 tsp Vanilla
- 1 1/2 Cups All Purpose Flour (192g)
- 1/2 tsp Baking Soda
- 4 oz Chocolate Chips or Chunks (110g) Semi-Sweet or Milk Chocolate
- 4 oz Chocolate Chips or Chunks (110g) Dark Chocolate
Instructions
- In a large bowl (I use a KitchenAid mixer), whisk together the sugars, salt, and butter.
- Beat in the eggs and vanilla until it is smooth.
- Pour in the flour and baking soda. Beat until all the flour is just combined.
- No mixer for this part: Pour in the chocolate chunks and chip, and using a spatula work into the dough. You need to give that hot butter a chance to cool so put it in the fridge for at least an hour, preferably overnight. The longer the dough rests, the more complex its flavor will be.
- Preheat oven to 350F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Scoop the dough with a spoon or small ice cream scoop onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Leave enough space for them to expand (2 inches).
- Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the edges barely brown. Let cool before serving.
Tip: You can freeze these in zip locks and then take them out the night before a ride so they are ready to go. I like to take three with me on a 2 + hour ride along with other nutrition.
Drop a comment below and let me know what you think of the cookies.