Musings on Summer Riding, Part Tres

Oh, I know….it’s too easy to go for a ride and find all kinds of great places to carve turns and roll on the throttle through a canyon or two, or even enjoy the scenery of a ride along the shore of one of the hundreds of lakes or shorelines.

But the REALLY important stuff is about where you’re gonna stop to eat! [If you are looking for some great road food, check out NorthwestCycleNews.com sister site, BikerCuisine.com - Ed.]

I have friends who live to get out there and just rack up the miles. These iron-butted individuals thin nothing of rolling on four or five hundred miles a day, all weekend. The only thing they stop for is gas and bladder relief.

In fact, these guys don’t stop for the weakest bladder in the group; it’s the STRONGEST bladder that determines the stopping places. Talk about iron!

Now, I respect those guys, but I generally prefer a bit more relaxed and meandering style of ride. My all time favorite rides have been those that didn’t really have much of a destination in the first place, and included U-turns, unscheduled stops, dead ends and of course, unexpected little burger joints, cafes, eateries and bakeries!

I’m less concerned about gas stops than I am about cinnamon roll stops!

Everyone has a preference for road food, but over the years, I have ended up stopping at Mexican places more than any other single type of spot. Maybe it’s the simple fare….maybe it’s the cold brew with a lime (just one is my limit until the ride is done), or maybe it’s the fact that I can down a few jalapenos or torridos and the radiator effect keeps my cool for the next five or six miles!

Whatever it is, I always feel a slight tug on the bars when I see a sign with a sombrero on it up ahead.

This is not to say I ONLY stop at Mexican places. A bakery is REAL hard to ride past. In fact, I have been known to ride miles out of the way just to stop at a good bakery. I have discovered an interesting dietetic fact that you may want to share.

Any calories consumed by eating baked goods during a ride, are automatically used up by the second half of the ride! Therefore….they don’t count!

(Is anyone actually buying this line?……….Didn’t think so!)

There are also some ‘caveats’ about eating during certain rides, that I feel I should pass on to those who are less experienced. I think of it as a public service.

Soup is not a good choice if you plan to do any serious off road riding right afterwards. It tends to slosh around and occasionally escape!

Chili is a solid base for a cold weather ride, but try to arrange to be towards the rear of the group for the next half hour or so. Rider courtesy!

A frosty brew or two are great…but only at the end of the ride. (See other stories in this mag relating to ‘squids’, ‘stupid rider tricks’ and getting huge tickets.) If you drink during a ride, there is only one place I want you to be…..WAY behind me.

Spicy jerky is great to ride with. You can put some in your jacket pocket and then take a piece out and snack while you ride. Remember not to wipe your eye with the same hand or glove you used to handle the jerky, or you’ll be pulling over pretty quick to pour water in your eyes.

Chocolate does not work in the summer. If you don’t eat it right away, it liquefies in your pocket or saddlebag and then gets all over everything. It is especially irritating to try to clean off your grips. Or your mirror. Or your face shield. Or your….never mind.

Having a passenger is good for getting snacks handed to you on the road. Sometimes you even get a little extra protein, if a bug hits the food on the way to you.

Finally, this tip from a rider buddy…..No matter how many cup holders your bagger has, it’s not a good idea to drink things in cans while on the road. Aside from the relative stupidity of tipping your head back to drink (and thereby taking your eyes off the road), there is the feeling of lunk-headedness that occurs when you try to take a sip and the wind blows the liquid out of the can and onto your face or beard or down into your riding jacket.

Not a great fashion statement.

Now stop reading this and go out and ride!

But Ride Safe!