When you are in a bike race, on or off road, you need to eat during the longer races to keep your energy up. Many people eat things like jelly beans, clifbars or a banana, but what are some other things you can eat to keep that energy up. These work best as a supplement to the regular drinks and energy bars.

Jerky and Dried Sausage: The first advantage of these meats is that they are cured so you do not have to worry about any sort of refrigeration or cure for them. They are rich in protein and sodium, both things your body will desperately need during a long endurance event.

Potato Chips: A small bag of potato chips gives you around 15 grams of carbs and contains the salt and fat that your body will be craving during those long distance events. However you should stick to a small bag because large quantities of potato chips contain a lot of saturated fat which is something you defiantly do not want.

Sardines: Sardines are packed with Omega-3 Fatty acids as well as a ton of protein. Omega-3 is famous for its abilities against cancer and heart disease but recent research has also shown that can improve blood flow to muscles that are working.

Peanut Butter: If you eat a diet that has a lot of peanut butter in it, research has shown that it will lower cholesterol, reduce your risk of heart disease as well as helping you control body weight. It provides long lasting energy that will be steady throughout your ride helping you power along. A graham cracker and peanut butter sandwich can easily fit in any pocket.

Eggs: Our final unconventional energy source is the egg. These are packed with protein and are about as healthy as it gets. However you do need to be careful with hard boiled eggs that have been left at a room temperature for awhile as these can cause diseases like salmonella.