DIY: On-the-Bike Food

March 12, 2011

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Starting today, I'm going to periodically push out a Do-It-Yourself post. For the most part, they will deal with touring accessories you can make in the comfort of your own home. But to kick it all off, I'm going to start with my favorite part of cycling. Food!

Mother's No Bake Energy Bars

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup light corn syrup

1 cup peanut butter

1 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 cups quick oatmeal

1 1/2 cups rice cereal

1 cup raisins

1/2 cup sunflower seeds

1 tsp sesame seeds

In a saucepan, combine the brown sugar and syrup. Bring to a boil while stirring. Remove from heat. Stir in peanut butter and vanilla until well blended. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well. Press into a greased 9x13 inch pan. Cut into bars once cooled.

There are a ton of variations you can do with this, my favorite of which is to add in some fresh coffee grounds for an extra kick. You can also play around with dried fruits and different types of nuts. Just stay away from chocolate chips, as they can get pretty messy on a hot day.

Peanut Butter and Honey Wrap

I love peanut butter and jelly sandwiches while riding, but hauling bread or bagels around doesn't make a lot of sense if space is limited. They also tend to crumble and leak a fair amount. Soft shell tortillas hold up really well, and using honey as opposed to jelly keeps things sticking together nicely.

Just lather up a tortilla with as much peanut butter and honey as you want, and wrap it up like a burrito. Tossing in some sliced up bananas for potassium isn't a bad call on hot days. Use either a plastic baggy or plastic wrap to package them for the ride.

Those are my current favorites. If you have some favorites of your own, let us know! Variety is a great thing.

Photo by Josh Tack.

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TOURING GEAR AND TIPS is written by Joshua Tack of Adventure Cycling's member services department. It appears weekly, highlighting technical aspects of bicycle touring and advice to help better prepare you for the journey ahead.

Comments

Espresso machines best girl April 1, 2011, 6:18 AM

I just tried this recipe. However I don’t like raisins in cookies. So instead I put in prunes. Not whole prunes, of course, I cut them in small pieces before adding. Additionally it seems interesting to try, as you suggest, some coffee grounds. I liked the taste.

adventure! March 13, 2011, 8:42 PM

I've been making versions of the no-bake bars for the last few years. They're great for touring! I'll admit that I think corn syrup is gross, so I use either honey, maple syrup, or agave syrup as a substitute.

anna d March 12, 2011, 8:05 PM

I make a version of the no bake bars and they are amazing and addictive. You can sub honey for corn syrup and a dash of cinnamon adds awesome flavor.

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