I live on Powerbars when I'm cycling. I tried the Powerbar gels as well but they give me gastro issues when I'm running. After the Rotorua marathon I swore I'd never do Leppin ever again, which means, given their recent dominance, I'm going to be running with a fuel belt a lot. In my water bottle I go for lemon/lime Peak Fuel. In contrast I can't stand the Peak Fuel bars. I tried Nuun for the electrolytes but it just doesn't do it for me. I have a sensitivity to caffeine but seem to be able to tolerate the caffeine gels quite well for some reason. Bananas - I'll eat one if someone gives it to me on a ride, but I hate carrying them around so don't usually bother. One of my riding buddies normally has at least a couple sticking out of her shirt though, so you're not alone.

Agreed - all those bars and gels get expensive. To make it worse I started suffering chocolate cravings at home on my own this week and managed to munch my way through my supply of chocolate Powerbars. I should have just wandered up the road for a Moro or something!

you could get one of those banana holders and like strap it to yourself or something? I dunno how to reduce a banana without drying it. What you need is banana in a tube (however I find anything banana flavoured is a bit gross.. I can think of at least three examples).

It always staggers me how much protein bars etc are.. If I ever buy any I think it will be from the reduced to clear store (theres always big stands full of them).

Banana in a tube though. that could be a goer.

And I thought I had a dodgy stomach!

I could never eat the power bars. i spent more energy chewing on the damn things and then find I had to spit it out on the next hill as I was gasping for breath.

Back in the 90's there was Exceed, which I found was very good. Like Aviation gas in a car. Also dehydrated me after every ride, but was worth it.

I now find the Lepin gel and powder very good, although still have to watch the dehydration factor.

As you say bananas are also good, but carrying a boxload of them around on the bike is rather hard.

I could almost see these working. Just have to keep them dry ;) http://www.nutsonline.com/driedfruit/banana-chips/organic-dried.html

There is nothing quite like a real meal after a day of gels, bars and sports drink.

I haven't tried it yet but I've heard that salted cold roast potatoes are fantastic for on the bike.

"Hey that's a thought . . . reduced banana. Coming soon to a store near you..." Dried bananas/banana chips = reduced banana.

Bloody hell; every time I read one of your blogs I mentally thank my creator that I was given the slob gene!

As if the torture of exercise were not enough it now appears one has to fill one's body with all sorts of disgusting foods and liquids not to mention it seems plastering one's body with equally vile unguents. I suppose one benefit of the latter is that if some irate motorist makes a grab for you, you pop out of his grasp like a cork out of a bottle. It's hardly surprising you cannot make it up a hill without puffing away like a grampus, laden down with about 3 tonnes of ballast and dripping gel onto the surrounding countryside. When you are running do you put skid warnings behind you for following traffic? If you ran up the Rimutaka Hill road, half a dozen cars would skid and plummet off the edge.

It's like filling the tank of a Ferrari (not that I compare you with a Ferrari; possibly a Toyota Echo) with cooking oil and expecting it to win a grand prix.

As for the banana I could suggest a suitable place to lodge it but that would see me banned from all Stuff websites not to mention Amy having a fit of hysterics.

Bugger Ironman; do us a favour and head for the nearest caff and fill up on bacon, sausage, egg and chips and fill out those gnu like curves.

Adrian - yeah, potatoes are good, my friend swears by them on the bike, but they're fiddly to eat. And AllanM - you have a point but I hate banana chips, they're nasty. So, not the kind of reduced banana I was thinking of.

Ann have you seen those whole 'dehydrated' bananas at the supermarket? Maybe they would work? They are not like banana chips, rather a whole banana that has had some but not all of the moisture sucked out of it. They look kind of gross but can't be any worse looking than gel food!

I've been pretty lucky with my tum. Cheapo balance drink does me fine on the bike, along with bagels and PB, and ordinary old jet planes. I can't stand gels, and used to have lots of lovely "sports candy", like sports beans and chomps, but I can afford to train with it, so I'll see if I can race without it!

I am not a fan of high priced bars and gels. I once heard powerbars described as chocolate flavoured wallpaper paste and I couldn't disagree. I take bananas, but I find they go a bit soft and yuck in your cycling jersey pockets, and chocolate chip rolled oat cookies or muffins I make myself. I also like Replace for drinking and when it isnt available at a race i take little sachets to pour into my water bottles. When I'm running cookies or aeroplane lollies are my preferred food.