I went for a 24 hour ride and this is what I ate

I went for a ride the other day. Just one ride. 310 kms. From Wellington to Wellington via the south coast and Ngawi and back over the Remutaka incline. We left home at 9:50pm saturday night and got home 9:50 pm sunday night, no sleeps, 24 hours for me. A bit less for Matt who lives in the Hutt Valley.

https://caltopo.com/m/7ND9F (click for map)

We had a small gap in the weather and we had to go for it. It was an idea I'd had since doing the same ride over 2 days a year or 2 earlier. I had asked my buddy Matt Dewes if he was interested, he was. That sealed it. If he had said no the idea would have probably died a natural death. 

The plan was to leave early, midnight initially, so that we could finish in the daylight and and not get in too much trouble with our families. 

As spring weather came upon us it was getting harder and harder to find an opportunity to get out for 24 hours of less than crappy weather.

The problem with leaving so late was that there were no shops open anywhere, not Pirinoa, not Waimeha, so we had to take all our own food and water. There was actually one water stop at Corner Creek camping ground on the South Coast, and no food until returning through Martinborough. So, in order to stave off the dreaded bonk, this is what I ate, as much a record for me as anything.

• Chocolate Up n Goes x2  Calories =195 each
  
• Cokes 3x 250ml Calories = 105 each
  
• Jelly beans 1x packet Calories = 870 each
  
• Peanut M & Ms 1/2 packet Calories = 954
  
• Cheese and bean toastie pies x 3.5 Calories = 324 each
  
• Powerade 750 ml Calories = 187
  
• Muesli bars x 2 Calories = 166 each
  
• Water 3 litres
• Grainwaves x2 Calories = 700 each
  

 Total calories for 24 hours riding = 4928

Didn't eat.

• 9 spare muesli bars
• 2 litres of water.
• 1 packet frog sweets
• 1 packet fruit & nuts

The real winner in very long rides is the cheese and baked bean toastie, sometimes with some salami. Your tongue can get very tired of sweet things and the humble toastie somehow feels like real food by comparison. It has protein and fat for saiety and carbs in the beans and bread.

A cheese toastie can live happy in your shirt pocket wrapped up in a bit of lunch wrap for a very very long time. I think 3 days is my record. When cooked correctly the cheese works like a resin in a carbon fibre mould and impregnates the bread, sealing all the good stuff inside!  Try it on your next hike!

The humble cheese and backed bean toastie pie

 

See below some piccies from our ride. 

A moody night on the South Coast

Streams were cold and swift

On the road to Pirinoa

Pirinoia, about 5 degrees at 6 am.

Matt making us a coffee at Ngawi at 8 am. We sure needed that.

Heading to White Rock

Near Mataopera Stream