Gas station food + resupply tips for the Tour Divide / GDMBR and bikepacking races in general

Sitting in the sun in the Great Basin, having lunch of a melted lump of peanut M&Ms, cashews, turkey jerkey, dry crushed Top Ramin, and corn chips, all flavored with leaked suncreen...Aaah, the good life !

Great video. Great tips. For my TD23 I did one thing I never saw anyone else do, and it is a classic through hiker move, and that is cold soaking. I don't know why more TD racers don't cold soak. I rigged up a modified water bottle cage to hold my 1 litre GSI Fairshare mug. It fully seals with a legit rubber gasket. Every evening, or late in the day I would put 2 packages of cheap ramen noodles in and by the time I stopped to sleep, they would be ready to eat. They generally only need 20 minutes. Then before bed I dumped 5 packets of instant oatmeal into the container to scarf down while packing up in the morning. I managed to cram in more calories at bedtime and in the morning than the other riders I rode with. For shorter races I usually cold soak using ziplock bags. Oh, and a good spoon or spork are a must have for me. Oatmeal and ramen noodles are in most convenience stores. ANd it feels sort of like real food.

This was probably the best video on this topic I’ve seen. Thank you so much!

Never thought this subject would be so interesting. Another great and educational video that even a old guy like me can understand. Outstanding. Take care, Al

Great video. I’m a Randonneur and often eat at Gas Stations. After watching this I have an urge to go to 7-11 for breakfast 😂 Also very well written. Top tube pantry and drafting on the intelligence of others. I’m going to use those.

Thank you for sharing and for being thoughtful enough to include metric system data. It's really helpful.

A couple of things: String cheese is good. I often find cashews, macadamia nuts, and beef jerky in resealable ziploc bags to be a good thing. If only because you can reuse the empty bag for trash or other stuff. The caffeinated Clif Bars, if you can find them, are an awesome emergency food. One of them is usually good for about three hours of motion. Lemon drops are good quick energy.

Best comment from this vid "so basically, eat every chance you get". Got it. Thanks again for an awesome vid. I haven't given much thought about food prep yet, but this will definitely get me pointed in the right direction.

Another cracking video, Alan. Just what I wanted to watch in prep for the TD. Some great advice, loved it.

I really appreciate you making the time to make this video 👍

Wowee. Fantastic video!

Hey DT, KW MD here. Love the lowdown on PO intake for the TD. This is the best instruction on high density caloric intake for long distance endurance bikeletes I’ve heard. I’ve given the glycemic index speech to hundreds of patients. Great job! While food choices are often limited, on the Trans Am and GDMBR I fell in love with Minute Market food, supplemented by cafe food. There’s a surprising diversity of tastes, flavors and textures. I’m not a racer, and a little more weight – tolerant, but I always plan a little extra bag space for takeaways… Subway, pizza, fried chicken, hohoes, fruit pies. If I come home > 6-7 pounds lighter, I know my calorie intake ( and likely pedaling performance) suffered. Thanks again. You gave a good didactic nutritional background with lots of practical food suggestions without geeking out on the biochemistry of exercise and starvation. Perfect!

Cool advice! I like your energy.

super video with really useful tips no matter what the bike packing distance is.

Fantastic vid, thanks

Love this Jaco..love this foodie edition..one reason I love bikepacking…bike eat camp repeat..thanks Brudda🚴⛺️☕️🍺🌯🦎

Excellent! Great advice for anyone on the Divide, even older folks like me touring the route at 40-50 miles a day can still use your tips. Thanks!

The 'bullet proof coffee' sachets w/ butter & MCT oil are great to add to coffee :)

Excellent video very informative!

Love your videos! And your replies are never snarky which is hero level. I’ll be “touring” the ride this summer and can afford the luxury of store shopping thankfully. Btw I know that are probably the most processed food imaginable but I really like carrying Uncrustables (peanut butter jelly frozen round sandwiches) .. that are easy to eat in the bike .. and fit as a stack in feed bags perfectly !