Proper nourishment on a long bicycle
ride is just as important as pumped-up tires, an oiled chain and
comfortable shorts. Many years ago I learned this the hard way when,
as a cycling neophyte, I decided to challenge Skyline Drive in
Virginia without sufficient food. Climbing and descending nearly
continually on the Blue Ridge on a very hot day is pretty wearing but
relief eventually came. We enjoyed a brilliant descent to Luray
where we dealt with our hunger pangs by indulging in foot-long
submarine sandwiches. Little did we realize the climbing had only
begun and as we grovelled up Massanutten Mountain in discomfort our
sandwiches haunted us. The final long stretch along Fort Valley Road
saw us in starvation mode and the Man with the Hammer (or the Green
Witch, if you are the Continental type) was banging on us pretty
hard. We arrived at our destination in bonk delirium and stopped at
the first restaurant, fittingly named the Village Idiot, where we
anxiously stuffed ourselves on terrible food. We could have
avoided all of this “education” if only we had had something like
the excellent “Feed Zone Portables” cookbook by Dr. Allen Lim and
Chef Biju Thomas.
Dr. Allen Lim is well-known to pro cycling enthusiasts for his work
with the Garmin Professional Cycling Team in developing new
approaches to nutrition as well as anti-doping measures that
eventually led to the Biological Passport. With Biju Thomas, a
self-taught chef based in Denver, he launched an all-natural sports
drink company in 2012. Biju has cooked for many notable cyclists,
including the BMC Racing Team and together he and Dr. Lim produced
“The Feed Zone Cookbook” in 2011 with 150 recipes for athletes
that were light, flavourful and healthy. That cookbook included a
section of recipes for food to be eaten during activity and “Feed
Zone Portables” is an expansion of that idea but provides a
rationale and the science behind what to eat when training and
competing.
A central premise of the cookbook is that people are happier eating
“real” food instead of pre-packaged gels or bars. European pros
still stick to their panini, small rolls with jam, ham and cheese, as
an important element of on-the-road eating. Dr. Lim believes that
real food is not only tastier but will also deliver improved
performance.
As the owner of several cookbooks (well, about 150), I can honestly
say that I have never seen one that commences with an introduction 57
pages long. An impressive variety of topics is covered clearly and
efficiently: calculating calorie deficits; electrolyte replacement;
gastric emptying rates; liquid vs. solid calories; pre-packaged food
nutrition facts; hydration; and ingredients. Then there is a quick
run-through of what you want in your Athlete's Kitchen and a
step-by-step illustrated guide to cutting paper-backed aluminum foil,
a necessity for the foods you make from the recipes in this book.
Then on to the meat of the book, so to speak: the recipes. (Don't
worry: there are vegetarian alternatives in many instances as well).
The reason you will want to have a big stack of nicely cut foil
pieces is because the foods you create from the modest list of
ingredients are designed to be wrapped up and stuck into a jersey
pocket or packed into an airtight box and kept cool. You will want
to go riding with friends: the majority of the recipes make from 6 to
15 servings, admittedly small ones but still quite a bit.
It
is clear from the onset that Dr. Lim's scientific approach has been
balanced by a chef's sensibilities in terms of colour, taste and
texture. Many of the recipes in the book seem a bit strange to the
normal North American palate and there is a certain fusion cooking
approach with things like sticky rice (beloved at dim sum buffets)
combined with Swiss cheese (beloved as fondue in the Alps). The rice
cakes, which the Garmin team made famous, come in many styles, both
sweet and savoury. They are joined by an entire chapter on baked
eggs (use muffin pans to make these), then miniature pies, cakes and
cookies, and waffles/pancakes/griddle cakes. I particularly enjoyed
the chapter of “Aha! Portables” which let you take everyday foods
and convert them into your training ride victuals—baked pasta,
pizza rolls and, ah, blueberry kugel. And of course the celebrated
panino (plural form is panini!)
is present in an impressive list of variations. Dr. Lim even
attempts to address the question of whether pickle juice prevents
cramping on Page 245 but I will provide no spoiler for that.
This is a wonderful book, entertaining while informative, and causing
you to rethink exactly what it is you are eating (and why) on or off
the bike. Unlike some of the gels or bars on the market, the food
you will make using these recipes is light, fresh and appealing. The
authors admit several times that there is a lot more work to doing it
this way rather than just buying something off the shelf (which may
have been on the shelf for a very long time) but I am certain that
anyone buying this book (which has excellent photographs and is
finely bound) will find enjoyment in preparing these novel but pretty
simple meals-for-your-time-on-wheels. So get this original and
unique book, get a rice cooker and unleash your kitchen
impulses—you'll feel better on those long rides and maybe faster
too.
It's much better than joining the Village Idiots.
Feed
Zone Portables: A Cookbook of On-the-Go Food for Athletes
by Biju Thomas and Allen Lim, with forewords by Taylor Phinney and
Tim Johnson
VeloPress 2013, 272 pp., ill. hardbound
ISBN: 978-1-937715-00-7
Suggested retail price: US$ 24.95
Available
at www.velopress.com
