The Pushbike Surfer

Welcome to The Pushbike Surfer! When I arrived in Okinawa, it was 90° with 88% humidity! It was no joke, and to be honest, I was nervous to ride in such heat. What turned out to feel like riding in a sauna taught me even more about proper hydration during my bike rides.

I am going to go over a few of my favorite convenience store snacks I love to eat/drink when I am riding!

If you would like to see the video I made on YouTube about this topic, feel free to watch below.

I am not a nutritionist nor am I close to understanding what is the BEST snacks to keep hydrated, but I am excited to share what I like to enjoy.

Short Rides

Let’s go over the snacks I enjoy on short rides first. When I go on short rides, anywhere from 5-20 miles or 10-30km, I tend to not eat a whole lot. I rarely eat before a ride, but I do like to bring something with me for when I am riding.

Typical snacks will be a granola bar, dried mango, almonds, or even some crackers (rice or wheat).

How I typically hydrate is by using the water I prepared before the ride and continue to refill my bottle at parks along the way. While I do like my Pocari Sweat, I tend to stay away from hydration mixes on these shorter rides.

Long Rides

For myself, a longer ride is anything north of 20 miles or 30km. This is where I become slightly more in-depth, but it is just my way of hydrating or snacking.

Let it be known, I sometimes stop at more coffee shops than the miles I ride.

Whether it is hot or cold, long days on the saddle call for some sort of hydration and snack combination.

My favorite combination is the Chargel and Pocari Sweat combination. The nutrients in both seem to sustain the energy I need to continue on with my ride.

I really like the gel because it is easy to consume, it doesn’t take ages to chew nor is it too bland. In cycling, there is a lot of repetition, and having something to keep occupied but not distracted is key for me. One of the downsides of this Gel is that it takes up a lot of space. If you are not wearing a cycling jersey or you don’t have enough space in your bags, you may find it difficult to pack.

Pocari Sweat is my weakness. I love this drink SO much because it is not too sweet like other sports drinks I’m used to. It has never failed me when it comes to staying hydrated, especially when it’s really hot and I rely on my drink mixes to last as long as possible.

I think anyone who considers themselves active and relies on supplements to sustain energy should try this combination. Luckily, it’s not only available in Japan so YOU can buy this combination with these links.

Chagel Energy Gel – https://amzn.to/47lBrnS

Pocari Sweat Powder – https://amzn.to/47s0WDw

This is my current combination that I enjoy when I make mid-ride stops at the convenience store.

When I ride more and more, I will be sure to update my favorite snacks and drinks. Until then, I hope you found this enjoyable.

To keep updated when future logbooks are posted, be sure to follow my Instagram. I always post on my story when I release a new Logbook or YouTube video.

Happy days!

-Max