Two days ago, I started my day with two glasses of Sattu drink. This is a popular breakfast or brunch choice among the poorer communities in northern India (while I am in the Northeast part of India), and I had only heard about it before. Farmers and day laborers consume this drink to sustain themselves throughout the day. It’s simply made from roasted chickpea flour mixed with water, salt, and some chopped onions. The vendor who sold it shared its benefits, and I thought, "Yeah, right!"
Nonetheless, I appreciated its simplicity and all-natural preparation, so drank two glasses, followed by two cups of milk tea around 8 AM. After that, I rode approximately 108 km, 2000 feet gain. Aside from a cup of tea and a couple of cookies offered by a bicycle repairman, I had no food until around 7 PM. Surprisingly, the Sattu kept me going.
I couldn’t help but think of your pre-ride smoothie, @Flowrider.
Later that evening, I enjoyed three plates of momos—Tibetan/Nepali vegetarian dumplings. That night, I slept in my tent inside a roadside temple. It wasn't ideal for rest or recovery, but my body has gotten used to being pushed to its limits.
The next day (yesterday), I rode 75 km but had to climb 5,900 feet towards Darjeeling, the Queen of Hills. Unfortunately, Sattu was not available here so started the day with whatever I could find and today it was rotis and milk tea.
My apologies for the long mail, but our bodies will learn to adapt. And, I have seen locals and mountain-dwellers here doing things I cannot fathom..
https://strava.app.link/Bq0QQyimbSb
(03-30-2025, 10:27 PM)Flowrider Wrote: @GirishH absolutely no idea how you survive that!
Anytime I don't pre-prepare food wise, I struggle for energy on the ride, and my recovery is tough and lasts a lot longer.
Well done!
![[-]](https://forums.bikeride.com/images/flatty/collapse.png "[-]")
