Originally Posted by Ralphie000

Should I be eating back all the calories I burn on longer rides? I understand I need to replenish glycogen and get protein but should I add 2500-3000 calories after riding a century? I could stand to lose 10-15 lbs.

Thanks!

No … especially if you could stand to lose weight.

Ideally, you should start your century with an extra 2000 calories in storage …. that’s just eating regularly in the weeks prior to the century. And a breakfast of 500 calories would give you a good start on the first hour of your ride. Then if you eat, say, 250 calories per hour while you ride, you’ll be replenishing about half what you’re burning.

So if your century takes you 8 hours, and you burn 500 calories per hour = 4000 calories.
Your 2000 calories in storage + 500 calorie breakfast + 250 calories * 8 hours = 4500 calories.