What your mid-ride café order says about you

We all have a favourite drink or nibble at the café stop during a bike ride, but what do your choices say about you?

Triple espresso, no sugar

You are hardcore. The caffeine kick is just what you need to claim every Strava KOM on the way home and make anyone you are riding with totally suffer.

Bike: Slightly worn bike that's seen a lot of race action

Clothing: Well-used club kit

Flapjack

The cyclists' old favourite that transcends fads. You're a solid worker with plenty of oat-fuelled energy. You're not afraid to sit on the front and give the others a tow - while sneakily seeing who can keep up.

Bike: Something mid-range

Clothing: Why spend more than £100 on a whole outfit? It won't make you go faster, you know

>>> Five ultimate foods for cyclists (video)

Cup of regular tea, one sugar

You're a traditionalist at heart. Why go for some flashy alternative when you know what you like. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Bike: Steel frame, worn components that were once pretty good

Clothing: Wool, but not that fancy 'modern retro' stuff

latte

What every ride should be about
(Image credit: unknown)

Soy caramel latte with sprinkles

You keep up to date with modern trends unlike some of these beverage luddites. New is always best. Just this morning you contributed to a WiFi handlebar project on Kickstarter.

Bike: All-black carbon fibre aero bike, deep-section carbon wheels and Shimano Di2

Clothing: Aero helmet and full skinsuit with bright pink shoe covers

Big meat pasty

The energy gained from the full English you had for breakfast didn't last more than half an hour into the ride. Your finely-tuned metabolism requires that you need the fully-balanced meal that beef and vegetables wrapped in pastry can provide.

Bike: Built for strength. Titanium or aluminium

Clothing: Something that can stretch several inches after lunch

Camomile tea and a slice of Victoria sponge

You got lost on your way to the village fete.

Bike: Something in pastel colours with flowers on it

Clothing: See bike

Hot chocolate

You're tired. All you can think about is sleep, and you associate hot chocolate with getting wrapped up in a nice snug, warm bed and have a revitalising kip. Instead, you're faced with a haul back home up a never-ending climb into a headwind.

Bike: You wish it was a teleportation device linked directly to your bed

Clothing: PJs

Cycling Souvenirs Grand Tour espresso cups. Cake and plate are model's own

Let's have some of that
(Image credit: Nigel Wynn)

As many cakes as you can afford

It appears as though you may have over-stretched yourself on today's ride. Eating will definitely make up for the empty feeling in your legs... right up until the point where you get back on your bike and realise that all of the blood has actually left your legs and rushed to your intestines to help digest the coagulated mass of chocolate cake, treacle tart and sticky buns.

Bike: Aluminium. There's no point spending more than £1000 on a bike, but £1000 on cakes is fine

Clothing: Something you got in the sales

>>> The seven best things about getting into cycling before the age of 25

Nothing (though you might ask the café for a water bottle refill)

You sit there while everyone around you slurps and scoffs. This either gives you a feeling of superiority because you simply don't need this kind of top-up after just 50 miles. Or that you left your money on the side at home.

Bike: A featherweight that you weigh regularly to make sure it hasn't mysteriously gained some grammes

Clothing: Team issue only

Watch: Five foods you should never eat before your ride

Big Mac, fries, chicken nuggets and an extra-large Coke

You don't really care about what other people think of you. Or you're a world-class sprinter on your way back from a big win. The choice of champions.

Bike: Anything you like

Clothing: Ditto

Salad

If the café you are visiting serves salad, then you're at the wrong café.

Bike: Get on it now, and ride to a proper caff

Clothing: Probably a bit too loose if you like salad

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Nigel Wynn
Former Associate Editor

Nigel Wynn worked as associate editor on CyclingWeekly.com, he worked almost single-handedly on the Cycling Weekly website in its early days. His passion for cycling, his writing and his creativity, as well as his hard work and dedication, were the original driving force behind the website’s success. Without him, CyclingWeekly.com would certainly not exist on the size and scale that it enjoys today. Nigel sadly passed away, following a brave battle with a cancer-related illness, in 2018. He was a highly valued colleague, and more importantly, an exceptional person to work with - his presence is sorely missed.