Bananas revealed as cyclists' favourite ride food

Move over, hard-to-chew energy bars and sickly-sweet gels: the humble banana is the favourite riding food of UK cyclists.

The not-terribly-surprising finding comes from Wiggle. The online retailer polled riders through its #goodstuff tag and associated website.

Riders were asked the most important thing you should take on a ride; the best cycling advice they'd ever been given; favourite places to ride and what they wish they'd known when they started cycling.

Bananas topped the ride food category with 31% of the vote, followed by jelly sweets (6%) and flapjacks (6%).

The most important thing to take on a ride is a tool kit for roadside repairs, especially punctures, according to 28% of those who responded. Water and food came next at 22%, followed by a phone for emergencies (13%).

The best cycling-related advice was to get a bike that fits well, according to 18% of respondents. Wearing padded cycling shorts was cited by 11%, while 8% said the best advice was to just keep cycling.

No one area ran away with the title of favourite place to ride, with 5% naming the Surrey Hills; 4% each for the Lake District and Yorkshire while the Peaks and Cornwall were each named by 3% of riders. The hills and dense lane network of North-east Somerset seem to have been overlooked, but that's fine; we're happy to have them as our little secret.

And the things people wish they'd known when they started riding? Here's a selection:

"How good and friendly cycling clubs were to new cyclists!"

"Whatever the weather, just ride."

"Don't put up with uncomfortable kit! Saddles, shorts or shoes - whatever it is if you don't get on with it then change it; you'll be able to ride for longer in more comfort."

"It will break and you can fix it."

"A 25 tooth cog wasn’t enough."

"Anglesey isn’t flat."

Adam Ryan, Wiggle Head of Brand Marketing said: “The purpose of the survey was to get as much good advice as possible from cyclists to re-cycle amongst new and existing cyclists. The enthusiastic response demonstrates just how passionate cyclist are about the sport.”