Feeling weak / Feeding?
Discussion
I've been slowly building up my efforts in order to train for London -> Brighton off-road ride (BHF).
I've noticed now that if I ride for much over 3 hours, then I start to really feel drained. I came back to the start of my loop down the hill I'd climbed at the start of it and the way I was feeling, I couldn't believe that I'd climbed it a few hours before!
I usually ride in the morning after a banana and a pint of caffienated energy drink (http://www.phd-fitness.co.uk/store/p/452/1/Peak-Body-Kaffeine-Kick---2Lb.html).
When I get back after my ride, I just want to eat and eat.
Clearly the L -> B is going to take more than 3 hours, and the training runs I need to do before then should be too. Should I be thinking about feeding myself? If so, what?
If it's relevant, I'm about 105Kg.
I've noticed now that if I ride for much over 3 hours, then I start to really feel drained. I came back to the start of my loop down the hill I'd climbed at the start of it and the way I was feeling, I couldn't believe that I'd climbed it a few hours before!
I usually ride in the morning after a banana and a pint of caffienated energy drink (http://www.phd-fitness.co.uk/store/p/452/1/Peak-Body-Kaffeine-Kick---2Lb.html).
When I get back after my ride, I just want to eat and eat.
Clearly the L -> B is going to take more than 3 hours, and the training runs I need to do before then should be too. Should I be thinking about feeding myself? If so, what?
If it's relevant, I'm about 105Kg.
EggsBenedict said:
I usually ride in the morning after a banana and a pint of caffienated energy drink (http://www.phd-fitness.co.uk/store/p/452/1/Peak-Body-Kaffeine-Kick---2Lb.html).
Is that it or do you have that after a bit of normal breakfast?Try some porridge with the banana rather than the energy drink.
Edited by donfisher on Tuesday 2nd September 16:23
Wot I do for long off road rides (on road too come to think of it)
Carb load the evening before. Big pasta dinner.
Porridge or muesli breakfast then after an hour riding regular mouthfulls of soreen, home made energy bars, bits of peanut butter sarnies, plenty of water.
Might have had a couple of mini melton mowbrays and a double 99 along the SDW too
ETA If you're trying to lose weight too before the event, do some early and fasted 60-90 minute rides [ideally road], that'll have the weight falling off.
Carb load the evening before. Big pasta dinner.
Porridge or muesli breakfast then after an hour riding regular mouthfulls of soreen, home made energy bars, bits of peanut butter sarnies, plenty of water.
Might have had a couple of mini melton mowbrays and a double 99 along the SDW too
ETA If you're trying to lose weight too before the event, do some early and fasted 60-90 minute rides [ideally road], that'll have the weight falling off.
Ah. I see.
No, just banana and energy drink and off I go. I thought it might be 'the bonk', but didn't want to be over dramatic!
Soreen - good idea. Love that stuff. Sure I can scoff that down on the flat bits.
OK. I'll get a bit more down my neck before and take a bit of that Soreen to have while I go. I guess I just need to experiment with how much to eat to keep going, and not to feel like there's a shedload of grub swilling around the insides.
Ta all.
No, just banana and energy drink and off I go. I thought it might be 'the bonk', but didn't want to be over dramatic!
Soreen - good idea. Love that stuff. Sure I can scoff that down on the flat bits.
OK. I'll get a bit more down my neck before and take a bit of that Soreen to have while I go. I guess I just need to experiment with how much to eat to keep going, and not to feel like there's a shedload of grub swilling around the insides.
Ta all.
TwistingMyMelon said:
Blimey have a proper breakfast and snacks on the ride
A banana a pint of caffeinated gnat's pass wouldnt touch the sides for me on that kind of ride, musilli and toast as a minimum them hairbo while riding and decent sandwich/soreen every 70 miles
Is it really okey to eat Haribo on a ride?A banana a pint of caffeinated gnat's pass wouldnt touch the sides for me on that kind of ride, musilli and toast as a minimum them hairbo while riding and decent sandwich/soreen every 70 miles
fuzzymonkey said:
TwistingMyMelon said:
Blimey have a proper breakfast and snacks on the ride
A banana a pint of caffeinated gnat's pass wouldnt touch the sides for me on that kind of ride, musilli and toast as a minimum them hairbo while riding and decent sandwich/soreen every 70 miles
Is it really okey to eat Haribo on a ride?A banana a pint of caffeinated gnat's pass wouldnt touch the sides for me on that kind of ride, musilli and toast as a minimum them hairbo while riding and decent sandwich/soreen every 70 miles
I've found reading this forum that people eat way too much before, and during, a ride. You should feel weak and hungry after a ride, there's no exact science or a one size fits all solution but there comes a point where people will eat more than they burn off quite easily...
Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 2nd September 19:14
okgo said:
Take a few bananas with you, eat one each 30 mins after the first hr or so. That way you'll get round and perhaps lose weight too.
Lose weight and get round? I'm already a bit round? Eh? What?I get what you mean - all in all, I need to stoke the furnace a bit, not enough for it to be a energy flat, or eat more than I'm burning, but enough to keep going.
What I think's happening then is that I've depleted my energy stores and I have to slow down so that my body can pretty well exclusively run aerobically, and therefore not really produce much power.
I'll leave the haribo out, I think ;-)
What is happening is your body is using all the glycogen it can quickly access which assuming you're new to cycling is probably 2 or so hours worth. Then you'll feel s
t and it will start using fat. But it can only metabolise fat at a certain rate which is why you'll still be able to ride but you won't be able to ride fast as fat is a lot more effort to use as fuel than carbs.
It's why if you ride at a slow pace you'll be able to go for a long time with no food as you'll be metabolising fat at about the same rate your body needs fuel rather than you pushing on and demanding more than can be provided for you resulting in your sluggish feeling.
t and it will start using fat. But it can only metabolise fat at a certain rate which is why you'll still be able to ride but you won't be able to ride fast as fat is a lot more effort to use as fuel than carbs. It's why if you ride at a slow pace you'll be able to go for a long time with no food as you'll be metabolising fat at about the same rate your body needs fuel rather than you pushing on and demanding more than can be provided for you resulting in your sluggish feeling.
richardxjr said:
ETA If you're trying to lose weight too before the event, do some early and fasted 60-90 minute rides [ideally road], that'll have the weight falling off.
Thanks for that - I'm not really 'trying' to lose weight, as my attempts to cut out lots of food, plus do exercise previously just led to injuries and strains. I know my body a bit better now, so I'm trying to eat healthily but heartily, but I'm also a dad of 2 under 5's, and a commuter to Lundun, so I have to be realistic about (1) not appearing to be a food freak to my kids and (2) that I have limited time to train. It's a balance at the end of the day, and much as I'd like to pop out for a hour's ride before going to work, that'd mean starting at 4am, so ain't gonna happen 
. The weight is coming off in any case, just not massively fast. It's a marathon, not a sprint. The weight is secondary to the overall health/fitness. So one will begat the other.
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