How many miles before you take on energy food?
Discussion
Went for a ride last night.
Surbiton - cobham - effingham - great bookham - fetcham - leatherhead - chessington- hook - surbiton.
About 27 miles the route we took, had plenty of up and downhill, so I guess wasn't the easiest ride, but wasn't too hard either.
However after maybe 18 miles or so, I found myself feeling weak and needing that kick. I hadn't eaten for about 5 hours and my drink was just water.
Does it sound normal that I would have needed some sugar to get me going? What do you reccomend? A drink? A bar?
Thanks for any help.
Surbiton - cobham - effingham - great bookham - fetcham - leatherhead - chessington- hook - surbiton.
About 27 miles the route we took, had plenty of up and downhill, so I guess wasn't the easiest ride, but wasn't too hard either.
However after maybe 18 miles or so, I found myself feeling weak and needing that kick. I hadn't eaten for about 5 hours and my drink was just water.
Does it sound normal that I would have needed some sugar to get me going? What do you reccomend? A drink? A bar?
Thanks for any help.
I'd recommend a high carb energy drink (not a protein drink).
Drink small amounts of it regularly to keep your energy levels topped up.
I did a 2 hour spin last week without an energy drink (just water) and I couln't believe how much it took out of me compared to when I use an energy source.
Drink small amounts of it regularly to keep your energy levels topped up.
I did a 2 hour spin last week without an energy drink (just water) and I couln't believe how much it took out of me compared to when I use an energy source.
The problem is that by the time you find you need the extra energy, you should have been taking it on board already. I'd suggest an energy drink of some sort (SIS drinks are OK) and make sure it's the "performance" not "recovery" drink. That way you're topping up your energy levels every time you take a drink.
Just weight and energy use.My commute is 19 miles each way. Sometimes I miss lunch 'because work is hetic, so I'll be doing 38 miles on 2 slices of toast and some apple. Some people claim to be able to do 125 miles on a muffin. ISTM it depends how hard you are pushing. I did intervals on the way home on Tuesday night, and felt shaky when I got off the bike and immediately ate half a packed of biscuits and a 1/3rd of a tub of ice cream.
If you're going to do any exercise, make sure you're eaten no more than 2 hours before you start, that way your body is fuelled up-even if it's an apple or banana.
You wouldn't go out in your car for a 2 hour drive knowing the tank was on vapour and then hope that the small amount of fuel will get you there, so why do it to your body?
You wouldn't go out in your car for a 2 hour drive knowing the tank was on vapour and then hope that the small amount of fuel will get you there, so why do it to your body?
Having not eaten for that long before a ride 18 miles before feeling weak is pretty good really. Even on the weekends when I'm out at b
d o'clock in the morning I'll have half a cup of strong coffee and a granola bar before I go.
On a 1 hour ride I just use water but have a gel in my back pocket just in case
On a 2 hour ride I have one water & one carb drink and have some jelly beans or something to nibble on
On a 3 hour ride I have one water & one carb drink & refill both bottles at approx 2 hours and eat a Cliff bar in small goes from about 1 hour onwards every 10-15 mins and then nibble on jelly beans in the last hour. I do tend to get home with some fluid left but average riding temp here at the moment is mid 80's F and humidity also in the 80's
Currently 3 hours only gets me about 53 miles and I'm building up to a century in early October so I'll be trying to work on my food and drink strategy for that.
Does anyone have good guidance for longer rides?
d o'clock in the morning I'll have half a cup of strong coffee and a granola bar before I go. On a 1 hour ride I just use water but have a gel in my back pocket just in case
On a 2 hour ride I have one water & one carb drink and have some jelly beans or something to nibble on
On a 3 hour ride I have one water & one carb drink & refill both bottles at approx 2 hours and eat a Cliff bar in small goes from about 1 hour onwards every 10-15 mins and then nibble on jelly beans in the last hour. I do tend to get home with some fluid left but average riding temp here at the moment is mid 80's F and humidity also in the 80's
Currently 3 hours only gets me about 53 miles and I'm building up to a century in early October so I'll be trying to work on my food and drink strategy for that.
Does anyone have good guidance for longer rides?
You should always carry some high energy food with you just in case .
I don't know if you've ever had the bonk (i think runners call it "hitting the wall")when you have burned all your energy reserves, its not pretty.
I've had it several times and every time i got it I swore I would never cycle again. Its seriously depressing, especially if you are not near home and have no food or money with you.
The best way to avoid it is to eat /drink frequently on the bike and carry a gel/jelly beans.
I don't know if you've ever had the bonk (i think runners call it "hitting the wall")when you have burned all your energy reserves, its not pretty.
I've had it several times and every time i got it I swore I would never cycle again. Its seriously depressing, especially if you are not near home and have no food or money with you.
The best way to avoid it is to eat /drink frequently on the bike and carry a gel/jelly beans.
I got up on Sunday at 6am, had some breakfast then had a little doze until 7, was off out by 7:30, I only had one bottle with me and it was quite hot, I stopped at about 15 miles and grabbed a can of coke, literally downed it and was off again, I managed to get to about 38 miles where I was feeling really knackered, I stopped around a mates and had a couple of bits of malt loaf and another can of coke and felt so much better, after half an hour and a top up of my water I was off again, managed to do 62 miles before I had to get back to watch the GP. It taught me a couple of things, having some breakfast an hour or so before I go out makes a big difference, eating something before 38 miles is a must for me, when I get to the stage of feeling knackered I've left it too late!
okgo said:
I wish I could do those distances, my lower back just won't have it 
I suffered from chronic back pain about 5 years ago, I started getting back into cycling so started going to the chiro, he treated me and told me it was a good idea cycling, I carried on and as the years have gone by the muscles in my back have helped with the back ache, now my back hardly ever aches and it appears to be getting stronger and stronger
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