In the last few rides- getting the shakes before halfway
Discussion
Sa Calobra said:
I must admit on the night before the rides I've not really eaten anything. Can this be the effect?
yeah for sure. look man you are not trying making weight for the UFC, so don't starve yourself. you should eat Pizza and a bag of crisps the night before. Pizza for carbs and crisps so the salt will stop you cramping up the next day. Then the next day for breakfast wheetabix coffee and some scrambled eggs and bacon. If I've got a big ride planned then the night or two before I'll have a big bowl of risotto, pasta, sweet potato type food, carb heavy.
On the morning I'll make a big bowl of porridge with banana, peanut butter, dates, honey. Maybe have some toast and scrambled eggs. Also make up a extra bottle of carb drink (on the weak side) with a hydration tab and drink it slowly before I leave so I know I'm starting off as hydrated as possible.
That keeps me going for miles and miles
When you listen to pros talking about really long rides it's basically an eating competition, who can eat the most without making themselves sick.
On the morning I'll make a big bowl of porridge with banana, peanut butter, dates, honey. Maybe have some toast and scrambled eggs. Also make up a extra bottle of carb drink (on the weak side) with a hydration tab and drink it slowly before I leave so I know I'm starting off as hydrated as possible.
That keeps me going for miles and miles
When you listen to pros talking about really long rides it's basically an eating competition, who can eat the most without making themselves sick.
Edited by lufbramatt on Tuesday 7th May 09:22
Or, its really isn't that complicated. You don't need to eat like some sort of nutter, cycling for most isn't burning many calories in the grand scheme.
Just eat normally and take something with you on the bike, OR do what nearly everyone else I know does, stop somewhere half way for something to eat.
Just eat normally and take something with you on the bike, OR do what nearly everyone else I know does, stop somewhere half way for something to eat.
I hate stopping half way round only for everything to start seizing up then having to spend the next few miles warming up again, and having to walk into some café in sweaty lycra and silly shoes worrying that someone is going to run off with the bike. Or some bell end landlord to march out and tell us to move the bikes off the decking and leave them by the side of the road despite it being 11am and the place being empty... would rather have a bigger breakfast
I went out on bike on Saturday morning, planned to do a quick 20 whilst the kids were at their nans but the weather was so nice and the sky so clear on the tops that I just kept going. I got to the top of the Trough (of Bowland) and suddenly realised, 20 odd miles from home and at least 10 miles from the nearest shop I was bonking with no juice left or food... Sometimes you've just to MTFU...
FredClogs said:
I went out on bike on Saturday morning, planned to do a quick 20 whilst the kids were at their nans but the weather was so nice and the sky so clear on the tops that I just kept going. I got to the top of the Trough (of Bowland) and suddenly realised, 20 odd miles from home and at least 10 miles from the nearest shop I was bonking with no juice left or food... Sometimes you've just to MTFU...
I am all for a bit of MTFH, or HTFU to use the non-binary, gender neutral, unicorn, unoffensive phrasing - but in the midst of a full on bonk its bloody hard to keep going. Only ever had it once and it was horrible. Honestly thought I wouldn't make it backOne of my bikes has power meter pedals on it now, they come in very handy for preventing the bonk. I was on the Isle of Wight on Sunday, for the annual Randonee Ride. When I add in the ride to and from the Ferry over to the island, it comes in at about 95 miles, and the 70 (odd) on the Island are done at higher than normal intensity. I’ve done it a fair few times, and despite eating and drinking sensibly, I’ve never got all the way out, round and home without a bonk. I very nearly managed it this year, by keeping a close eye on the actual power output. I didn’t quite make it all the way home, but I did get about 3 miles from home, before I had to stop to eat something more substantial. Fortunately I started to bonk just as I passed a Wetherspoons, so that worked out nicely. If you are finding yourself starting to take it more seriously, power meters would be a good investment IMO, as you’ll have actual numbers to work with.
Scabutz said:
FredClogs said:
I went out on bike on Saturday morning, planned to do a quick 20 whilst the kids were at their nans but the weather was so nice and the sky so clear on the tops that I just kept going. I got to the top of the Trough (of Bowland) and suddenly realised, 20 odd miles from home and at least 10 miles from the nearest shop I was bonking with no juice left or food... Sometimes you've just to MTFU...
I am all for a bit of MTFH, or HTFU to use the non-binary, gender neutral, unicorn, unoffensive phrasing - but in the midst of a full on bonk its bloody hard to keep going. Only ever had it once and it was horrible. Honestly thought I wouldn't make it backokgo said:
Just eat normally and take something with you on the bike, OR do what nearly everyone else I know does, stop somewhere half way for something to eat.
I forgot to take anything on my ride on Sunday (except energy gels) but luckily my route went right past Lashham gliding club, and the cafe sold huge pieces of flapjack! 
Gareth79 said:
I forgot to take anything on my ride on Sunday (except energy gels) but luckily my route went right past Lashham gliding club, and the cafe sold huge pieces of flapjack!
A regular haunt of mine (given my mum lives half a mile away) - a good stop if you want a fill up for not a lot of dosh. A nice 100 mile ride route that I do here and there.okgo said:
Gareth79 said:
I forgot to take anything on my ride on Sunday (except energy gels) but luckily my route went right past Lashham gliding club, and the cafe sold huge pieces of flapjack!
A regular haunt of mine (given my mum lives half a mile away) - a good stop if you want a fill up for not a lot of dosh. A nice 100 mile ride route that I do here and there.Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff