At the top of each month we like to feature the amazing stories and memories of people who are loving the bike. Please take a look at what our December 2011 lovers have to say. Hey…..and we’d love to hear from you as well. Feel free to submit your “Look Who’s Loving the Bike” story...
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With regular sports drinks and gels or energy bars, I can’t seem to get the right amount of sodium and potassium. Any tips for adding it? It’s difficult to get the 400+ milligrams sodium and 100+ milligrams potassium per hour needed per hour during intense training with standard sports drinks and bars. First, take...
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Who do you feel is the best bike mechanic out there? We all love our bikes, right….so when it comes time to get them serviced we don’t trust just anyone to do the job. Some of you out there are knowledgable enough to do your own repairs, but for most cyclists we need to...
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Hey #bikeschool classmates, here’s your chance to pick up an incredible Elite Barrier cycling jacket from Pearl Izumi. It’s available in both Men’s and Women’s sizes, comes in seven different color options, and is described as: Wind-proof and water resistant, this comfortable and breathable Barrier Jacket provides lightweight, packable protection from a wide range of...
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Green, yellow, orange, or red? This is the question when picking out a bell pepper. In terms of nutrition, it does make a difference. As cyclists, we want all the antioxidants, phytochemicals, and health-promoting whole food components we can get. Choose the wrong one and you’ll get a lot of awesome nutrients. Choose...
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Question: Out of habit, I’ve always eaten cereal (granola) before my morning ride. For the last several weeks, I’ve been riding at 6am to avoid the heat, and eating at 5:30 am. I haven’t had any stomach issues, but I am not sure that this is the best pre-ride meal strategy. My legs have felt heavy since starting to ride earlier. My rides are 1.5-2 hours. Should I eat less, something different, or nothing at all? What do you think?
Kelli’s Answer: I think your pre-ride fuel strategy can be improved. The issue with eating a moderately high fiber breakfast within 30 minutes of beginning a ride is that it will likely take too long to digest, absorb, and metabolize to provide any energy to your muscles at all. And, what’s more, if the meal is setting in your stomach, you are increasing your risk of stomach cramps (but it sounds like you’ve been okay here) and a reduced bloodflow to your legs since your body is working at digesting.
Although many athletes feel like they need a full breakfast before a morning ride, I think you’ll have better result with less food, and ones that you can eat quickly and metabolize faster.
My first choice would be 2 Tablespoons organic honey + 0.5 – 1 Tbsp organic coconut oil (all straight off the spoon). Why? These are fast-acting, quick-metabolizing energy foods. The honey provides moderately fast carbs that act similarly to maltodextrin (moderately fast and longer lasting than glucose), natural enzymes to improve digestion, and antioxidants. The organic coconut oil provides fast-acting medium chain triglycerides which are used directly by the mitochondria of cells (energy producers) without the need for bile or slow digestion.
Another option would be a sports food with a moderate amount of protein – something like a Clif bar. Or, a smoothie with 1/4 cup yogurt, 1/2 banana, 1 Tbsp honey, and water. These foods will also digest quickly and provide energy during your ride.
And, don’t forget about 8 oz. of fluid.
During your ride, especially if high intensity and over 60 minutes, or moderate intensity and over 90 minutes, you’ll still need during-ride fuel as well. With all rides in heat, you’ll want fluids and lytes!
