Are you looking to generate power for your electrical device while on the bike? Our friend @bobridesabike is here to give you one super detailed review of the Spin POWER 4 for the iPhone 4, made by Bike2Power. Oh, and be sure to make your way down to the bottom of his review for details on...
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Like many of you, I have a ton of cycling T-shirts….but one of my favorites has got to be my Viva la Bicicleta. Not only does it feel good and look great, but the philosophy behind the company is one that I totally believe in and support: “Our philosophy is simple: get everyone out...
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I know so many people who have always wanted to design their own t-shirt, and I’m here today to offer you that chance if you are one of these people. The good folks over at Fibers are offering one of our Loving the Bike readers the opportunity to create your own, or choose from one...
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Seems like there is an overload of bicycle inspired books out there right now, and we’re here to give you a one paragraph review of five of them. We’re just giving you a quick review of each one so that you can spend your reading time on the books themselves, and not the review....
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My pal Tammy is a cyclist taking part in her first triathlon, and she’s here to tell you about her new Pearl Izumi syncroFloat IV shoes. My Pearl Izumi syncroFloat IV Review by Tammy I am a cyclist and really love being out on the road with my bike. Although I enjoy it so...
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Does your bike spend a lot of time being stored outside or subject to potentially harmful conditions? Hopefully not, but if so then a Bike Poncho™ can help you (and your bike) out. It’s designed to protect your bike while parked on work/campus, traveling on the back of your bike rack, or while being stored...
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Not only do I have my review of the Helium Lazer helmet today, I also have details on how you can win one of your own. Be sure to check out my thoughts and opinions as well as the video about what I think of this cycling helmet. I have been in serious need...
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Note from Darryl: We didn’t participate in this historic day of people blacking out their websites. To be honest, I haven’t even had a chance to see what all of this is about so I never had a chance to grab myself an opinion on it. I’m definitely one for free speech and individuality which...
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Looking for a cool way to carry your infant on your bike? You might want to check out the iBert Safe-T-Seat. As some of you may know, I have a bike crazed baby in the house…and if you’d like to see how much he loves bikes, check out this video from last year’s TdF....
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We’ve got Professor @egggman in today with a review of the Caliber Photochromic sunglasses from Ryders Eyewear. Mike is a year round cyclist and experiences all seasons and conditions over there in Ontario, so he’s sure to provide a full review on their performance. Enter to WIN: Oh, and we’re giving away a pair of...
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Many of you will have read the trials and tribulations of Elden Nelson, more commonly known as ‘Fat Cyclist‘, on his fantastic blog. The longstanding blog, cited by many as being the finest collection online, has charted the news, satire and heart-felt peaks and troughs of life for many years now. Fat Cyclist will...
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Austin has been invaded by thousands of #runnerds this week as the National Running Expo called “The Running Event” rolled into town. I’m a cyclist, right? So what would I want with a running event? Well, an expo of this magnitude brought with it a bunch of fantastic companies that cater to both the...
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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!
