We don’t specialize in cycling races, cycling technology, or cycling training…so why should a Pro Cyclist be a loyal reader of Loving the Bike? Or why should any cyclist, for that matter? In a word, Lifestyle. Other than the fact that all of us cyclists (whether you’re pro, bmx, commuter, road, recumbent, amateur, mtb,...
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I was talking to a friend of mine last night and he asked what plans I had for today. I said we didn’t have too much planned, but part of my day would definitely include a big ride. Then he asked me an interesting question….“What exactly is a big ride?” I know that I’ve...
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What happens when a 125 pound cyclist takes on the challenge of eating a 3 pound veggie monster burger? A better question may be…why would someone even want to? As I’ve mentioned before, one of our sponsors over here at Loving the Bike is Big Daddy’s Restaurant in Austin. On their menu is what...
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What do you do when you’re a bike commuter who lives in a city with no bicycle culture? Well, if you’re Steve Shepard you take things into your own hands and start building up that culture. Steve Shepard is a family man and daily commuter in Erie, PA…located in northeast Pennsylvania on the shores...
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Low Priced Gift Ideas for Cyclists: With 38 days left until Christmas, it’s the perfect time to find a gift for that special cyclist in your life (or for yourself). We don’t want to inundate you with too many options (or suggest something like a new and expensive bike…which we all would love by...
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We’re a cycling website, so we focused this post on riders, but if you’re a runner or doing anything else that moves your body….You’re a Champion as well. One of the first posts we ever put up on Loving the Bike was titled “Why I Think Every Cyclist is a Champion“. I still totally...
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For some time now we’ve been asking you guys what improvements you want to see from #bikeschool and thinking about how we can take LovingTheBike.com and #bikeschool to the next level. With the introduction of Google+ Pages last week, we decided to jump on board and set one up. Yeah, we sort of felt...
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The logo you see above should do one of two things to you when you see it. It will either fill you with intrigue and excitement about what you have been missing out on and are about to experience, in which case I envy you dear reader… or it will fill you with a...
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lovingthebike on Google+ It’s been pretty exciting over at Google+ this week, and we’re feeling sort of like G+ Pioneers over here. On Monday, Google announced that they had just made it possible for companies, websites, and brands to create a page….so we got right on it. It’s always hard to be a step...
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1 hour is just never enough is it? That’s what makes the #bikeschool hashtag so marvelous, it means we can catch up on everything that has been going on in the world of #bikeschool and the lives of the class. So here is another ‘Happenings’ post, a sort of two-wheeled omnibus of the #bikeschool...
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Would you like to go cycling on and off road in Bonaire this winter? Your Caribbean Cycling escape has arrived. The price is incredible, the location is about as bikey exotic as you can get, and where else would you rather be this February than Bonaire? Bonaire is basically one incredible tropical oasis found...
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This morning I took part in a group ride with Mark Cavendish at the Redbridge Cycle Centre near Ilford in East London. I was lucky enough to win a place after entering a Facebook competition run by Holiday Inn who are the official hotel sponsors of the London 2012 Olympic Games. The day...
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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!
