I feel there are four main ways to categorize how people are motivated…Money, Power, Fame, and Lifestyle. There are others, (home security, location, respect, etc) but in my opinion these are the big ones. Based on these motivational catalysts, we make our choices and move forward along our journey….all the while feeding this inherent...
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Here’s a look at who’s loving the bike for April 2012. 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 these lovers have to say. Hey…..and we’d love to hear from you as well….feel free...
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Although I am totally Loving the Bike, I can most definitely live without having to ride amongst traffic lights. If you know me at all, you’d know that you don’t generally hear swear words coming out my mouth, tweets, or anything else….but I feel like I’m sometimes a completely different person when I’m on...
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This is your chance to help create the new Loving the Bike cycling kit. By now, I’m sure you’ve all seen the hot new #bikeschool kit design and have your pre-orders in…and now it’s time to get our new kit together. Once again, we’ll be having @bobridesabike as the design captain but we need your...
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Ancient Greeks used parsley to adorn their champions. This week, we’re gonna eat it. Parsley is much more than a decoration or a trophy, it’s a Super Food that can fight and reduce risk of cancer, neutralize free radicals that damage cells, give you a healthy smile, and promote heart health. In this week’s...
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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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No, not those kind of transitions… But forgive me for using this picture of the ‘Mark Cavendish Shadow’, Tyler Farrar. It was not purely to make a cheap and frankly rubbish joke about the title of this post. It’s more about conveying how I’ve been feeling about my fitness and cycling recently and how...
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You don’t have to be a Tibetan Monk in order to know where you come from and what you stand for. We all know ourselves better than anyone else… but what is necessary is a constant connection with this identity. All of us are cyclists, and that alone speaks a lot of the kind...
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Hi Kelli, I’d like to know if my love of beets is a good thing and it eating them is helping my cycling in any way? Kelli’s Answer: As a true SuperFood vegetable with a beautiful color, it’s hard to beat beets. They can be intimidating, I know, but it looks like they aren’t...
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Calling all #bikeschool students, professors and lurkers. We have added an awesome new addition to the Groucho locker room with this new and improved #bikeschool jersey design. Brought to you from the original design team and manufacturers this smart new design is available for pre-order NOW for a limited period only. With the 2012...
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Of course you can….you’re a cycling fanatic with bikes on the brain. Most of you have probably already picked out the frame type and components of that tiny little bike as well. But many drivers out there are not like us, and I feel it’s because of this that a lot of the instances...
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I was recently asked to give my thoughts on Dr. Lim’s Rice Cakes. Have you heard of them? Dr. Allen Lim is the world-class physiologist who’s worked with many professional cycling teams, the US Cycling Team, and who has recently co-written a cookbook entitled The Feed Zone Cookbook. During his career, he has created...
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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!
