First 50 miles, problems at 40

[DirtGambit]

hello, today I done my first 50, which is not bad because for the last few months ive been doing 30 - 35 daily. I feel very comfortable doing 35 with no problems at all, ive even done a further 20 about 2 hours after coming home from a 35miler and felt fine for the second outing.

Today at 40 miles it felt like I hit a wall, all energy from my legs went and I was counting every 0.1 mile home, leg muscles felt strained, I was happy I finished and even sprinted the last 1mile home but I was wondering if having energy gels would help or if this is some symptom of energy loss over a longish ride.

I only ever carry water with a small amount of diluted juice in it, is this enough? I always keep hydrated so it cant be a hydration issue, is keeping hydrated a cyclists only concern while doing a long ride? Or is it the case im out of shape and at 40 miles my body said "enoughs enough" is was a very hilly ride and some steep 30-40% longish inclines but I don't know if that was the problem as I do the cairn o mount in Aberdeenshire quite a bit.

Regards

 

[themosquitoking]

Get some gels, some tablets for your water, some mule bars, a banana and some haribo and eat on the way round,

 

[Kies]

I start to suffer after 35 miles. If I'm planning longer rides, the trick is to eat a little every hour and continue to drink your water/juice cocktail.
As above, jelly babies, grenola bar and a banana are good things to stuff in jersey pockets

 

[wisdom]

+1 on the gels etc.Jelly babies are a good source of easily carriable energy.For long rides i pack a couple of gels and an energy bar.It works for me,the other important factor is to take on energy regularly,not when you need it.Its too late then.

 

[DirtGambit]

So if jelly babies would suffice does this mean its just sugar Im needing while cycling? wouldn't filling my water bottle with some coke or pepsi do the same thing but without having to carry around stuff? I have been looking at SiS range of nutrition products, I understand the Go Hydro tablets for water but what about the other caffine, carnitine,electrolyte gels/bars? which one am I needing or do I need them all? Is this what your using while doing a long cycle or is there a 1 bar/gel that does everything?

 

[SWSteve]

Do not fill your bottle with coke/pepsi. Use water or a sports drink.

re: food, take some flapjack

 

[DirtGambit]

If you had ever tasted my wives flapjacks you wouldn't be saying that.

 

[wisdom]

I like to use the ones with caffeine in them towards the latter stages of a ride.Could be phsycological though.
Flapjacks are a good source of slow release energy.Porridge is a must for breakfast in my case.

 

[cyclewick]

For longer rides, I use Sports in Science GO electrolyte, contains plenty of carbs, and has some sugar. Aslong as I eat or drink something that has alot of carbs in whilst on the bike it tends to make me feel alot better, so I usually take a couple of breakfast bars aswell. Also the gels are very quick and handy for an energy boost

 

[SWSteve]

If you had ever tasted my wives flapjacks you wouldn't be saying that.

less than a quid for a large one which is tesco value

 

[buggi]

jelly babies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yum

 

[HLaB]

Its pretty normal to hit the proverbial wall on your first attempt, it'll seem like 35miler for you the next time. Add salt to your bottle and eat bananas/cereal bars/flap jacks etc and it'll help; save the more expensive gels/bars for sportives or similar events (too much can cause problems anyway).

 

[slowmotion]

Fig rolls every hour....and weak blackcurrent juice in your water bottle. (Add a heaped teaspoon of salt, and one of sugar). Failing that, gobble a Mars Bar and make a mad dash for the Finish.

Edit: He beat me..^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[Mile195]

Just like a car stops when it runs out of fuel, so will you. When en-route general rules are - eat before you're hungry, drink before you're thirsty. As mentioned already, flapjacks en-route are a good bet - lots of carbs. Make sure you've eaten properly before you leave too. A decent breakfast of porridge with a spoon of jam, or sweet bagels before I leave the house works for me. That'll keep you going for a good while.

You'll hit the wall faster if you go out dehydrated. Therefore, if you've been drinking the night before, you might (if you're anything like me) find it tougher the day after than usual. Same applies if you go for an evening ride, but all you drank all day was coffee - caffiene is a diuretic.

Sports drinks you can make up yourself. I put blackcurrant cordial with a dessertspoon or 2 of sugar, and half a teaspoon of salt, dissolved into warm water and put in a 1000ml bike bottle. I carry two bottles - one with this, and one with plain water.

Finally, don't forget that no matter what your level of experience everybody has off-days from time to time... it's quite normal!

 

[slowmotion]

Wot he said...^^^^^^^