First 50 miles, problems at 40

[DirtGambit]

thanks for your help everyone, I will try some of these suggestions tomorrow, im determined to make 50 my new 35 or at least manage a few 50s a week with my usual 35 route making up the rest. I don't think ill go down the energy gel/bar route until im doing 70+ regular. Ill try the granola bars and banana enroute and maybe do those things at 25-30miles as I know I can get to that point with only water. I always eat an hour before I leave. I don't drink alcohol so that's not a problem, I do like a coffee in the morning though.

 

[slowmotion]

Drink the coffee. It won't make a blind bit of difference, and will lift your spirits.

Save the heroics for the end....

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

Eat more and more often! Gels people? Seriously, give what you're saying some thought..

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

This 100%

 

[gavroche]

or at least manage a few 50s a week

Do you have time to work too?

 

[s7ephanie]

I am trying to lose weight and find it hard to get to grips with this eating on rides !! i do take a banana and a chocolate brownie when i go on my 'adventures' but really struggle on longer rides.
I have also looked everywhere for jelly babies and cannot find them anywhere - can somebody send me a food parcel

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

I am trying to lose weight and find it hard to get to grips with this eating on rides !! i do take a banana and a chocolate brownie when i go on my 'adventures' but really struggle on longer rides.
I have also looked everywhere for jelly babies and cannot find them anywhere - can somebody send me a food parcel

Seek and ye shall find http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Barratt-J...=UK_Sweets_Chocolate&var=&hash=item33820caf16

 

[MaxInc]

I think is important to know that the rate at which you burn carbohydrates increases with the intensity of the effort. If you keep the effort low enough, your body will use primarily fat for fuel and you will never run out of that. Keep hydrated and the pace low and you won't need any carbs supplements.

As you start pushing for hills or speed and the heart rate increases, you will start burning more and more carbs for fuel and there's a very limited supply of those (glycogen), maybe enough to last for 1-2 hours. Once you run out of carbs, you hit the wall and will slow down to the point where the body can run on fat alone.

You will need refuelling on route for longer rides at higher intensity. Bear in mind that after eating jelly babies or any other carb supplement, will be a certain delay until the carbs get digested and get into the blood stream, hence the advice of eating before hitting the wall to make sure you stay in the game.

For loosing weight, you need to be very honest about how many carbs you are eating during your rides as it is quite easy to overestimate the amount of calories you eat to effectively cancel out any benefits. It is perfectly possible to accumulate fat while cycling

 

[s7ephanie]

Seek and ye shall find http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Barratt-J...=UK_Sweets_Chocolate&var=&hash=item33820caf16

only post to UK

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

only post to UK

There are other sellers

 

[malcermie]

I think sometimes it just happens, I regularly do a 55 mile run and apart from slightly still legs feel fine. But last week, with perfect weather and no wind I hit the wall about 5 miles from home and it's taken me a week to get over it. Can't explain it plenty of flapjacks and water but still it happened. But it did provide 'er indoors with an excuse to remind me I'm 68 not 28!

 

[procel]

+1 on porridge before the start

 

[DirtGambit]

Do you have time to work too?

Yeah I do work, Im lucky enough to work round my cycles I make mobile apps.

I was out today for a 40 miler, ate a bit more and took some Somerfield flapjacks, I felt fine during the ride but 40 is only a few miles more than what I usually do, If weather is ok tomorrow ill do a 50 - 60, I think ill be fine, I was just shocked at the speed at which I went from being fine to having zero energy in my legs, im sure the hills had a part to play, today I stayed away from them.

Thanks for your advice everyone.

 

[Raging Squirrel]

I have porridge and 1 scrambled edd on brown toast about an hiur before my ride. I take 2 sports drinks with me and either a couple of jaffa cakes or a plain meringue

 

[procel]

A meringue?? How's that not turned to crumbs by the time you come to eat it?!

 

[Raging Squirrel]

The inner bit is gooey so it kinda sticks together, but its in a little plastic sandwich bag anyway haha