food for cycling

[craig kennedy]

ok I think its pretty clear, stop reading many websites that want me to go out and spend lots of money, and instead just eat normal food, drink normal drinks and enjoy.

 

[vickster]

Yep

 

[G3CWI]

I have been trying sachets of baby food. They are in handy sized pouches and taste okay. There are a huge range of flavours. I have stuck with the fruit ones but they come in savoury as well. I seem recall there was a "sunday roast lunch" one.

 

[vickster]

Yeuch, while I have teeth I'm not eating baby food!!

 

[Mrs M]

Toblerone, jelly tots or bananas (at a push).

 

[Mandragora]

Toblerone, jelly tots or bananas (at a push).

Don't push the bananas. They'll go squelch.

 

[ayceejay]

Beware but eating it will tell your body to release glycogen, which will make you feel better.
This is not true

 

[jefmcg]

Beware but eating it will tell your body to release glycogen, which will make you feel better.
This is not true

Ok. I'm not a physiologist (that's probably pretty obvious), but it was my interpretation of this study. But now I actually read the extract, I see it's the brain that responds to the sugar.

Either way, it seems clear that getting some carbs in your mouth will give you a boost long before those carbs reach the blood stream.

 

[craig kennedy]

you know, I am so glad I did not ask a philosophical question, I dread to think of how many responses there would have been ;-)

My first lengthy cycle will be from Maidstone to Woodchurch (25 miles each way) to meet with a client whos website I am responsible for building. I have checked and at a cruising speed of 12mph it will take me 2 and a half hours, so I will allow myself 4 hours each way, lol, stops for sore bum and banana eating. I dont think there is a good road for this, I know the road to headcorn is not a great road, long straight so plenty stupid drivers, but hey its gona be fun.

 

[cyberknight]

T.

I have learned to not buy clothes online, I hjave undershorts that are so tight I think my private parts go blue when I put them on, they now live at the back of the draw, and a top that is even tighter, lol.

Bike was halfords yellow Carera for £350 2 years ago.

Wiggle have a free return so its easy to get the right size , eventually.
Eating when riding ?
Im partial to kellogs elevenses bars or a the supermarket brand , had a 6 pack of the ones with jam in for £1.19 .

 

[ayceejay]

Ok. I'm not a physiologist (that's probably pretty obvious), but it was my interpretation of this study. But now I actually read the extract, I see it's the brain that responds to the sugar.

Either way, it seems clear that getting some carbs in your mouth will give you a boost long before those carbs reach the blood stream.

People will stick with what they believe regardless of what anyone writes here but when someone writes nonsense it needs to be pointed out. The way the body metabolizes food is complicated without wading through a study half understood.

 

[jefmcg]

People will stick with what they believe regardless of what anyone writes here but when someone writes nonsense it needs to be pointed out. The way the body metabolizes food is complicated without wading through a study half understood.

Yeah. I didn't use the words "you are right" but I thought it was implied. But just in case

You are right.

However, one does get an immediate boost from simple carbs immediately, which is why gels work for some people. It's definitely partly psychological, but also neurological, as it happens even when you don't consciously realise it's carbs. But not physiological.

Not sure what you mean by "believe". I believe it because I have seen a few studies, and observed people getting a kick from gels as soon as they swallow them. Unfortunately and ironically I find simple carbs unpalatable when my blood sugar drops, so it's not not an effect I am benefitting from. I'd be quite happy to relinquish the belief if there are other studies disproving it.

 

[ayceejay]

I am not concerned with being right Jeff only to point out that what you wrote is wrong and I can see from your latest that you are confused on this issue.
If a person experiences a drop in blood sugar then an intake of glucose, perhaps in the form of a gel will temporarily and quickly raise it again but this is far from what you wrote initially.

 

[jefmcg]

perhaps in the form of a gel will temporarily and quickly raise

How quickly? My understanding is blood sugar doesn't rise for 15-20 minutes, yet people get an immediate burst of energy -probably while it's still in their oesophagus. That's the boost I am talking about, not the one that occurs 20 minutes later.

Honestly, I haven't felt it myself. But the organisers of RideLondon seem to believe in it: they have a gel station 5 miles from the end. It's only going to be able to provide a mental boost not a physical one before most riders cross the line.

 

[ayceejay]

This is a difficult question to answer Jeff. The brain uses glucose as its primary fuel and digestion begins in the mouth but how quickly it gets to the brain is hard to say. If you have witnessed this phenomenon as a more or less immediate mental boost rather than a physical one perhaps there is a psychosomatic element at play.
It remains though that energy is stored in the muscles and liver as glycogen and it is this store that should be relied on to fuel a ride rather than try to carry what you need in the form of bananas or pork pies.