Hit the wall for the first time.......not nice :-(

[martint235]

After reading this thread again, has anyone ever tried those jelly packs (can you still buy them?) little cubes of jelly that you add hot water to? I bet they'd be a good source of energy.

 

[vickster]

After reading this thread again, has anyone ever tried those jelly packs (can you still buy them?) little cubes of jelly that you add hot water to? I bet they'd be a good source of energy.

No but not nearly as satisfying as biting the heads and feet off jelly babies

I don't cycle any distance without my breakfast porridge, oats plus mix of skimmed milk and water . Pretty gruel like but does the trick!

 

[Trevor_P]

I did exactly that three weeks ago. The very next weekend, I did the same route plus a bit more and this time fuelled properly. It made all the difference. I find fig rolls and flap jack the best. Banana sandwiches too. I its amazing how much fluid is needed. Way more than I ever thought.

If you're up to it, I'd get back on the pony again this weekend just to prove it to yourself.

 

[Dogtrousers]

You guys must be riding at a greater intensity than I do, or maybe my system works differently, or maybe I'm just lucky, because I've never bonked. Never.

I'll ride 100km (in under 5hrs) on no more than my normal breakfast and a bidon of water. True, the strength in my legs has faded and I wouldn't go further than that but it's certainly something I do. Sometimes I'll take half a jam sandwich, or a flapjack if I've made some, but not as a rule. That said, I do know the whereabouts of boulangeries in case I need!

That saud, I have noticed that it's an easier ride if I've eaten well the night before.

I think It may well be intensity.

I pootle along taking the odd sip and handful of jelly babies, and I've never gone suddenly from OK to very tired. Sure I get knackered, but it's always a gradual process, and once I'm knackered that's it until the next day, no amount of jelly babies or fig rolls will save me. I've always been of the view that this was the kind of thing that happens to real athletes. Not to me.

 

[yello]

Sure I get knackered, but it's always a gradual process, and once I'm knackered that's it until the next day, no amount of jelly babies or fig rolls will save me.

Ditto. I'll suffer with muscle fatigue but not bonk. For me, 'training' isn't about getting faster, it's about increasing the distance I can do before the muscle fatigue sets in and calls time.

On reflection, I recall once (and only once) when a plate of food revived me. That was on PBP after having ridden 525km in 28 hours, then not eating before the 90km leg into Brest. My own damned silly fault and hardly surprising that I crawled that leg.

 

[w00hoo_kent]

I'd say train like it if you want to, but do some rides with a decent load of fuel in you, and topping up as you go, because when it comes to the 100 you're training for you are going to want to put in a good show and while a lot of peeps talk about riding without eating much to train, most seem to agree to eat 'right' before and during the actual event, and to have ridden in that style beforehand to know what works for you.

 

[yello]

I'd say train like it if you want to

Not sure if you're responding to me or not but I put training in inverted commas as a kind of sarcastic remark (aimed at myself) because I don't train as such. I just ride my bike. I could ride more intelligently I guess, research the subject a little and eat 'right' (as you say) but that's not really what I'm in to.

There are people on this forum that can give very informed advice on training and what to eat when etc. I'm not one of them, but I can relate personal experience, fwiw.

 

[w00hoo_kent]

Sorry, aimed at the OP but too lazy to stick the quote in (hey, I haven't even changed out of my bib shorts today :-) )

 

[morrisman]

Just finished 82 miles at 14.5 mph fueled as follows

Big bowl of porridge with honey and big coffee for breakfast
Pint of water before setting off
2 x 750ml bottles of week Tesco Own Brand Lemon Squash for consumption on the go
3/4 of a packet of Tesco Fig Rolls (far better than any other) in my Topeak Tri-Bar for consumption on the go
Stops at 20 and 40 miles for a 10 minute rest
Stop at 55 miles for tea and a cake
Stop at the end for celebratory Tall Skinny Iced Latte in Costa in my village

 

[boydj]

if a single banana is all that's been taken in the 10 or 12 hours before setting off, then it's hardly surprising that you run out of fuel fairly early in the ride. A substantial breakfast, preferably with mainly slow-release carbs, will get you off to a good start. Then regular top-ups of food and drink will keep you going. Having a couple of gels in the bag for emergencies, as advised above, is always a good idea.

 

[Wonder Wheels]

I used to hit the wall a lot. I'm a general biker, I love cycling for the hell of it.

I used to get shakey, sweaty, need sweet things occasionally. I've found having beans on toast before I go out on my bike = helpful. Beans are they key ingredient for me. I get none of these things if I have a nice bowl of beans with a slice of toast or two before I depart.

I was knackered today though thanks to the heat and my mystery cycling partner yesterday lol. He overtook me (can't have that) so when he drank from his bottle I floored it. For the first time in ever I walked up a regular hill today, my legs felt like kites

 

[evo456]

Consensus is probably eat little for a lot of the time. Energy gel in a saddle bag is my back up, it is exactly what I need when the wall finds me. Easily to take in, and fast acting (within 3-5 mins) to get me to the next stop