Hitting The Wall...

[swiftylee]

hi all

when i have ridden about 30 ish miles my legs feel really heavy and seem to run out of puff.

i can make it home so in total 55 miles but always seem to have the mid 30 mile meltdown.

what is the problem....

i have porridge in the morning, high 5 eloctrolyte tabs for drinks and snacks along the way

 

[TissoT]

How Long Have you been cycling 30 ish miles For ...
How often do you get out on your bike

 

[MikeW-71]

What do you have for snacks?

If you are going out to ride 55 miles, maybe you are just pushing too hard for the first 30 miles and you've destroyed your legs.

 

[Broadside]

What are you having for snacks while out on the road? Depending how soon after eating porridge I would be taking 3 bananas or some flapjack or a sandwich to get me through that sort of distance. It is very easy to under-fuel on a ride and once your energy levels have dipped it is quite hard to brig them back up during the ride. 30 miles is around the point where I will suffer if I do not take some food on board.

 

[Weeloubylou]

Hi, I had the same problem and I started following coach Levi on line. His advise which I've found very successful is to sip a drink every 15 mins and eat an engery bar, dried dates or your banana etc every 30 mins. Try this plus stretching and having recovery and rest days..hope it helps.

 

[MikeG]

Depending how soon after eating porridge I would be taking 3 bananas or some flapjack or a sandwich to get me through that sort of distance........

Really? 3 Bananas? I would sometimes take a biscuit or flapjack, but certainly wouldn't need more than that for a 50 mile ride. Our Sunday club runs are about that length, and involve a cafe stop at about half way. A piece of cake or a bacon sandwich seems to be the fuel which a dozen of us choose for a ride like that. For a century, I would force myself to eat a small piece of flapjack every 10 miles starting at 30 miles.

Ooops........sorry.......mis-read. I thought you said 3 bananas AND a flapjack or sandwich.

Mike

 

[MrGrumpy]

Really? 3 Bananas? I would sometimes take a biscuit or flapjack, but certainly wouldn't need more than that for a 50 mile ride. Our Sunday club runs are about that length, and involve a cafe stop at about half way. A piece of cake or a bacon sandwich seems to be the fuel which a dozen of us choose for a ride like that. For a century, I would force myself to eat a small piece of flapjack every 10 miles starting at 30 miles.

Ooops........sorry.......mis-read. I thought you said 3 bananas AND a flapjack or sandwich.

Mike

Can see the Tesco bags hanging of the bar ends full of fruit and flap jacks
On a serious note if I go out for a ride that length, I have somehting decent to eat poridge and banana etc and fluids. Then take adrink with me, probably top us half way round (usually a cafe stop ). That I find is enough for that sort of distance.

 

[Blue]

The first 2 replies above are very relevant. 50 miles takes a bit of getting used to and would have to be done on a regular well paced basis to avoid destroying yourself, esp., if a lot of hills are included.

You mention using an electrolyte drink. Does it contain carbs? If not a drink with added carbs may assist.

 

[Broadside]

Really? 3 Bananas? I would sometimes take a biscuit or flapjack, but certainly wouldn't need more than that for a 50 mile ride. Our Sunday club runs are about that length, and involve a cafe stop at about half way. A piece of cake or a bacon sandwich seems to be the fuel which a dozen of us choose for a ride like that. For a century, I would force myself to eat a small piece of flapjack every 10 miles starting at 30 miles.

Ooops........sorry.......mis-read. I thought you said 3 bananas AND a flapjack or sandwich.

Mike

Yep, definitely "or" not "and"! :-)

 

[swiftylee]

Was my first ride this year but tried to do once a week last year but still the same...

Usually take a cereal bar and biscuits..

Tried torque bars etc last year did not do anything

 

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

What are you expecting bars to do?

 

[TissoT]

Placebo !

 

[uclown2002]

You ride 55 miles once per week typically and have 6 days off?