Nutrition advice for cycling more than 24 hours

[Speedy Sid !]

I am planning on riding the Trans Pennine Trail ride from coast to coast ( just over 200 miles ) in one go at the end of July and just wanted advice on nutrition etc to keep me going and maintain my pace.

I have completed the trail twice in 3 days last year and the year before and also mountain bike for full 12 hour days in the Peaks, ( last year I also rode 3 consecutive days in the Peaks, covering 140 miles and climbing over 22,000ft ) so know what to expect with milage, terrain etc. and how hard it will be.
I have never cycled for more than 14 hours in one go though and have always been fine on water intake, gels, snack bars and the like.

I have a friend who is going to support me in the car over the full distance and will meet me every couple of hours when the trail goes near roads, so no issues with carrying gear, extra water, food etc. and to also make sure I am feeling ok. Also have a friend who is meeting me just over half way for the night stage and will complete the last half with me to the end.
I am aiming for the ride to take less than 30 hours, with short breaks planned every couple of hours - last year over the 3 days I averaged 12mph.

I am currently riding 100 miles a week on the trail and also run 30 miles a week, I am aged 37.
I nearly always ride on trails and off road.
I have planned this month to start building longer rides into my training and start to ride for longer periods.
Any advice on nutrition for the trip would be greatly appreciated, mainly on what I need to be taking on board and when ( just don't ask 'why would you want to do this ?' because I get that a lot ! Haha.....just thought it would be a great challenge, think mid life crisis is approaching ! ).

Thanks for your time.

 

[Owen Burgess]

I would advise having a variety of food, gels etc. I have found when attempting silly things such as this I get very picky with what I want to eat. Gels and sugary things can get very sickly, especially if you try to keep taking them for this amount of time.

You'd be better eating small amounts at regular intervals rather than large quantities. Have a look at some of the strategies the Ironmen use.

Good luck!

 

[tonyg52]

I soon tire of sweet foods and crave savoury snacks.
I make my own pasties with a filling of meat and potatoe. Spag bol, chili beef hot or cold and sausages are all on the menu.

 

[Licramite]

I'm assuming your free camping and carrying your own food and kit?
so weight is a consideratrion. Camping shops do a range of prepacked army type compo rations you can eat cold or are boil in the bag if you want warm.
for 24hrs I would have a good scoff before you set out then plan for 3 meals with snacks in between.
plan your route and your breaks with meals. keep the sweet stuff for top ups.

 

[Scoosh]

The people who know about this stuff are the Audax fraternity, though their riding is mainly intended to be on the road.

They do long distances - 200km for a start and the 'standard series' is a 200, 300, 400 and 600km ride in a season.

yacf is where most of them hang out and there are some good (if rather long !) threads about riding the longer distances - and fuelling is obviously a major part of that.

Have a look here, here, here and here You'll soon be able to spot those contributors with whom you feel most resonance (I always reckon hellymedic is very good ) and take it from there.


HTH and we'll look forward to your Ride Report

 

[Nosaj]

24 hours+ actually in the saddle (Chapeau for even thinking about attempting it)

I don't have any information personally but in addition to the audaxers forums have a trawl through some time trial forums especially discussions regarding fuelling for 12 or 24 hour time trials, those guys would have to have their nutrition pretty well dialled
OT but the (2012 12 hour time trial record set by Andy Wilkinson was 317.912 miles. Average speed 26.48mph)

 

[Speedy Sid !]

Thanks for all the advice, really appreciated.
Have been checking through the audax forums and also pasties etc are all sounding good. Good thing is I will have a friend in a support car meeting me every few hours so amount I need to carry will be minimum.
Many thanks - will keep in touch !

 

[Speedy Sid !]

Just to say thanks for all the advice the other month, really helped.
Completed a trial run on the Trans Pennine Trail from Southport to Sprotbrough (nr Doncaster ) on Saturday, 130 miles in just under 15 hours including small stops. Aiming to complete the full distance of 220 miles in one go in July, felt good at the end and confident that I still had enough energy to keep going in July.
Many thanks.

 

[Ningishzidda]

Trace the route on BikeHike to get a estimation of the climbing.

kCals can be 25 kCal per km, plus another 25 kCals for every 100 m climbing.

This is IN ADDITION to your normal daily intake.

Just eat normal stuff, erring more on CHO than fat and Protein.