Regulate breathing...

[NeoCaesar]

This is just a random thought that I wanted to run by people -shoot me down if required.

When out for a longer run or cycle we all know that gels/jelly babies can mean the difference between life and (metaphorical) death. How about replacing these with sucking sweeties? My thinking was that the job that your mouth does sucking the sweet might help you regulate your breathing and stop it becoming so ragged when you dig deep. Am I talking nonsense here (has been known) or do you think they might be some merit it this?

 

[Hacienda71]

You may end up choking on said sweet if you are digging deep on a long climb and sucking in loads of air. In all seriousness though, you breath deeply when your body needs more oxygen to power your muscles so why try to regulate it unless you are hyper-ventilating?

 

[NeoCaesar]

You may end up choking on said sweet if you are digging deep on a long climb and sucking in loads of air. In all seriousness though, you breath deeply when your body needs more oxygen to power your muscles so why try to regulate it unless you are hyper-ventilating?

You would still be able to take in more breath when required, the issue is the regulation of breathing. A ragged un-regular breathing pattern throws you off kilter. When running (I am usually to focused on other things on my bike to pay attention to breathing) I often breath only through my nose as I FEEL that this keeps me in control of my breathing rather than my breathing taking control of me. I think a sweetie would have the same mechanism and if used on the bike would take away the need to manage my breathing. As obviously I want to be thinking about it as little as possible -A watched kettle never boils etc...

 

[black'n'yellow]

give it a try - let us know how you get on. You can update us from hospital, after the boiled sweet has been surgically removed from your windpipe...

 

[NeoCaesar]

give it a try - let us know how you get on. You can update us from hospital, after the boiled sweet has been surgically removed from your windpipe...

Don't know about you but I think I mastered my body's power of differentiating between sucking and swallowing [childish giggle] sometime around when I was started on solid foods...

I don't know, I ask to be shot down and you all courteously oblige... :-)

 

[black'n'yellow]

Don't know about you but I think I mastered my body's power of differentiating between sucking and swallowing [childish giggle] sometime around when I was started on solid foods...

presumably then, you've never choked on anything in your entire life..??

 

[VamP]

Sounds like a solution looking for a problem to me...

 

[NeoCaesar]

presumably then, you've never choked on anything in your entire life..??

Not since I was about 5, no.

Sounds like a solution looking for a problem to me...

Maybe I just want to jump on the multi-million pound sports nutrition bandwagon... Just imagine 'Breath Easy Sweets' -I could afford a new bike after all.

 

[Nigel-YZ1]

As an asthmatic I have situations where controlled breathing is required. I wouldn't even think of having anything in my mouth at the time, it would just be an obstacle to think about.

 

[fossyant]

As an aside, sweets and jelly babies aren't ideal 'fuel' - you need complex carbs, not pure sugar.

 

[NeoCaesar]

As an aside, sweets and jelly babies aren't ideal 'fuel' - you need complex carbs, not pure sugar.

Most gels are pretty much glucose -it is a the fastest converted carbohydrate you can consume. Flapjack for the slow release. Jelly Babies for instant boost...

As another aside, try concentrating on breathing OUT when under pressure, rather than breathing in. Losing the CO2 is what counts, and then the body takes the oxygen it needs.

Thanks, I will try that.

 

[Nosaj]

I forgot and was still chewing gum while TT'ing once. Needless to say said gum ended up being spat out very quickly

Also think about what may happen to said boiled sweet if you crash and may no longer be in concious control of your body

 

[lulubel]

As an asthmatic I have situations where controlled breathing is required. I wouldn't even think of having anything in my mouth at the time, it would just be an obstacle to think about.

+1

 

[TheSandwichMonster]

When I'm working hard, I tend to breathe (inwards) through both my nose AND my mouth... So what about some kind of Vicks inhaler arrangement too?

 

[NeoCaesar]

When I'm working hard, I tend to breathe (inwards) through both my nose AND my mouth... So what about some kind of Vicks inhaler arrangement too?

+1 for facetiousness.