Thursday 9/03 rides

Well, I got back out there today. Left out the door a little later than I normally do so it was already getting hot, and the wind had picked up a bit, but nothing to major. I only went about 7.5 miles today.
As I headed out, my legs just didn't feel like they had it in them, but figured that is just my mind wanting to play games today since I didn't ride yesterday. Well, sometimes I guess we should listen to our bodies huh? I got about 3.5 miles into my ride and felt I just had to stop and rest. So I pulled over and blew my nose and noticed I was shakey. So I sat for a bit and the longer I waited the more shakey I got. I tried to call DH cause he is home today and he had already left to go to town on the motorcycle cause I got no answer. I left him a MSG, that I was feeling poorly to come get me, but since he didn't answer then I knew he was on the motorcycle and couldn't hear the phone. The last of my MSG, was, "I'm heading to the house so if you get this don't worry, I'm sure I'll make it". I know my husband is a worry wart, so I knew if he got it he would come looking for me.
That was the hardest 3.5 miles I have ever ridden. Trying to get home with shakey arms and legs. At one point I actually wondered if I should stop and call 911, but then thought better of it. I don't like a bunch of fuss and if I am at all able I will do things under my own power.
Needless to say I made it home fine even made it up that last daunting hill of mine and as I went up the steps and was unlocking the door, I heard the motorcycle coming up the road. He came in the house, "are you okay", and I was fine, just really shakey. He made me a sandwich and then I got a yogurt and am feeling better now.
I ate a banana this morning and I had my coffee with creamer so it's not like I didn't have some calories this morning. About the same as I have every morning, I don't know why my body reacted differently this morning than others.
Anyway, I hope everyone else has a great day and wonderful ride today.

Donna, you should have some protein with your banana. That is not enough to go out and ride on! Try experimenting with what feels right.
I did a 21 mile ride with my friend. I took her up Oak Hill in Harvard, so now she is initiated. Then we had more climbing going back. She said she loved the scenery, but she probably hates me now!

You need a bigger breakfast than a banana and coffee with creamer! You need some protein--at least a bowl of Cheerios with that banana, preferably some whole wheat toast with peanut butter and that banana. Maybe an egg or two, as well. And some fruit. Or oatmeal...you get the picture.

[side rant]: drop the coffee creamer. It has NO BENEFITS! Put milk in your coffee. [end of rant]

Glad you made it home okay. Also, always bring some snacks with you when you ride, along with plenty of water. Powerbars, PBJ sandwich, banana--good snacks.

+1 on all the good advice given here. I would be shaky too if all I had was caffeine and a piece of fruit (pure carbs) before a ride. Eating too little can be as bad for weight loss attempts as eating too much, and it's just not smart for endurance exercise. If you can't stomach more food before a ride, at least take a snack along with you - maybe some almonds or cheese so you get some protein after a carby breakfast.

Another interesting thing fact is that overweight people tend to skip or eat minimal breakfasts, and the opposite is true for slender folks. Breakfast is so important! If you skimp on breakfast, your body will crave more food later in the day, and it's easy to go crazy and binge in the evening.

Here's a good article about the importance of breakfast with some excellent breakfast food ideas:
http://www.bellybytes.com/articles/breakfast2.shtml

Keep at it, Donna! Glad you made it home ok. :)

^ What they said. Good for you for making it home!

:: hands Donna a PowerBar ::

For tomorrow's ride. :)

~~~

I rode 11 miles tonight, my usual run. Felt good! I saw deer and almost ran over a bird (!); the bird flew right in front of me. I did not push myself as much as I did last night, but still had what is for me a fairly fast ride.

Someday... someday.... I WILL be a fast(er) biker!

Interesting ~ my hubby keeps trying to tell me not to eat before I go out to ride so I can lose weight. I on the other hand like to have a little yogurt with some nuts and blueberries before I go. (nice to be right once in a while lol)

Today I did 10 miles ~ went to town and used the track ~ it's 5/8 mile. I did intervals which felt great (on such a smooth surface lol).

I met a girlfriend early this morning and we did a 3 mile fitness walk after breakfast. Then I got on my bike (which I had ridden into town and locked in front of the cafe) and went on a lovely little 10.5 mile ride. The weather was gorgeous and it all felt so great! :p

Rode with the club tonight. I was still feeling a lot of residual fatigue from the travel, poor sleep and the cold I'm nearly over, kind of had to drag myself out for the ride, but I'm really glad I did. The ride leader had plotted a route that was pretty unusual for around here, several long-ish climbs instead of the usual short steep rollers. We got some great views, the short patch of gravel/dirt wasn't too bad, I tried out my new Jett saddle :):) and came back feeling great.

The coolio Trekhawk & I rode yesterday (thurs) in de hills :cool:

I think i'm not as unfit as i lead myself to believe..:o The hills, weather & company were all way cool.

Fingers crossed the weather stays as nice as it is today, i'd really appreciate my rellies being able to say they saw the sun in Western Australia! They arrive Sunday night...:eek: THe dust bunnies are still here :o

I commuted yesterday. Since I was supposed to meet my rather odd cousin for dinner, I stopped at the lbs in the morning and bought a red Knog Frog blinky light in case it was dark when I left the restaurant. An hour before we were supposed to meet, I gave the cousin a call to see if we were still on, and found out he's in Ohio! Like I said, he's a kind of odd, so I was relieved at being able to just take the nice longer route home instead. Still, I'm glad I had an excuse to buy the light. Now I'm thinking I'll extend my commuting days until later in the year (I usually stop when DST ends).

Donna, I agree with every one who said you need more for breakfast. I would be shaky if that's all I ate!

First real ride on my new bike! 40miles to work out some of the kinks, and there aren't many. It felt great. I rode a curvy section of pavement, and was pleased to see how much better it corners than my old bike. It was like those turns that usually scare me weren't even there! Great weather is forecast for the long weekend, so I am planning to get a lot of use out of that new bike over the next few days!

By the way, in terms of nutrition, I also don't like to eat too much before a ride. I usually eat a banana and maybe half a cereal bar, but usually just a banana. That takes me quite a distance, but I always bring nutrition with me. Trailmix or a payday bar, another banana, clif shot bloks, maybe a bagel, and I am good for 80-100mi.

I do make sure to have a good (high carb) dinner before a long or hard ride.

Now, I should say that everyone's body is different, and has different requirements. We all need to listen to our bodies and do what we need to do to not get as shaky as the OP. I came home from a 50mi ride feeling like that once, and learned my lesson - to stuff jersey pockets with food, even if I don't think I am going to need it.