Odd mental/physical issue when mtn biking..

[crazycanuck]

I dunno if this is odd or normal but i have to ask.

I seem to have "droopy" mental moments quite quickly when doing a long event but then come round in a few seconds & am zippy again. Even stranger, on the weekend i felt woozy for a km or so but it disappeared and i have no clue where that came from??

My legs will keep going but i'm not 100% there after quite a few km's but regain it in a bit.

Is this normal??? Am i not intaking enough of something at a certain time or something?? Too much of something?

Just want to ensure i'm not too crazy

[limewave]

I dunno if this is odd or normal but i have to ask.

I seem to have "droopy" mental moments quite quickly when doing a long event but then come round in a few seconds & am zippy again. Even stranger, on the weekend i felt woozy for a km or so but it disappeared and i have no clue where that came from??

My legs will keep going but i'm not 100% there after quite a few km's but regain it in a bit.

I know what you are talking about. I've experienced the same thing. I'm focused and riding hard when suddenly I'm looking at all the pretty wild flowers. WT-hay? Then suddenly I'm back and focused again. Maybe it is a nutritional lapse . . . I dunno. If you figure it out, let me know.

[JennK13]

This is why I sold my motorcycle - but mine is related to my medical condition. Guess I'm ok with laying down a bicycle rather than a motorcycle. I'm anemic and have other complications (like really low blood pressure) due to difficulties in medication dosages for my thyroid disease and that all contributes to it. I try to stay hydrated and watch my heart rate, as nutrition helps a lot.

[OakLeaf]

A couple of years ago I was off the motorcycle for several months, and when I came back I had a LOT of mental fatigue. Just wasn't used to being so focused for such a long time. I don't do any mountain biking, but I would think it's similar ... you really have to be aware of EVERYTHING around you ... It seemed to be just a matter of "conditioning," that went away once I was riding regularly again.

[Biciclista]

how's your blood pressure?

[crazycanuck]

Good q...I think my blood pressure's normal.

I often have this issue but now wonder if it's the honey i put on my porridge? That wouldn't make sense for later on in the day though.

Sugar crash perhaps? I use cliff bloks n shots along with my drink.

I'm kinda curious now...

[SheFly]

The question I would have is whether you are having too much sugar. the honey on your porridge combined with the Clif Bloks might be more than you really need.

For me, in a 2-3 hour race, I am pre-eating (typically a big breakfast with protein and carbs - not a lot of sugar), have a sports drink in my 50 oz. CamelBak (I use Power Bar endurance), and then eat about 3 blocks total.

I'm inferring from your report that you are eating quite a bit more, and think you may have too much sugar... Just a guess though.

SheFly

[crazycanuck]

Shefly-i keep thinking the same thing. I don't eat alot of sugar and wonder if it's too much of a sugar hit all at once...

I guess i'll just have to visit a sports nutritionist again & ask..

[loveaz]

You can also check out Hammer Nutrition (http://www.hammernutrition.com/)
and they have alot of good info based on weight and such. It also depends on the TYPES of sugars you are getting - fructose and other quick sugars are not so good and you'll get the crash later. Long-chained maltodextrins are the best. Alot of good info on their website.

[crazycanuck]

I did a bit of an experiment this weekend prior to two dirt rides. I noticed if i don't add honey to my porridge i don't have the sugary crash whilst on the trail..

No brainer then! I'm no longer adding honey to the porridge

I've stopped adding sugar etc (use agave nectar instead) to anything I cook or drink (no sugar in me coffeeee) and i guess when i add something sugary my body goes...Whooooaaaaa

[SheFly]

Glad you got that figured out! It sounded like you were eating a lot of sugar on the ride, and that's what made me wonder if it might be the cluprit. I know that I can't eat a lot of those energy foods for that very reason.

Good experiment, and now you know!

SheFly

p.s.
A couple of women I know here will use baked potato or baked sweet potato as energy food on long rides. I know that one will use sweet potato, and make it a consistency that can be eaten from a ziploc-type bag. I have seen others pull potatoes from foil in their pockets. This might be a good alternative to the sugary energy products. I haven't tried it personally, though.

[OakLeaf]

Both honey and agave nectar have similar fructose content (50%+) ... not sure there would be much difference there.

[crazycanuck]

Whoops..I should clarify.

I only use the agave nectar when a recipe calls for sugar-normally when making dinners or something like that

I normally only use honey when drinking tea and am no longer putting it on my porridge.

Whoops...

Shefly-i wonder if home cooked kumara chips-(cut up, throw a smidgen bit of olive oil on them & throw em in de oven..mmmmmmm) would work..good training thought...hmmmm...

[limewave]

That's interesting about the sugar possibly causing the lack of focus. I've eliminated a lot of sugar from my diet and have been thinking about finding something other than gu gels to fuel my running and biking--but haven't done a lot of research or experimentation yet. Maybe I should make that a priority . . .

[cricketk]

A couple of women I know here will use baked potato or baked sweet potato as energy food on long rides.

I'm a big fan of the potato on long hikes. It I've been pushing too hard for too long, it's one of the few foods my stomach will accept.