Red's First Loooong Ride

[Aggie_Ama]

Congrats on the long ride!

For the saddle- it may be that you just need to adjust to riding more. You may need a new saddle. There are tons of threads about people's saddle woes. My personal experience is I just had to get my sit bones acclimated. I used to whine about my saddle all the time, then I started to complain less as the miles added up.

Fig newtons are a cheap way to get more energy. I like to carry Sport Beans and Luna bars on the longer rides. I usually have one 24 oz Polar bottle with water and one 20 oz Polar bottle with NUUN (sugar free electrolyte replacement). Sometimes on my weeknight rides I carry a few newtons in a baggy.

[Cassandra_Cain]

Ha - nicely done chica

I remember you telling me about doing little 7,8 mile rides and here you are going well past 30. Muy bien - well done!

Ironic isn't it? How riding in the rain (provided it isn't too heavy or cold) can be rather soothing.

Look forward to more rides!

[Red Haired Girl]

Bikingmom, thank you! Soggy it was, but fun none the less!

As for the come down, I'm guessing biking is stressful enough to produce the endomorphins we all crave, but not enough to wipe you out physically (or maybe it's just being out there with nothing else to worry about?).

Agreed probably the best medicine for the saddle will be more time on the thing! Sport Beans? What are those? But Luna Bars on my shopping list.

Thanks CC! Encouragement is always welcome!

Looks like today will be a repeat, weather-wise, of yesterday...not sure if I'll ride or not.

[Mimosa]

Well done!

And that high? Well that's one of the reasons I like cycling so much, at the end of the ride I feel like I have no more worries in the world and feel totally refreshed .... until you sit down with some sandwitches and a cuppa tea and your body switches of for the power nap

About the saddle, what some people suggest is looking into a short with thicker padding.

And that luna bar sounds like a good thing to carry with you. What I normally do before a 2hr ride is eat some extra food like a couple of sandwitches or bowl of cereal. But not everybodies stumach is able to keep food down close before an excersise. And if the ride is longer 3+ hrs I take along an energy bar to be eaten after 2hrs of riding.

[Aggie_Ama]

Agreed probably the best medicine for the saddle will be more time on the thing! Sport Beans? What are those? But Luna Bars on my shopping list.

Sport Beans are a little piece of heaven for those of us that like them! They are jelly beans that replenish electrolytes and provide a little kick. I pick them up at my local Walgreens. They are usually $1.00 a pack, so I watch for a sale.

The LemonZest Luna bars are great. The taste like a lemon sandwich cookies.

[BeeLady]

Congrats on your long ride. Haven't had to deal with rain yet and you'll be my inspiration during my first soaker. Cycling and overcoming challenges -- an awesome way to live!

I drink chocolate milk after my rides - the protien and carb mix is suppose to help recovery from the ride. During my only long ride I used the energy gel (Cliff shot) and I could tell a difference. Was a 36-mile ride and with the hills and horrible head wind (and my 35-lb bike!) it took me four hours. The gel (I had two over the course of the ride) really kept me going. SInce they're small and lite I carry one with me most of the time but haven't really needed one if my ride is only an hour or so. (Twenty miles with rain and cooler temps would definitly qualify as a ride deserving some carb input during the ride!)

Hope your next ride is a dry one!

[Red Haired Girl]

Hiya BeeLady!

I'm an inspiration? Oh my, and here I'd hoped that you'd set your sights higher!


Aggie Ama,

Thanks for the info on sport beans, I'll have to see if I can find them here in NC - hope they're not a Texas only thing, ya know?

Oh, rode today too - but that'll be a different thread.

Take care all y'all (see? practicing my southern language skills),
Lara

[eclectic]

Whooo hoo! way to go - Oh what a feeling Now all the nice days will seem even sweeter.

HMMMM colder in NC than in NoDak

I am simply a chewy granola bar/ powerade type of gal, I find it gives me fibre, carbs and electolytes. AND they can stay in my bag and not dry out (just get a little squished

Just remember - eat and drink before you think you need to.

AGAIN WHOOO HOO WAY TO GO!

[Bad JuJu]

I am simply a chewy granola bar/ powerade type of gal, I find it gives me fibre, carbs and electolytes. AND they can stay in my bag and not dry out

Yeah, don't try leaving the Sport Beans in your bag--they get hot and gummy and turn into ONE BIG BEAN--not appetizing while you're riding, or any other time.

Hey, congrats on the looooonnnnng ride, Red!
You're hooked now. This morning at my club's Sunday ride, someone who did a long one yesterday suggested just doing 20 today--my friend and I looked at each other then responded virtually the same way: 20 miles? I could've stayed in bed! LOL So just beware................