How to get past "wall" at 50miles?

[SouthernBelle]

I'll second the vote for Clifbars. they aren't overly sweet and sit on my stomach fine.

I'm sweaty too, so I always have an electrolyte drink in one bottle and water in the other.

P-nut butter and banana sandwich on whole grain bread, cut into quarters is good food too.

[DarcyInOregon]

Knottedyet gives perfect advice. Way to go!

Think of the rides with respect to time. When you go 50 miles, you are spending a lot of time doing cardio on your bike. Your body must have sustenence. You got some good advice from all of the posts, and the trick is to focus on liquid and nutrition as you increase your distance, to discover what works for you, because you are spending more "time" with a sustained high heart rate, and you are burning calories, electrolytes and water out of your body.

I can tell you what works for me, but keep in mind it might be different for you. I have two 28 oz water bottles filled with a fitness drink containing electrolytes and calories. On hot days I carry additional smaller bottles in my rear jersey pockets. I carry Clif Bloks (no caffeine) in a small handlebar pouch, and another backup package in my saddle pack. I carry fitness drink powder backup in my saddle pack also. I will carry a banana and some oreo cookies. All of that will get me through 50 miles.

I am careful to stay focused on my time and miles, and I stop to rest my rear off the saddle at certain intervals. I take this time to drink and eat. On the longer rides, in the last 10 miles, if I feel fatigue, that is when I really start popping the Clif Bloks, which is why they are easy for me to reach in the handlebar pouch.

When I get back to my starting point, which is usually my car at the State Park, I have a thermos of chocolate milk waiting for me as my recovery drink.

Mostly, though, you need more rides to figure this all out for your own body.

Darcy

[nomummytummy]

Thank you everyone. You are right - I just don't eat enough. I logged my calories on fitday today for the last week - best as I could remember - and although I feel like I never stop eating - I'm not making 1800 cal on any day.

So I have planned out eating for the next week to get me to 2000/day & Ive bought a frame bag to pack more food into so I can take some peanut butter & jam sandwiches. I also bought an electrolyte sachet to try. www.peakfuel.co.nz We don't seem to have the Lara or Clif bars here at either the health food shop or the cycle shop. So will try real food for a while longer. Maybe I'll get a ride in on Wednesday afternoon if I can arrange a babysitter!

I couldn't help myself & also brought home a pair of arm warmers. I rationalised that I'd need them to be able to wear my cute new vello bella jersey from TE shop. It's for my birthday in 3 weeks, but has already arrived & I know where my husband "hides" things.