Low carb cycling?

[bikermaze]

I usually pack home made granola bars with not much sugar but a lot of fruits and nuts packed in it to keep it interesting. Variety helps. I stay away from processed bars because of the corn syrup. It's just as bad I read up somewhere.

I usually focus on the grain-type carbs than anything else since they break down into more sugar in my system and I don't need that.

Aren't carbs the staple of most diets? Of course the right amount of carbs sort of diet, not the empty/sugary sorts. That defeats the purpose doesn't it?

[moonfroggy]

bikermaze would you share your recipe?

[abejita]

+2 on the Nancy Clark books. I know when I was eating lower carbs (more due to lower calorie intake rather than actively restricting carbs) I hit a wall everytime I rode and I just had no energy. I made the decision to eat more for cycling endurance rather than focusing on loosing my last 20lb. I've had soooo much more energy and I am still loosing weight!

[Dannielle]

bumping this old thread because I was searching for info on combining low carb eating with cycling and didn't find much.

Wanted to chime in that the there is at least one other person out there (me!) who eats this way and rides a bike.

I keep carbs under 50g on off-bike days and go up to 100g or so on biking days (amount depends on how long my ride is). On biking days I have more carbs while I'm on the bike (cytomax/gatorade to drink, chocolate #9 gels, etc). My rides are always at least 2hrs so I need a little something. I do gravitate toward Long&Slow rides vs. going for speed, which I've read is better for burning more fat vs. carbs.

I don't eat grains, sugar(except when on the bike), starches at all. I do eat fruit and the occasional sweet potato though. And tons of veggies!

I've lost 100lbs eating this way (still have 50 or so to go) and it's become a lifestyle for me. It works for me so I can't see changing things. Though I do tweak things while on the bike as I do feel more energized when I have some carbs while riding. I try to be really careful to not consume more than I'm burning off though. I can tell I've had too much when I have carb cravings later in the day.

I'd love to hear how others who eat Primal/Paleo/LowCarb successfully combine their way of eating with cycling.