50 miles...is that all?

[tzvia]

What's so odd about a home made corned beef sandwich on rye? I took it in my camelback on a MTB ride in the hills near Ojai CA. After climbing and climbing up from just outside town, I sat down at the highpoint, with a great view of the ocean, cows and the channel islands, and had my sandwich, a banana and some energy drink. After about 1/2 hr rest, I finished the ride (was at the half way point). As long as I take a little time to just relax after eating, I'm good to go. I had more trouble with the live beef that blocked the trail on several occasions and forced me to stop and wait. And it sure beat being really hungry after the ride and getting crap from McDonald's or Taco Bell.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I guess we are all different. I would have no problem with a corned beef sandwich on a ride. Many times I've had bacon and eggs or lox and eggs before a 50 mile ride....i always start with a nice breakfast. and a croissant and latte.

[PamNY]

I can eat anything at all before and during a long ride. I don't travel very fast -- perhaps that makes a difference? It takes a ton of food to get me through a 50-mile day. And I enjoy every bit of it.

[1morcyclist]

It's been several weeks but I just want give an update. Last weekend, was a good example. I rode 40 miles on Saturday, very hilly route and even threw in a 22% grade short climb...I started of with a Hammer gel shot after 60 minutes and 30 minutes there after and even ate a fig bar at the rest stop. No problems on the ride...I felt great. The ride was topped of with a good size lunch that had some protein and plenty of carbs within an hour after riding.

and....

I haven't done this in a long time...but I did a hilly 60 mile group ride the following day. I used the Hammer gel again during the ride and drank Cytomax. Another great ride...without bonking!

How much you eat on a ride does make a difference! I appreciate everyone's thoughts and comments on this one. I also read Nancy Clark's book too... which was also helpful. Nancy's comments about eating within an hour after riding definitely helps with leg muscle soreness and speeds up recovery.

Thanks again!

[marni]

I am 64 years old and my average long distance speed is 14.5 -15 mph. On the most recent cross country ride I did (New Orleans LA to Itasca, MN along th eMIssissippi) took me through flat hot and hunid delta riding, rolling hills and wind, steep climbs with and without wind. Since I wear a body monito I can safely say that on a average day ( 75 miles) I burned between 3,000 and 4500 calories above and beyond the 1100 that is my daily burn.

that pretty much matches the average burn on the three previous cross countries. Riding around locally where it is flat and somewhat windy, I averagebetween 300 and 400 calories an hour depending on the head winds and how hard I am puess shing to maintain 15 mph or above.

I guess what I am trying to say is that if you know you are going to ride long and strong, you need to prehydrate for a day or tow ahead of time, which for me is daily since I ride 50 miles 24 times a week and do cardio 2 x 2 hours a week. I tend to eat whole foods on a fairly regular basis. On my trainig rides I consume a breakfast of oatmeal with dried fruit ad nuts and a banana before the ride, a banana, a cup of dried fruit and nuts, and a couple of gu gels. I carry one bottle of FRS and one of plain water After ride I eat a chocolate almond recovery drink, a sandwich of whole wheat bread, meat and cheese, a large salad and a piece of fruit.

I also like Like bars which are basically dried fruit, nuts and honey and carry one or more of those as a back up on longer rides.

Keep experimenting and you will find something which keeps you going but the longer the ride ad the harder you push, the harder it becomes to not build up a nutrtion deficit for the day.

One other totally random thought... If you are bound on increasing distance, wisdom says that you shouldn't increase more than 10% a week so if you do 50 one week and 75 the next, you are pretty much going to feel it.

[Catrin]

I guess we are all different. I would have no problem with a corned beef sandwich on a ride. Many times I've had bacon and eggs or lox and eggs before a 50 mile ride....i always start with a nice breakfast. and a croissant and latte.

It is always interesting to me reading threads of this type for it does bring home how different we all are. I typically have a large breakfast before a long hard ride or hard high intensity gym session - bacon and eggs or a frittata, something like that with something like sweet potato hash and coffee. For some odd reason I can't tolerate chicken before a longer ride if it is hot/humid - which is totally perplexing but there you are. Then again, I don't ride all that fast which probably allows my body to tolerate a wider range of food.

I concur you aren't getting enough calories, but it sounds like you are already working on that.

Marni - thanks for the recommendation on Like bars - I don't consume grain products or HCFS, but I've been looking for something that meets my needs that I can store in my Camelbak for emergencies. Stuff happens. I typically take nitrate-free beef jerky and a macadamia nut/dried cherry mix with me on the bike. I also have Salt Lick tablets with me. So far this seems to be working better than when I was still using blocks, gels and bars.