Odd mental/physical issue when mtn biking..

[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.

[WindingRoad]

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

Sometimes the coffee will do this to me. Are you drinking more than normal for you? Just a thought because for me, I dunno about others, coffee can wear me out prematurely if I drink too much or more than I'm used to having or super strong coffee or if I do too many caffeinated gels. Anywho, something to consider too.

[crazycanuck]

I cooked a potato last night & took 1/2 of it with me on my shortish dirt ride today. At the halfway point, i devoured it(mmm yummy) and had no noticeable problems after. I also had about 100ml of flat coke w me in a small container-it didn't taste that hot but it didn't bother me.

I'm seeing a sports nutritionist this weekend & possibly throw some ideas around with her.

Next to try is hot miso soup after a couple of laps on a trail & see what it does...

WR-i normally drink coffee after a ride & don't make it at home.