advice for long hut to ut ride?

[Brandi]

Well I figure the elevation in pueblo is better then nothing. The good thing is everyone else is coming from the same elevation so we can all be lacking together. Except my girlfriend is meeting us there and she is coming from sea level. Bummer! She's prone to headaches too.
Thanks for the advice on the maxi pads. That didn't sound good to me either. I should clairify about the shorts. all my bike shorts are padded (sorry). Someone had suggested adding more by wearing the underwear with the chamois in it on top of the chamois that is already in the shorts.

[SadieKate]

Some people do wear double chamois for road riding. I would think that on a mtbike you'd catch the chamois on the nose of the saddle and get tangled. I personally wouldn't do it. Mtbiking isn't like road riding. You move around so much more that it doens't even compare. You're more likely to cause problems with two pads.

Your friend with the headaches. She needs to drink lots and lots of water. Has she really exerted at these altitudes before? Does she know she can tolerate it? Can she stay away from caffeine?

[fixedgeargirl]

Your friend with the headaches may be in for a very rough time. Avoiding caffeine and alcohol are critical. On my trip home to 9000ft last summer (from 500ft), I was breathing hard, headachy. Day three I ate a big ole steak and felt great ! My theory: the iron helped my anemic-tending body get some red blood cells going.

More cheap rain gear tips: a couple of plastic bread bags for your feet. Pack down much smaller than booties. Put 'em on over your socks. They form a vapor barrier and block the wind. Your feet may get sweaty-wet, but they'll be a lot warmer than they would be otherwise.

DH carries a shower cap to put on over the helmet and has used it. I've been packing one around for years and never had to bust it out. I have used the bread bags, tho!

[Brandi]

We are using a trunk box on a rack and our back packs. We are bringing the min. And we are all carrying certain things and spliting the load as far as spare parts and what not. My husband wants to be in charge of the duck tape. Don't ask.
This is all great advise by the way.
I have a back packing pillow i made. I can not sleep on rolled up clothes. And not if I have been wearing them for days either. My pillow is very light. And if I have to my silk liner for my sleeping bag has a pillow cover built into it as well.
I will look into the water situation as well. I know they limit a certain amount to each person per day. I also know we will be taking baths in creeks. No showers. Can you imagine 6 guys two girls, no showers. Ahhh!
3 of the guys are Dr's and one is a pharmacist I think he should carry the asprin. Does anyone recommend thermacare wraps for sore muscles?

[Brandi]

My girlfriend does triathalons so she is in fairly good shape and tough as nails. She knows she has to drink a lot of water. But I will remind her about the coffee and what not. I might bring along 600 mg ibiprofins too. Just in case. And she doesn't drink so thats a plus.

[SadieKate]

My girlfriend does triathalons so she is in fairly good shape and tough as nails. She knows she has to drink a lot of water. But I will remind her about the coffee and what not. I might bring along 600 mg ibiprofins too. Just in case. And she doesn't drink so thats a plus.

Altitude sickness doesn't care what shape you're in. Some people are just prone to it. I don't want to rain on your parade, but she needs to make a trip up into the high Sierras and really exert to see how she fares. We've got friends who just can't tolerate high altitude. Your friend may be just fine but it wouldn't hurt for her to test it out.

[fixedgeargirl]

I might bring along 600 mg ibiprofins too.

Headaches aren't the only symptoms of altitude sickness. Shortness of breath, extreme tiredness, nausea, vomitting, complete inablity to pedal a bike over a 10,000 foot pass and no SAG to save her weary behind...your friend should definitely take a test run in the Sierras.

A few years ago a visitor to my hometown died from complications of alititude sickness. Rare, but it can happen.

[fixedgeargirl]

I recommend Endurox for avoiding sore muscles. It's a post-ride drink that has saved me and DH a lot of discomfort.

Is anybody bringing a water filter?

[Brandi]

oh where can you get this stuff? The drink that is. Is it light can a take some with me? I don't eat much work out food. Meaning stuff that is for working out. I ave a good diet and try to eat things I know will give me energy for a ride. Two egg's with salsa and a piece of whole grain toast really give me a boost in the morning for early rides.

[Brandi]

She has done a lot of back packing in her day. But i will suggest it to her.

[fixedgeargirl]

I don't eat much work out food. Meaning stuff that is for working out. I ave a good diet and try to eat things I know will give me energy for a ride. Two egg's with salsa and a piece of whole grain toast really give me a boost in the morning for early rides

.

You don't need fancy "work-out" food, just good, regular food and LOTS OF IT !

Our tour included a dyed-in-the-wool vegan. He rolled his eyes at each meal and chided us for our carnivorous ways...for about 3 days. The morning of day 4 we were frying up the Buckpucks (sausage patties) when he felt his mouth watering. Soon the smell was irresistable and he fell to the temptation of the flesh . By that night he was eating steak and he hasn't looked back. He feels better, rides farther eating meat.

[Brandi]

I am bringing a water filter too.A back packing one so it doesn't weigh a lot at all.

[Pedal Wench]

I'm prone to altitude sickness too. It doesn't matter how good of shape you are in - some people are more or less suseptable to it.

There is a prescription drug that can reduce the symptoms - ask your doc friends - I forget the name of it.

In addition to cutting out caffeine and alcohol, but also increase the carbs. They really seem to help.

[fixedgeargirl]

You should be able to find Endurox at your LBS. It can be spendy, you might be able to find it cheaper online. The canisters are huge, maybe you could split one? It's a powdered drink mix and a person over 120 lbs. is supposed to use 2 scoops (about 1/4 cup) in the first 30 minutes post exercise. It helps your body process lactic acid and start rebuilding muscle tissue right away. Are you doing any endurance riding leading up to this? If so, and you know there are rides/distances you do that leave you sore or with lead in your legs, you might give the Endurox a test run before you lug it along. Maybe your group can go in on a cannister and have the tour company haul it from hut to hut for you, since you don't really need it until the end of the day, anyway.

[SadieKate]

BTW, Brandi, I believe we have been very remiss in not welcoming you to the forum. So . . . . Howdy!

Plus, go over to the "Getting to Know You" thread and introduce yourself.