Hot Riding preparation

[Catrin]

I've been experimenting with something called "Salt Stick", they are in capsules like Enduroytes but are said to have a better nutritional profile. I had intended on taking one before the ride, and will try this next time.

It may well have simply been hotter than I realized and was tricked by the low humidity. Usually, however, that kind of problem presents in the latter half of the ride not the first...and I felt much better by the end of the ride.

Good thoughts everyone, and thanks!

[Bike Writer]

For me, an hour after eating would be too soon to ride. In addition to the weather it could be that also, as you said you felt better toward the end of your ride. I've had the same thing happen if I tried to ride too soon after eating and it makes me feel queasy. If I take it easy I find that as the ride progresses I feel better and can ride stronger.

This happens wether it is warm or cold. So now I only snack before a ride and have a regular meal afterwards. If I know I want to ride in the evening I'll take a late lunch. For me the heat only exacerbates the whole thing.

[ny biker]

How long was the ride? If I wasn't on vacation, I would have gone for a 90 minute ride last night. I never drink more than usual or eat anything special before an evening ride on a hot day. I do bring two water bottles with me to drink during the ride, but it's just water. I eat half a sandwich (probably ~350-400 calories, in some cases) about 2 hours before the ride, because it's my usual afternoon snack (I eat 1/2 sandwich for lunch the other 1/2 sandwich for snack).

If I ate dinner an hour before a ride (or any exercise) I'd probably wind up with stomach cramps.

[Catrin]

hmmm, didn't think about food perhaps being the problem. It was a 90 minute ride. I eat an hour before riding all the time, and now that I think about it, it was just a little heavier than my usual pre-ride meals and, of course it was hot.

I ALWAYS eat before exercise as it helps to keep my blood sugar stable; the diabetes may have been reversed but I've always had problems with low blood sugar without fueling beforehand (it's dropped as low as 29). 2 hours is too long a wait for me. My body is normally fine with 1 hour but perhaps it was a combination of different food than usual and the heat.This makes sense - I probably would have been fine with a banana/PB sammy or something like that.

I remember my first ride as a stoker last month on a day where the temps were similar, and I had eaten an entire 2 hours before. The ride was only 24 miles but I was bonking at the end, thankfully I wasn't alone and we ended at a restaurant. Unsure why I didn't have anything with me, I always do, but things worked out.

[Bike Writer]

Riding on a completly empty stomach is not something I can tolerate either and if it's happened I bonk shortly into the ride, I do try to have a little snack like a handful of raisins and a handful of walnuts shortly before a ride and if I'm going to be out more than an hour I take mabye a little snack baggie of the same or something equally little but powerful. I like those snack packs of the peanut butter with little round toasts. Two or three of those little cracker sandwiches. about a half a pack, is just about right for me mid ride.

I'm a regular water drinker throughout the day anyway so I don't drink more or less before a hot ride but I do ensure that I have enough on the ride and drink a bit more than usual after the ride.

[Catrin]

It is always interesting to read how our bodies respond in different ways Bike Writer. I need to consume a good amount of calories on the bike, though not as much as I once needed to I don't typically eat anything extra on the bike as long as I fueled fairly close to the start of the ride, but if the ride is >90 minutes I need to consume 150-200 calories an hour. It is a balance, and we all have to find what our bodies prefer.

My body loves Cliff bars on the bike - don't ask me why those dense things work for me - Cliff Bars, bananas, Shot Blocs, Heed and Accelerade (for the really long rides), moving away from those things pretty much causes tummy upset. I also make my own energy mix with almonds, raisins, dried cranberries and sometimes add sunflower seeds and/or chocolate chips if it isn't too hot. This tends to be more for the mountain bike than the road.

[WindingRoad]

When it's this hot I carry a bottle just to squirt on my head between the vents in my helmet. Makes a huuuuuuuge difference.

[Bike Writer]

It is always interesting to read how our bodies respond in different ways Bike Writer. I need to consume a good amount of calories on the bike, though not as much as I once needed to I don't typically eat anything extra on the bike as long as I fueled fairly close to the start of the ride, but if the ride is >90 minutes I need to consume 150-200 calories an hour. It is a balance, and we all have to find what our bodies prefer.

My body loves Cliff bars on the bike - don't ask me why those dense things work for me - Cliff Bars, bananas, Shot Blocs, Heed and Accelerade (for the really long rides), moving away from those things pretty much causes tummy upset. I also make my own energy mix with almonds, raisins, dried cranberries and sometimes add sunflower seeds and/or chocolate chips if it isn't too hot. This tends to be more for the mountain bike than the road.

Cliff Bars - Yum! Discovered them last year, hooked on the Mojo with chocolate and carmel but I haven't found them this year. Had a choc PB one last week on my ride to Ford Lake. Stopped at a RX store across the street from the lake and it was just enough to refuel for the ride back.