ETA New Sport Bean Flavors

[maillotpois]

I'm thinking for the brevet (_IF_ I do it), I will stick with the blocks. Maybe throw in a few packs of the beans, though. And a bacon double cheeseburger .

[Nanci]

There's just no way to predict, on a ride that long, what will taste good, except Sport Beans always taste good. Maybe it's the salt. One of my meals was MDX (Mountain Dew super caffeine drink) and Funyums. I can always get down flavored milk, too. I used to bring one Sport Beans and one bar of any type, (Power Bar, Mojo, Luna, Fruit Trekker- I have a whole bunch of them I like) per hour of riding, but I found that, expecially as the day went on, I was more likely to not eat on the bike, except munching a few SB's, and then eat whatever appealed at the convenience store stops. I'd have to stop anyway for more Gatorade and to check in and for bathroom breaks, plus we're encouraged to spend money at the places that act as controls, so it wasn't like I was losing any time by having to stop.

Nanci

[maillotpois]

I remember reading one of your emails where you talked about carrying bars you didn't eat. I ALWAYS do that. I have bars I have carried for hundreds of miles and never wanted them!

Big thing for me now are those bar-like power bagels. I will probably get 4 or 5 of those and bring them. Nuts and fruit in them. Yum!

But you're right - you just NEVER know what's going to appeal to you. I think it will be a challenge to keep enough food coming in. (That's never a challenge any other time, of course!)

[Nanci]

Yeah, and you're gonna be out in the middle of Death Valley- no convenience stores out there to graze from. Do you get a crew? Then you just pack your van full of anything you could possibly want. I like de-fizzed Coke really a lot when it's in the 90's. And watermelon cubes. That's my hot weather running survival food. I did this trail 50k once, and they had Scooby Snacks- like little mini graham crackers, like Teddy Grahams. I ate a TON of them, so bought them for the next run like that, and I just didn't have the taste for them ever again. You could have a cooler with Energy Ice Gels and Bars, frozen!!! Those things are _so_ good!! _If_ it's legal to have a crew...

Nanci

[maillotpois]

Oh - we're talking apples and oranges here. Sort of.

The 508 isn't til October. My plan was to do it as a 2 person team, but my original partner (may have) bailed. I do have someone else I can do it with, but was kicking around the idea of doing it on my own. Realizing that was lame - wihtout more rando experience - I've signed up for a 600k locally here (N. CA) on 4/22 (less than 2 weeks! yikes!). So the 600 is the thing I am debating, etc. And I have pretty much decided I will do it - if it is not going to rain on me the entire time.

The 508 is probably a go, it's just a question of format. I feel like I have to try this 600k and maybe it will convince me that doing the 508 solo is insane. The 508 also hs about 30,000 feet of climbing. I expect this 600k will be more in the 15K range.

For the 508, you have a crew - very different animal than most brevets. Your car is supposed to follow you, etc., so lights are required but not as critical as when you're in the boonies all alone. You have lots of food and support, etc.

[Nanci]

I'm sure you'll do fine on a 600k. All you have to do is keep going. "After 200 miles, nothing changes." :-) Just keep telling yourself that. Sure it's a really long day, followed by a long day. But if everything is all right, bike fit, nutrition, electrolytes, etc., and you have sufficient base, which I would consider the ability to ride 200 miles and not die, and the ability to ride 100 miles as a fun training ride, then you should be ok.

Even if you don't have someone to do 508 with, chances are you'll fall in with someone. I almost always do. For the later parts when it matters most, anyway.

Nanci

[maillotpois]

...and you have sufficient base, which I would consider the ability to ride 200 miles and not die, and the ability to ride 100 miles as a fun training ride, then you should be ok.


Nanci

I do have that base, it's the leap to 375 that makes me wonder. But you're always so encouraging!! Thanks!