When to carb up?

[ny biker]

I was told to carb up starting 2 days before. But you still want to try eating high fiber carbs, ie oatmeal, whole grain bread, Dream Fields pasta which has lots of fiber

Also, no fatty foods. No spicy foods. No sour foods (ie. pickled items/hot and sour soup)

Drink tons of water until your urine is a light yellow starting 1-2 days before.

I would not eat high fiber carbs before a big ride unless my diet normally includes high fiber carbs. Otherwise the results could be extremely unpleasant.

Same with drinking water -- I don't drink more before a big ride because I drink plenty of fluids every day.

You should be doing training rides leading up to an important event, and the food and beverages you have before the event should be similar to what you have learned is best for you based on what you eat and drink before the training rides.

[shootingstar]

If it's just a long ride that I plan to do at an easy pace, I can replenish on the road. I'd only do anything special nutritionally before a high-intensity event like a road race or gran fondo. I'll carb load before a full marathon, but not a half.

High intensity...can also mean cycling 100+ km. with 2 loaded panniers of my own baggage with several hills along the way. In temp at least 25-30 degrees C. Then back to back each day for 3-4 days of same length, same temp. and cars whipping along ..

I think different people have different food tolerances. I have eaten spicy foods the night before and think nothing of it. As long as the same meal is counterbalanced by a healthy neutral carb and liquid. Then breakfast next day is not spicy.

If I eat a big breakfast...I try to at least finish 1 hr. before I start cycling a long bike touring ride with pannier weight. It works for me and I don't have to worry about the washroom ..

Oatmeal with some milk for me works well for breakfast plus other stuff.