advice for long hut to ut ride?

[SadieKate]

Well, there's your shorts and body washing water then. You might test out BioSuds (or whatever) beforehand to be sure it doesn't irritate you. Any possible effects from residual soap left in the chamois needs to be determined ahead of time. The water the company is supplying will probably be your only potable water. We carried a collapsible bucket so we could haul water way away from the stream for soap situations.

Sounds like you have a great emergency crew to have on hand.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[snowtulip]

Hi Brandi!
Me and hubby did a self-supported mountain bike tour of the Colorado Trail (it goes from Denver to Durango) this past summer. We packed super light and didn't seem to have too many problems (except making sure we found water!)

I highly recommend panniers (they actually do great on singletrack) rather than a big backpack, hubby used a bob trailer.

Here's the list of what I took:
2 pairs bike shorts (switched our each day)
1 short sleeve technical shirt (I don't usually use jerseys, I use a high tech type of t-shirt, its comfy for hiking, running, etc)
1 longsleeve technical shirt (white) since I burn easily, I wore this most of the time
1 pair of pants
2 pairs undies, 2 bras, 2 pairs socks
rain jacket
rain pants
lightweight fleece jacket
water filter
sleeping bag
sleeping pad
stove
camelback and two extra water bottles
msr dromedary water carrier (you might not need if the hut people are hooking you up)
camp towel
campsuds
flip flops
wetwipes
ibuprofen
contact lens stuff/glasses
deodorant
toothbrush/paste
extra tubes/tool bag

Our food was simple:
oatmeal and dried fruit in the am
peanut butter and jelly torilla for lunch (tortillas pack easy)
powdered mashed potatoes and pepperoni for dinner or macncheese
snickers and trailmix for snacks (keep the snickers close to you water bladder to avoid extreme melting).
cytomax (in the extra water bottles)


Good luck, I've had friends that have went with San Juan in the past. They seem to have liked it but wished it had more singletrack. I understand they now include more singletrack as additional possibility.

[Crankin]

I second the warning to your friend with altitude problems. I would consider myself in good shape and fit for for someone my age. Four yrs. ago i went to Boulder with my son and husband, to look at CU. Within minutes of getting off the plane in Denver, I felt light headed and dizzy. I avoided alchohol, etc, but it took me about 2-3 days to acclimate myself. Then we kept going up to a town, whose name I forget, at 8,000 ft. I was tingly and generally miserable. The worst was our drive through Rocky MT. national Park, at 11,000 ft. I was grey, hyperventilating, and about to pass out. I pretty much screamed at them to get the he** off of that mountain. As soon as we descended to 7,000 ft., I was OK. I NEVER want to experience that again. I rented a bike one day and could barely ride the in town path in Boulder.

[snowtulip]

Hydration really helps with the altitude sickness, I also have a hard time the first few days, so I slower my pace and listen to my body...then my body adapts. I do find that I have an easier time with the altitude when I'm in better shape, but as the other gals mentioned, this isn't true for everyone. I still dread the initial high altitude days.

Also forgot headlamp, sunscreen, and chamois creme on my list. Chamois cream is a personal choice, but it sure makes life a little easier for me.

[Brandi]

thanks for the list. I will use that, I am not that concerned about the altitude sickness. I am more concerned about being compfortable. And not forgetting anything. My husband is building me a new bike right now. I am very excited. i need a good seat. Any suggestions. I have an wtb. i have no complaints but I wouldn't want to ride a long way on it.

[SadieKate]

Which WTB? They make a bewildering number.

I like my Laser V Stealth???? I think that's it. I don't like the Speed She except longer than it take to ride to the grocery store.