Originally Posted by
jusdooit
I hate to be a little disagreeable, but maybe you're eating too much. A 15-20 mile ride shouldn't take over 2 hours even at a 12/mph pace. Everything I've read says you don't need to worry about eating during a ride if it's less than 2 hours long. Is it just possible that you're having a sugar crash? Meaning you've eaten too many carbs and your body crashes coming down off all that sugar. Yes I said sugar because that's basically how your body treats carbs.
Just a thought. I may be right or I may be wrong.
My 21 mile commute takes 2 1/2 hours.
I usually eat half my dinner before I leave work, then eat again (Clif Shot Blox, mmmm! nature's most perfect food ) while walking up one of the hills on my route. (Fremont from the water to View Ridge, for all you Seattle chickies) I eat the rest of my dinner once I get home.
It took a while for me to figure out the best way to manage fuel and effort, it's good to experiment. Like several other folks have suggested, try adding a good serving of protein to the meal you eat before your ride. Try eating your snack halfway through the ride before you get hungry. Try eating as soon as you get off the bike at the end. Don't water down the Gatorade. Give a different drink a try. You never know what might turn out to be the key! Play with all the details, don't be afraid to experiment.
Varying your level of effort can make a big difference, too. Once I decided I was going to walk the hill and just made that a regular feature of my commute, everything got even better! Something about that rest period while I walk really perks me up for the 2nd half of my commute. The ride is faster over all and I'm not so tired at the end.
It's ok to be tired. You should be tired! Some 15-20 mile rides can be exhausting! Now you have the opportunity to learn how to manage your body so it won't be so tired that you have to sleep afterward and are out of it for several hours. (in my case, I required more protein, more food over all, and a rest break during my homeward commute. Your mileage may vary.)
"If Americans want to live the American Dream, they should go to Denmark." - Richard Wilkinson