50 miles...is that all?

[1morcyclist]

Question...

I've been running into issues after hitting the 50-mile mark of my longer weekend rides. Usually these rides are 65-70 miles in length but my body shuts down at about 50 miles. I feel great through out the ride ...I can keep up and feel fairly good on the hills...it's when I hit a certain time frame I have nothing left!

Is this an endurance thing? I feel like I'm in fairly good shape.. I ride 3-4 times a week, twice during the week in our local training rides. Which are 33-38 miles at 19.5/20 mph average.

Or is it my nutrition? Yesterday, I drank two bottles of water and a bottle of gatorade in four hours, ate a Snickers bar at the rest stop and ate two Clif blocks every hour. But, still limped home by myself for the last 7 miles. Interestingly, I was starved when I got home...could it be I didn't have enough calories the days before the ride?

If anyone has had this problem or any advice..I would love to hear about it?

[artifactos]

You could always try some carb loading on the days leading up to your long rides. I'm sure you're in great shape, but your body is definitely trying to tell you something. Do you try to ride at the same pace for 70 miles that you do at 35 miles? Have you tried backing down your pace a bit for the longer rides so you don't burn out more energy than you are replenishing?

[nscrbug]

Just a thought here, but...are you maybe starting out too strong and then fizzle out at the 50-mile mark because you're just gassed? That is what I've been told I do...a LOT...and it does make sense. I tend to go out a bit too strong, and then I'm always left wondering why I feel so gassed, halfway through the ride. Perhaps slow your pace down for the first half of the ride, so that you have something left in the tank for the rest of it. It doesn't seem like nutrition is your problem...based on what you took in, it seems like it would be plenty of calories to sustain you for a 4-hour ride. Personally, I couldn't handle eating 2 Clif bars every hour...they're just too dense. I can tolerate 1 Clif bar...but I cut it up into 1/3rd's and I'll have a piece every 20 miles or so...in addition to sipping on whatever is in my bottle (usually either Heed or diluted G2). I also usually carry some kind of chew (Clif Shot Bloks, Honey Stinger Chews, Powerbar Gelblasts, Luna Moons, etc.) and will take in 1-3 chews at each rest stop (we generally stop 2, maybe 3 times...depending on mileage).

ETA - Oops...sorry, I misread the OP's comment regarding Clif BLOCKS...I thought it said Clif BARS. My apologies.

[XMcShiftersonX]

Maybe it's the amount of sugar you're taking in - so you get an energy spike and then get tired when it starts to dip. I might suggest instead of Gatorade try something like a protein drink, like Perpetuem, and instead of a Snickers bar maybe a banana or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Or maybe have those things in addition to what you are already eating. I usually have my water bottle (which I can often refill), and a bottle with Perpetuem.

It doesn't sound like you're eating very many calories on the actual ride though. A snickers bar is what, 250 calories? And those shot blocks are nothing. On long rides I bring a banana, a clif bar, and then in between I'm downing Gu packets, which I think are around about 100 calories each. Gu is sugary, however. You're probably burning 3,000+ calories in those rides. I'm usually hungry at the tail end of a ride and then I eat a Clif Builder's bar as soon as I'm done (about 250 calories, 20 grams of protein). Then when I get home I make a smoothie, and shortly after eat a real meal. I'll probably start adding another snack of some kind here too when I'm doing 70+ miles.

-Jessica

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Like Jessica, I too am thinking you should try a more substantial fuel too- try a hefty peanut butter & jelly sandwich (or two smaller ones) on multi-grain bread and a couple of bananas, maybe some fig newtons...dole it out to yourself during the ride, not all at once. Personally, if I used Gatorade, I'd mix it 1/2 and 1/2 with water and keep drinking all through the ride....but that's just me.
You haven't told us how old you are...? Is hot weather a factor here?

[1morcyclist]

These are great suggestions! I'm going to try pb&j and fig newtons on my next long ride.

BTW...I'm 42 years old. The weather here has changed...yesterday it was around 85 degrees...with humidity that made it feel like 90 degrees by the time I rolled back in to the parking lot.

[thekarens]

@Marni, can I just say you're now my idol? If I can be half as fit in the next 5 - 10 years I'll be thrilled.

[marni]

karens, oh la! you flatter me. About seven years ago I had a "come to Jesus " moment that said either I was going to resign my life to a recliner and chocolate covered cherries or do something about my weight and health. Fortunately I made the right choice and started riding a bike. The rest has been based on the theory of "move it or lose it." Biking has given me my life back- literally and mentally. These days its a good day if I get out of bed without shifting the coffin lid.

[thekarens]

karens, oh la! you flatter me. About seven years ago I had a "come to Jesus " moment that said either I was going to resign my life to a recliner and chocolate covered cherries or do something about my weight and health. Fortunately I made the right choice and started riding a bike. The rest has been based on the theory of "move it or lose it." Biking has given me my life back- literally and mentally. These days its a good day if I get out of bed without shifting the coffin lid.

I had the same "Come to Jesus" moment this January. I'm 42 and when I started I was 5'3 and 200 lbs. I'm still 42 (and 5'3) but I'm down to 140 lbs. I'd still like to lose 10 more pounds. When I started I couldn't stay on the elliptical more than 5 minutes, now an hour is easy. However, the bike and fitness is still kicking my rear. I find endurance on the MTB much easier than the road bike. 20 miles at around 13/14 mph is the most I can do. I very much admire your endurance.

[Jiffer]

It's possible that nutrition is to blame. However, you could also have other things going on in your body that are affecting you. I'm 43 and two years ago, when I was training my hardest and riding my fastest, my period came and the next club ride I did, I started the first half strong, then limped home . . . like you. After that I really couldn't ride worth beans for about a month. Had a lot of fatigue and some dizziness. Thought it was low iron. Upped my iron intake and then started feeling better and actually did my fastest century ever (shouldn't have done it at all in retrospect). The next few months I didn't ride as much, but when 2011 hit, I got serious about training again. However, like you, when I'd do a long distance ride, I'd "bonk" at around 40 miles or so and limp home. In March I somehow managed to do a really strong half century (after giving up the notion of doing the full century). Then my period came and, once again, on the next club ride, I rode the first half strong, then limped home. And that was my last "real" ride for a very, very long time. Again, I had a lot of fatigue and when I stood, I'd get the black out sensation (though never actually passed out). I took a lot of naps and if I rode my bike at all, it was 5 miles, flat, at around 10 mph (or less).

The first thing I discovered I had was adrenal fatigue. Eventually I learned that "all" my hormones were low. My naturopathic doctor said if she didn't know I was still having periods, she'd assume I was in menopause by my test results. I also have subclinical hypothyroidism and candida. All of the things I listed are often interchangeable, meaning when you have one, you may have one or more of the others. I was also low in vitamin D, and just found out I have high levels of mercury and lead poisoning. (Mercury due at least in part to amalgam (aka:silver) fillings, which I'm getting replaced soon). Every one of the things listed can cause fatigue and mercury poisoning can potentially be the culprit of them all (along with other symptoms I have had for years . . . and the periodontitis that took all my upper teach several years ago. I've had so many dentists shake their heads trying to figure out how I got periodontitis. Well mercury poisoning can cause it). I've been doing a natural method of mercury detox for four months, even before actually being tested, cause I knew it was a likely culprit.

I have never felt 100% healthy. Since my 20's I have felt like I should have a lot more energy than I do. I think some of my issues have been underlying conditions that didn't completely rear their ugly heads until I got serious about cycling. Pushing my body as much as I did, which was completely normal exertion for a "healthy" person, pushed my body over the edge until I HAD to stop riding and figure out what was wrong.

I'm just now starting to see some progress. Some of my hormones are in the normal range now. My vitamin D is way up, but still not optimal. My TSH (thyroid test) is better (not optimal, but better than it's been). I'm feeling less fatigued and less dizzy. I've been slowly amping up my rides and exertion level.

So . . . like I said, nutrition may be your only issue. I don't know. But what you describe in your rides sounds so much like what I was experiencing and when you said you were 42, it threw up another red flag. You may want to have your hormones tested, vitamin D levels, thyroid, etc.

I don't want to start a debate with anyone (been there on this board with this topic), but I personally, avoid conventional doctors and stick with natural medicine as much as possible, but that's me. Most conventional doctors don't recognize adrenal fatigue as an actual condition because there are no drugs to cure it and the drug industry funds medical schools. Conventional doctors also often read thyroid results differently than natural ones, meaning, one doctor may think your thyroid is fine, while the other realizes it may at the least need some "help". I am also not a fan of taking drugs, so I've been on herbal tinctures to help balance hormones and other natural supplements.

Anyway, I can go on all day really, so I"ll stop right here. Feel free to PM me if you want to ask me anything. I do hope you only issue is nutrition, but wanted you to be aware of these other possibilities.

Take care!

[goldfinch]

I don't want to start a debate with anyone (been there on this board with this topic), but I personally, avoid conventional doctors and stick with natural medicine as much as possible, but that's me. Most conventional doctors don't recognize adrenal fatigue as an actual condition because there are no drugs to cure it and the drug industry funds medical schools. Conventional doctors also often read thyroid results differently than natural ones, meaning, one doctor may think your thyroid is fine, while the other realizes it may at the least need some "help". I am also not a fan of taking drugs, so I've been on herbal tinctures to help balance hormones and other natural supplements.

Do you expect to slander the medical profession and then say you don't want a debate?

Sometimes this forum frustrates me.

[marni]

my top wieght was 260 at 5'4" I am currently at 150 and aiming for 140, but my focus is more on eliminating fat and eating whole food and healthy without feeling like I am constantly starving and deprived since it is a long term, daily exercise/discipline. Plus I also aim at keeping a calorie deficit on a daily basis which is why I wear a body monitor which gives me an approximation of how may calories I burn vs how many I eat. On days when I am really deficit, I know to eat a bit more the next day,and will probably feel a bit draggy. It's all a balancing act. Since my mammo came back clear a couple of weeks ago, I have stopped taking the tamoxifen and it is amazing how much more energy and enthusiasm I have and hopefully there will be less comfort eating.

[thekarens]

That's amazing Marni! I know how much effort and discipline it takes to keep it up. I use myfitnesspal for my calorie counting, carbs, fat, etc and an HRM for burned calories.

I could take a few lessons from you. There are days I have no desire to keep it up. I'm naturally lazy and I like junk food.

PS congrats on the test results! That's wonderful!

[Crankin]

There are good and bad in every profession, so wholesale condemnation of a whole profession doesn't set well w/ me. I just hope no one says this about my profession.

[shootingstar]

I'm glad you're feeling better, Jiffer. I am the sort of person that avoids if possible taking aspirins, etc. I don't even get a flu shot. Maybe I will when I get older and weaker in general.

I guess on Western trained doctors vs. naturpathic doctors I wouldn't be wholesale condemning one over the other for everything. While it maybe true that the pharmaceutical giants try to win over the doctors with freebie samples,etc. there are doctors more willing to at least listen or try to keep current....

My personal feeling /biases is so much based on the following realities, Jiffer:

a) A sister who is a Western trained doctor and practices medicine for past 15 yrs. --she is not against acupuncture and sees benefits for certain conditions. (Whereas others even here in this forum, question it..) She explains known drug reactions when family members ask.

b) Another sister who is a practicing and licensed pharmacist in a teaching hospital. (They have tremendous knowledge ...in Canada university study of pharmcology is 5 yrs. prior to exam and certification.) Yes, sometimes this sister knows certain drugs more than sister a), only because a doctor has to be selective in keeping current vs. highly specialized areas/atypical diseases. The 2 do collaborate

c) A close friend who did her Master's in Pharmcokinetics, worked for major global drug firm. Left to go back to school..and is a naturopathic doctor.

NOW --who would I tend to consult first?: If it questions concerning prescribed drugs, treatments from a doctor (I have my own family doctor. My sister is 2nd opinion only.), then I would be asking both sisters. I would consider naturpathic doctor for diet (though they are not registered dieticians), preventive health care. Would I want my father to see a naturpathic doctor for his prostate cancer? No. Am I glad he's not yet on chemotherapy? Yes, it's extending his quality of life...and my doctor-sister supports his decision. (He has an oncologist.)

Yes, I know I am extraordinarily lucky to have immediate informal access to expertise. Also to have a family member is now serving to advocate for parent.