还没注册吗?一起加入来玩吧!
您需要 登录 才可以下载或查看,没有帐号?注册
x
Q: I'm planning to ride a double century in September. Should I do this ride on a liquid nutrition product (e.g., Spiz, Perpetuem, Boost, Ensure) or should I eat solid food, too? -- Tad K.
Coach Fred Matheny Replies: It depends on 2 things: your experience with liquid nutrition products and your goal for the ride.
This is why it's so important to do several long rides before attempting events such as a 200-miler (322 km) or 300K or longer brevet. You need the training miles to prepare for the physical demands of being on the bike for 10 or more hours, of course. But long rides also tell you what food, fluids, clothing and equipment work best.
Some ultra-distance cyclists can do long rides -- even the 3,000 miles of the Race Across America -- on meal replacement drinks and virtually no solid food.
Imagine riding 350 miles a day for 8-9 days on nothing but liquid. But it works for riders who have adapted because it reduces stress on the digestive system, supplies a precise number of calories, and ensures sufficient hydration.
At the other extreme are those of us who prefer to down an energy bar (or its caloric equivalent) every hour along with a bottle of sports drink. There's nothing wrong with this approach, which provides about 300 calories per hour, even for an all-day ride.
But there is a risk. You can lose your appetite after several hours, particularly when stuffing down the same type of food and fluid. I recall a rider who tried to ride the Furnace Creek 508 (818 km) on nothing but PowerBars and water. He didn't finish.
Combat this problem by varying your menu. It's easy if you're feeding at rest stops or convenience stores where there is a selection of fruit, cookies, sandwiches and snack foods.
The second factor is your goal for the ride. Do you want to cover the distance in personal record time? Or are you simply aiming to finish?
If the former, a liquid diet can save time and let you attack the hills with a lighter load in your stomach. But some of the time savings can be lost if you need to mix the drinks yourself along the way, rather than have them handed to you by a support person.
If your goal is only to complete the distance, you'll probably have more fun if you stop at aid stations to sample the variety of foods, fill your bottles with water or sports drink, and stretch your legs.
Temperature plays a role, too. Generally, the cooler it is, the more solid food you will crave and can easily digest. Take this into consideration if your double century includes altitude. Here in Colorado, for instance, a September event could see snow at the higher elevations. A diet of cold liquids on a cold day may not be very appealing. |