Sodium is not the answer for everybody (though it helps many people)
One thing athletes have to be honest about are their efforts/pacing during the swim & bike ... it's a common theme that people's stomachs "shut down" on the bike even though they were using the same product as training. I'm finding this common theme associated w/ athletes swimming/riding a little harder than what may be ideal for pacing and nutritional absorption. An ugly combination is swimming/riding harder then what might be optimal as two things can happen here ... caloric needs go up because of increased effort AND calories are possibly not being absorbed as readily because the effort is greater than what has been trained. Need up + absorption down = DEADLY
The other thing may be racing in the heat when not completely trained for it ... in this case pace/effort must be adjusted down to deal accordingly, producing less stress and allowing the body to absorb more fluids.
The fact may be you need more than 200cals per hour but maybe 300cal at the pace you are riding does not absorb. Try exclusively fluid calories (you may already be there) and/or slow down slightly.
Hope that helps give some more light and best wishes sorting through this.
BTW ... in my early days i had this problem .. sorted it with simple nutrition & smart pacing
-------------------------
Dave Latourette
http://www.TTENation.com
One thing athletes have to be honest about are their efforts/pacing during the swim & bike ... it's a common theme that people's stomachs "shut down" on the bike even though they were using the same product as training. I'm finding this common theme associated w/ athletes swimming/riding a little harder than what may be ideal for pacing and nutritional absorption. An ugly combination is swimming/riding harder then what might be optimal as two things can happen here ... caloric needs go up because of increased effort AND calories are possibly not being absorbed as readily because the effort is greater than what has been trained. Need up + absorption down = DEADLY
The other thing may be racing in the heat when not completely trained for it ... in this case pace/effort must be adjusted down to deal accordingly, producing less stress and allowing the body to absorb more fluids.
The fact may be you need more than 200cals per hour but maybe 300cal at the pace you are riding does not absorb. Try exclusively fluid calories (you may already be there) and/or slow down slightly.
Hope that helps give some more light and best wishes sorting through this.
BTW ... in my early days i had this problem .. sorted it with simple nutrition & smart pacing
-------------------------
Dave Latourette
http://www.TTENation.com