I have been at this silly game of triathlon since the late 80’s…cycling even longer, but have never had problems eating on the bike. I could eat whatever was available and process it fine. Now I’m having issues digesting on the bike for some reason.
Since I am quite old school in my bike food and have long since been passed by on the food technology curve I want to ask this:
With all these drinks like Infinit and others, is it plausible to go on longer rides and NOT have to take down solid food? Is there enough stuff in some of these drinks where I could just make a switch here and bag hard food and simply drink 100 percent of my caloric needs with maybe some gels?
Your body will only replace 1 - 1.25 (correction - for untrained individuals) calories per pound of body weight per hour. You can easily get that with liquids/gels. Well trained athletes can handle 1.25 - 1.50
EDIT: my only excuse is that I was tired when I posted this originally.
Hee ha I did the '91 Great Floridian with 2 loaves of banana bread stuffed all around my bike jersey. Had to stop for 2 dumps on the bike course. Oh how I wish we woulda had gels and such.
When you are riding and you take on 400 calories what happens to the calories? I weight about 165 right now. With your formula I can take on about 205 calories an hour max. Where does the 200 other calories go? Do they get process an hour later? So a 400 calories covers you for calories for 2 hours?
I have no scientific data but believe I can consume a little more than 200 an hour. If going hard I will take on between 250 and 300 calories an hour. So not far off from the formula. This is what feels right and seems to get me the best performance. But also curious if there is not some difference between people or from training.
When you are riding and you take on 400 calories what happens to the calories? I weight about 165 right now. With your formula I can take on about 205 calories an hour max. Where does the 200 other calories go? Do they get process an hour later? So a 400 calories covers you for calories for 2 hours?
During exercise, blood is diverted away from the stomach, impairing digestion a bit. There’s an upper limit to what you can absorb while riding. I don’t know what that number is; the lower the intensity, the more calories you can absorb. When you eat on the bike, insulin will uptake carbohydrate and deliver it to muscles where it can be burned for energy. If you take in too much, it sits in your stomach and causes cramps.
If you take in too much, it sits in your stomach and causes cramps.
Or worse. There is a tree at around 70 miles on the the Great Floridian bike course…well…let’s just say there is probably abundant life all around it due to fertilization. I almost had to take a nap after. No more nana bread.
When you are riding and you take on 400 calories what happens to the calories? **They sit in your stomach causing stomach distress. **I weight about 165 right now. With your formula I can take on about 205 calories an hour max. Where does the 200 other calories go? Do they get process an hour later? So a 400 calories covers you for calories for 2 hours? Because you are burning 400 calories per hour does not mean that your body can replace the same amount. Caloric intake during endurance exercise only postpones fatique. Athletes who try to replace calories burned will usually suffer stomach distress.
I have no scientific data but believe I can consume a little more than 200 an hour. If going hard I will take on between 250 and 300 calories an hour. **Correct, a well trained athlete can replace 1.25 - 1.50 calories per lb. per hr. **So not far off from the formula. This is what feels right and seems to get me the best performance. But also curious if there is not some difference between people or from training.