To cycle 100 miles

[Labarum]

[quote="jade"]Nice talking cycling with you! What kind of bike do you ride? I ride a Cannondale road bike. How long have you been cycling?

[\quote]

I have not cycled any distance for nearly 40 years. When I was a teenager in York I used to go everywhere on my ten speed Falcon.

12 years ago I bought a Trek 800 so I could cycle with my kids then aged 6 and 8. I have just dusted down that bike in almost new condition and put city tyres on it. Its OK. After a months cycling I am up to 20 miles per day I have increased my speed on the flat from 14 to 18 mph, but I think thats the limit on the Trek 800.

I am looking at getting a Fast Tourer/Audax - maybe a Trek 1000c or a British Bike

http://www.ridgeback.co.uk/bikes/bike.asp?bikeID=133

I reckon on such a machine I could immediately manage 50 miles without distress.

I have cross posted you comments.

[jade]

Hey "Labarum"
I've just noticed that you are from the UK. I visited there many years ago (as a teenager) and love all things British...especially British comedy!

12 years ago I bought a Trek 800 so I could cycle with my kids then aged 6 and 8. I have just dusted down that bike in almost new condition and put city tyres on it. Its OK. After a months cycling I am up to 20 miles per day I have increased my speed on the flat from 14 to 18 mph, but I think thats the limit on the Trek 800.

*Good for you! Keep up the great work! What is the terraine like where you ride? I ride on trails in the city but sometimes I go out in the country so I can work on climbing hills.

I am looking at getting a Fast Tourer/Audax - maybe a Trek 1000c or a British Bike
I reckon on such a machine I could immediately manage 50 miles without distress.

*Are bikes as expensive where you are as they are here?

I have cross posted you comments.

*Thanks. I don't mean to be combative but I really don't think this person is very credible. I hate it when people won't to to the source, rather relying on what someone else said about a book.

Take care and keep cycling!
Be well-
jade :wave

[Labarum]

And another cyclist on Low Carb/Atkins writes:

Exactly 2 yrs. ago, I weighed 193 lbs. and felt like s$#$#. No one thought me fat, but I felt it. Over the course of 4 mos. I followed Atkins VERY strictly, through the phases and got as low as 153. I've settled in right around 160 now.

Last summer I did a century and a 200 mi. 2 day charity ride. I have been and am very careful about what Carbs I eat now...almost no pasta, rice, bread w/refined grains...and virtually no sugar. I find it incredibly easy to toggle the amount of carbs up and down to keep up with my exercise.

With all this Atkins talk here, I guess I'm actually a lot closer to South Beach in my diet. Some people think just because I rarely eat hamburger buns, pasta, and sugary deserts that I'm a low-carber or Atkins freak...I, however, choose not to eat that stuff cause it's usually crap...I am looking forward to trying some whole grain pastas.

Here's what I do...avoid hydrogenated oils, enriched flour, High Fructose Corn Syrup. Eat liberal amounts of veggies, fruits, meats, eggs, whole grains. This is NOT rocket science, and I have plenty of energy for rides of any length.

Big R
Senior Member

[jade]

Hey "Labarum"
What a great post! I couldn't agree with that guy more! I know exactly what he/she is talking about with regards to the crappo food that the 'experts' want you to eat when you're cycling. It wrecks you!
I too am low carbing not because it's a faddish thing to do or a quick fix, but because I want to be healthy again!

Thanks for sharing this with me! I appreciate it!
Be well-
jade

And another cyclist on Low Carb/Atkins writes:

Exactly 2 yrs. ago, I weighed 193 lbs. and felt like s$#$#. No one thought me fat, but I felt it. Over the course of 4 mos. I followed Atkins VERY strictly, through the phases and got as low as 153. I've settled in right around 160 now.

Last summer I did a century and a 200 mi. 2 day charity ride. I have been and am very careful about what Carbs I eat now...almost no pasta, rice, bread w/refined grains...and virtually no sugar. I find it incredibly easy to toggle the amount of carbs up and down to keep up with my exercise.

With all this Atkins talk here, I guess I'm actually a lot closer to South Beach in my diet. Some people think just because I rarely eat hamburger buns, pasta, and sugary deserts that I'm a low-carber or Atkins freak...I, however, choose not to eat that stuff cause it's usually crap...I am looking forward to trying some whole grain pastas.

Here's what I do...avoid hydrogenated oils, enriched flour, High Fructose Corn Syrup. Eat liberal amounts of veggies, fruits, meats, eggs, whole grains. This is NOT rocket science, and I have plenty of energy for rides of any length.

Big R
Senior Member[/quote]

[dpvan]

Lots of 100-Mile Rides

I lost 50 lbs. on Atkins about 2&1/2 years ago and have kept the weight off via a continued low-carb diet. I'm 57 years old.

I also do a lot of longer-distance cycling during warm weather. Last summer, I rode 7 rides of 100 miles, 1 ride of 125 miles and lots and lots of 70-80 mile rides. My best 100-mile time (on the bike, solo, no drafting) was 5 hours, 21 minutes.

I've gotten off to a slow training start this summer, but will do at least 5-6 centuries and have a goal to complete a 150-mile ride which would be my longest ride ever.

For rides up to 2 hours, I don't do any carbs.

Right before a longer ride, I'll eat a few carbs - a slice of wheat toast - plus some protein. During a longer ride, I'll eat some carbs every 60-90 minutes - typically 12-16 oz. of Gatorade plus half a candy bar (Salted Nut Rolls help keep my electrolytes up). If I'm on an organized ride, I'll eat a half-bannana at the rest stops. I generally take a couple of gel-packs in case I begin to droop, but often don't use them.

Within 30 minutes following a longer ride, I'll do a few carbs - 16 oz. of Gatorade plus maybe a slice of wheat bread or 1/3 cup of home-made granola. There's a time window of about 20-30 minutes following strenuous exercise when carbs go to glycogen replenishment rather than to fat. Beyond those carbs, my post-ride meal is protein powder, eggs and bacon.

I've cramped a couple of times - electrolytes got too low and I was pushing too hard too early in the season - but I've never bonked. I'm reasonably fast - on my favorite 15-mile circuit, I get passed 7-8 times per year going uphill and nobody's passed me in 4 years going downhill.

As far as training goes, I do some intervals and speed work during my hour-long morning rides, but my riding isn't focused on how fast I can ride in 30 minutes. I'm into the longer-distance rides and I pace myself so I can go 4 hours or 6 hours or whatever it takes.

I'm familiar with the characters on the bike forums who say I can't do what I do every weekend all summer because I'll bonk. I don't argue with them any more because they don't know what they're talking about.

[jade]

Re: Lots of 100-Mile Rides

Hey dpvan!
Thanks for sharing! I have a question for you though: How does your body react to all of that Gatorade? It would send me into a coma!! I'm getting ready for a 500+ mile bike tour this next week. I have always drank Gatorade or something like it in the past but I won't use it this year as the sugar content in it would send me over the moon. I'm going to just drink water while on the road (Gatorade or any other kind of drink made me go to the bathroom more too! As a female rider I didn't need that! Drinking water alone doesn't have the same effect!)

"I lost 50 lbs. on Atkins about 2&1/2 years ago and have kept the weight off via a continued low-carb diet. I'm 57 years old."

*Congratulations! That is wonderful! I'm hoping to lose alot this summer but more importantly for me I'm working to change my over all eating lifestyle.

"I also do a lot of longer-distance cycling during warm weather. Last summer, I rode 7 rides of 100 miles, 1 ride of 125 miles and lots and lots of 70-80 mile rides. My best 100-mile time (on the bike, solo, no drafting) was 5 hours, 21 minutes."

*That's fantastic! What kind of bike do you ride?


"For rides up to 2 hours, I don't do any carbs."

*I don't either. I usually eat a good breakfast before I ride in the morning (bacon/eggs). I also take along some beef jerky and some nuts if I'm riding a little longer (up to 4 hours).

"Right before a longer ride, I'll eat a few carbs - a slice of wheat toast - plus some protein.
During a longer ride, I'll eat some carbs every 60-90 minutes - typically 12-16 oz. of Gatorade plus half a candy bar (Salted Nut Rolls help keep my electrolytes up). If I'm on an organized ride, I'll eat a half-bannana at the rest stops. I generally take a couple of gel-packs in case I begin to droop, but often don't use them."

*Before a longer ride, I will eat my eggs/bacon but will add some strawberries and tomato juice. Then during the ride I always bring beef jerky (my hubby makes the best!), mixed nuts and because I'm close to where I can purchase fresh items, I'll stop and get some berries or some fresh veggies that are already cut up. If I'm not close to somewhere I can purchase something fresh, I'll also pack some Atkins bars. Eating sugar at all knocks me for a loop. I have fibromyalgia (a muscle condition) and sugar exacerbates my condition.

"I've cramped a couple of times - electrolytes got too low and I was pushing too hard too early in the season - but I've never bonked. I'm reasonably fast - on my favorite 15-mile circuit, I get passed 7-8 times per year going uphill and nobody's passed me in 4 years going downhill."

*Do you take any vitamins or supplements? I'm wondering if taking supplements will help that electrolyte problem? Especially extra potassium?

"I'm familiar with the characters on the bike forums who say I can't do what I do every weekend all summer because I'll bonk. I don't argue with them any more because they don't know what they're talking about."

*I totally agree with you there. I plan on following a low carb food lifestyle. Atkins has been great for me and I plan on living this lifestyle because it has brought me so much freedom so far! I'm looking forward to being free of this extra weight but for me I'm looking forward to a pain free life. Prior to being on Atkins I consumed great amounts of sugar, caffeine, and bad fats. They caused my fibromyalgia to go through the roof! Now I can wake up in the morning and not feel like I've been hit by a semi truck!

Thanks again for sharing! Best wishes on your century rides this summer!

Be well-
jade :wave

[dpvan]

Re: Lots of 100-Mile Rides

Hey dpvan!
Thanks for sharing! I have a question for you though: How does your body react to all of that Gatorade? It would send me into a coma!! I'm getting ready for a 500+ mile bike tour this next week. I have always drank Gatorade or something like it in the past but I won't use it this year as the sugar content in it would send me over the moon. I'm going to just drink water while on the road (Gatorade or any other kind of drink made me go to the bathroom more too! As a female rider I didn't need that! Drinking water alone doesn't have the same effect!)

My body's OK with the Gatorade. There are 14 grams of carbs in 8 oz., but when I'm on a ride, it doesn't bother me. Based on my speed and weight, I'm supposed to be burning about 1,000 calories an hour on a long ride. I don't know if I believe that, but I do burn a lot.

"I also do a lot of longer-distance cycling during warm weather. Last summer, I rode 7 rides of 100 miles, 1 ride of 125 miles and lots and lots of 70-80 mile rides. My best 100-mile time (on the bike, solo, no drafting) was 5 hours, 21 minutes."

*That's fantastic! What kind of bike do you ride?

I ride a recumbent - much, much more comfortable on a multi-hour ride than a conventional bike.

"I've cramped a couple of times - electrolytes got too low and I was pushing too hard too early in the season - but I've never bonked. I'm reasonably fast - on my favorite 15-mile circuit, I get passed 7-8 times per year going uphill and nobody's passed me in 4 years going downhill."

*Do you take any vitamins or supplements? I'm wondering if taking supplements will help that electrolyte problem? Especially extra potassium?

Since my last cramping episode, I do some salty stuff during the ride plus potassium in the form of Stim-O-Stam, recommended to me by a friend who is a serious marathoner. I have a product called Endurolytes on order that was highly recommended by a biking friend, but haven't receive it yet.

Good luck on your tour.

[jade]

Re: Lots of 100-Mile Rides

Hello "dpvan"

"My body's OK with the Gatorade. There are 14 grams of carbs in 8 oz., but when I'm on a ride, it doesn't bother me. Based on my speed and weight, I'm supposed to be burning about 1,000 calories an hour on a long ride. I don't know if I believe that, but I do burn a lot."

*I know that I burn alot of calories on tour too but have never calculated what they are. You're fortunate that Gatorade doesn't bother you.

*That's fantastic! What kind of bike do you ride?
[/quote]

"I ride a recumbent - much, much more comfortable on a multi-hour ride than a conventional bike."

*I'm going to have to try a recumbent sometime because they DO look comfortable (except on hills!)

*Do you take any vitamins or supplements? I'm wondering if taking supplements will help that electrolyte problem? Especially extra potassium?
[/quote]

"Since my last cramping episode, I do some salty stuff during the ride plus potassium in the form of Stim-O-Stam, recommended to me by a friend who is a serious marathoner. I have a product called Endurolytes on order that was highly recommended by a biking friend, but haven't receive it yet."

*Thanks for sharing this! Do you buy your supplements at a health food store or at a department store like Target/WalMart?

"Good luck on your tour."

Thanks so much!

Time to ride!
jade :wave

[dpvan]

Re: Lots of 100-Mile Rides

*I'm going to have to try a recumbent sometime because they DO look comfortable (except on hills!)

I give up a little going uphill, but my speed on the flats and going downhill makes up for it.

*Thanks for sharing this! Do you buy your supplements at a health food store or at a department store like Target/WalMart?

I do a combination. Anything I can get at Costco, I buy there. I buy some from health food stores and some online.

[jade]

Re: Lots of 100-Mile Rides

Hey "dpvan"

"I give up a little going uphill, but my speed on the flats and going downhill makes up for it."

*Many riders use recumbants on the tour I'm going on. They make it look so effortless. I will definetly have to try one some day!

"I do a combination. Anything I can get at Costco, I buy there. I buy some from health food stores and some online."

*My husband is a chemist so when I do buy them I ask him about them first because so many companies sell vitamins/supplements that have very little of what they are advertising the capsule contains. I'm glad you have found a reliable place where you can purchase yours.

Have a great week!
jade :wave

[ttdriver]

Jade:

I've been humming it all day, just for you...

'THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE NEBRASKA .................."

Enjoy the trip. And be sure and report in when you get back. Wave at my relatives in Omaha, will you?

Good luck and be safe.

Betty