Energy Kick!

gsxrian

At the moment when I’m out on the bike I’m drinking Lucozade and taking a small mars bar with me...which helps me a lot...

Was out on Tuesday for three hours on the mtb, and it was hard work...but thinking this morning, that eating a mars bar there must be better snacks that will be better for me and give me more Energy.....

I've only been mountain biking for three months, but I’ll do find I’ll need something to eat to keep me going!!

Any idea!
:?:

Thanks Ian

M6TT F

that's a fair old hit of sugar! - you want to be looking at having carbs for fuel., bananas are always a favourite, for a slow release of energy - you can get things like power barsbars from the LBS, but to be honest any type of cereal bar seems to do the job for me.

as for fluids, I just take water in the camelbak (stops it going manky) and a occasionally gel sachet if it's a long ride which helps replace salts etc

gsxrian

M6TT F wrote:

that's a fair old hit of sugar! - you want to be looking at having carbs for fuel., bananas are always a favourite, for a slow release of energy - you can get things like power barsbars from the LBS, but to be honest any type of cereal bar seems to do the job for me.

as for fluids, I just take water in the camelbak (stops it going manky) and a occasionally gel sachet if it's a long ride which helps replace salts etc

I've got alpine cereal bars at home,might try taking them out with me.....


Going to have alook for some camelbaks this weekend,

therealboyjones

Big up the bananas. Even come pre-wrapped and you can chose your size. I wouldn't ordinarily recommend fruit as a food, but they are ideal for keeping you going on a ride.

Camelbak is an essential IMHO, dehydration will cause premature fatigue.

cat_with_no_tail

Nutrigrain (strawberry one) FTW
+1 for Bananas, usually have one before I leave and take one with me (not sure if this is the best way to do it nutritionally speaking, but it works for me)
I also take the Camelbak with robinsons no added sugar Apple and blackcurrant (because it tastes nice).
If it's a long ride, I have been known to also take a water bottle filled with Powerade (blue drink)

dunker

yeah nutrigrain are loverly but still full of gooey yummy sugar, nice to have one on me for emergencys but usually go with a slow release of a banana or 2. jordans? frusili? think they called are nice too but not alot in them.

weeksy59

At the speed you go i'm suprised it's not a coffee you need to wake you up

projectsome

I eat something like pasta or jacket potato before setting off and take a pack lunch consisting of sandwich, crisps, 2 chocolate bars and 2 still drinks (sometimes a flapjack as well). find a nice patch of grass and have a one man picnic.

I would take fruit but it's not something I buy often.

Northwind

M6TT F wrote:

that's a fair old hit of sugar! - you want to be looking at having carbs for fuel.

Sugar is full of carbs

Thing is, really sugary stuff has 2 disadvantages, it's through your system fast- like rocket fuel basically, you get a quick kick but then it's gone- and also, sugar kicks off insulin production, which can cause "insulin crash"- your body ramps up to deal with all the sugar, then the sugar suddenly wears off but you're still cranking out insulin, which then drives your blood sugar down and totally drains you.

Bananas do work very well. As long as you don't squish them. Which you will

dunker

yep do that sometimes too usually corned beef and mustard sarnys for me.

benneally

Yeah I have wondered this. I race for my uni, and everyone else on the team swears by electrolyte drinks and torq (or similar) gels. I cant afford to use them so i dont
But i do seem to hit a wall about 2 hours in, so i must start using them just to do that last flying lap.

But is it weird that i never eat when riding out of races (or in them). I will go out for hours, often without even water. I just dont see the point. If im hungry i will ride faster to get home, and if you take food, you stop, legs sieze up. I always feel much much slower on a ride if i have stopped for 5 mins or more. And you have to take a bag = sweaty back.

Northwind

benneally wrote:

And you have to take a bag = sweaty back.

Nah, not really... I wear a Camelbak Chaos and I don't really get a sweaty back at all, even when it's hot, it's very well vented.

benneally

you're not pushing hard enough then! :P

dunker

i get a sweaty everywhere, push harder!

gsxrian

weeksy59 wrote:

At the speed you go i'm suprised it's not a coffee you need to wake you up

where were you again on that DH track....

Northwind

No more sweaty then everywhere else then I used to sweat buckets with my old rucksack but the Camel just isn't the same. It's like the difference between a t-shirt and a base layer

gsxrian

Northwind wrote:

M6TT F wrote:

that's a fair old hit of sugar! - you want to be looking at having carbs for fuel.

Sugar is full of carbs

Thing is, really sugary stuff has 2 disadvantages, it's through your system fast- like rocket fuel basically, you get a quick kick but then it's gone- and also, sugar kicks off insulin production, which can cause "insulin crash"- your body ramps up to deal with all the sugar, then the sugar suddenly wears off but you're still cranking out insulin, which then drives your blood sugar down and totally drains you.

Bananas do work very well. As long as you don't squish them. Which you will

Have to agree with you about feeling Totally drain,when i'll got back on tuesday night felt really drain and had a headacne...