Bad 'patch' during long rides

Brian B

I often do very long rides up to 170 miles in a day and have been doing long hilly runs/sportives here and abroad for years now and have moderate fitness and endurance but aware of my limitations.

Ocassionally though at around the 70-90 mile mark I can go through a period of where I can generally feel bad. Its not like I am feeling like I need to stop or cannot eat its more like I am lacking some power and if I am riding in a group I feel I am digging deeper than before to keep the pace. Then 10miles later I come through the other side of my bad patch and feel good again. After that I can go on for a lot more miles and it never occurs again.

I am thinking it must be nutrition and I am 'bonking' slightly and when this happens I often throw a caffine gel down my neck but have went on without gels in the past and still feel okay 10 miles later. I usually stick to the same food/drink when I am out.

Any ideas?

twotyred

I get this sometimes too and have always put it down to not eating regularly enough

Herbsman

The body is not a machine. It's not designed to ride a bike at all, never mind for 170 miles. As a living organism you can't expect to perform like a machine, especially over that kind of distance, no matter how well trained you are or how well you eat or drink.