Not eating before a race. Does anyone do it?

Gobs
Gobs Posts: 296
edited June 2017 in MTB general
I know it goes against everything you're told and read online, but I seem to find my fastest lap times are when I don't eat before (ie breakfast) or even during a race (I just drink water). A carb heavy meal the night before seems to set me up best. Has anyone else experienced this?

Comments

  • JGTR
    JGTR Posts: 1,404
    Depends on the type of race or event. Only think about food if it's over an hour.
  • Gobs
    Gobs Posts: 296
    2.5-3hrs approximately. I've tried all variations (breakfast/carbs mid ride) and I seem to be faster with nothing, just a good meal the night before. I just wondered if anyone else had experienced this
  • JGTR
    JGTR Posts: 1,404
    I was kidding, I don't race :lol::lol:

    I cycle from cafe to cafe eating cake and drinking coffee.
  • LimitedGarry
    LimitedGarry Posts: 400
    Gotta state that I do not race.

    It's all very individual. I can confirm that I feel the fastest when doing fasted rides. But that has also got to do with the fact that I do them first thing in the morning after my stretching, when I've got more energy than 5 hyperactive children combined. I also do not extend them beyond 90 minutes. And on these short rides, I tend to push myself more than when I expect to be riding for many hours. So hard to say.

    Assuming you've eaten well the night before, there really might be no need to eat in the morning. If it feels right for you and doesn't extend your recovery times, go for it.
  • rockmonkeysc
    rockmonkeysc Posts: 14,774
    When I used to race downhill, I used to struggle to eat due to nerves before a race. Always had a big pre-race poo though.
    When I did endure races, I'd always eat porridge and bananas before a race and take gels with me. Also had a big pre-race poo before endure races.
    Never did xc races, would probably have a big pre-race poo before that as well.
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  • LimitedGarry
    LimitedGarry Posts: 400
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xKlI83EDZI

    Even if you don't feel like you actually can, it's still worth sitting down for a bit and giving it a few good pushes.
  • kajjal
    kajjal Posts: 3,380
    You have to experiment and see how your body feels. Some people have to eat and for others it has a very negative effect.

    Roughly speaking eating means you body directs energy to digesting food. But if you under fuel it could be a lot worse later on.
  • rockmonkeysc
    rockmonkeysc Posts: 14,774
    Eating the right stuff is important. Having a big steak pasty or full English ten minutes before a race will not end well. You'll be puking it back up after the first sprint.
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  • kajjal
    kajjal Posts: 3,380
    RockmonkeySC wrote:
    Eating the right stuff is important. Having a big steak pasty or full English ten minutes before a race will not end well. You'll be puking it back up after the first sprint.

    As my mate demonstrated :)
  • poah
    poah Posts: 3,369
    LimitedGarry wrote:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xKlI83EDZI

    Even if you don't feel like you actually can, it's still worth sitting down for a bit and giving it a few good pushes.

    its never a good idea to give it a good few pushes if you don't need unless you are desperate for piles
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