BikingLasVegas.com

[bushman]

Are you really not supposed to eat 3 hrs before a ride? What if the ride is at 6:30AM? Last weekend I woke up a 4AM, ate a meal bar and went back to bed till I had to get ready for a ride. That can not be right!!!

What should I be trying to eat and when before a taxing ride? Proteins? Carbs? Sugars?

Thanks

[lisa]

Boy...are you touching on a subject that all of us have been questioning for some time now. lol. There are a few forums that everyone has chimed in on what they eat and why. Maybe you should read these and if they make your head spin like they did me...then...come back and ask more questions!

how-misinformed-was-t542.html

what-you-use-for-fuel-t3.html

favorite-meals-before-riding-t41.html

Like I said...i wish there was a smiley for headspinning! Enjoy.

Lisa

[CyborgQueen]

I agree with Lisa...some things can be mind boggling.

I refuse to eat at 3 or 4 am just to go on a ride 2 or 3 hours later. To me, that's silly. I think it works for many people, but for others it doesn't.

Basically YOU have to decide what YOU want for nutrition before rides what what you KNOW will be fine for you. It took me a couple rides to realize that Gatorade doesn't sit well with me, but it works for other people.

It took me a while to find something that I can eat and still feel great. This is where the "training rides" are for. Don't try to change everything at once as it can cause some issues. That was my mistake for the first couple rides (and I was only doing 5 to 10 mile rides...what the heck was I thinking about trying everything?!).

[flyboy]

No no no, that's two hours before swimming.....

[CyborgQueen]

No no no, that's two hours before swimming.....

[ivan]

I think its maybe you aren't supposed to have a huge meal right before a ride. Like hitting Ihop and doing all you can eat pancakes plus an omelet may not be a good idea. In sports years ago from basketball to football we were taught to simply not go hungry so I am guessing 4:AM would be your big meal then ride by 6 or so then stop to refuel every now and then with water and cereal bars or something. Doing gatorade is cool cause of the electrolytes but I prefer the pill electrolytes so no sugars.

[Shunt!]

I don't buy it. Unless I am doing a triathlon or some other endurance event where I'll be busting my tail for more than 4-5 hours, I always eat something within an hour of my ride. Like ivan said, as long as you don't hit the all you can eat Mexican buffet, you'll probably be fine. I usually have a bowl of oatmeal with raisins before my morning rides and no problems so far.

[dannykam]

man your dedicated if you eat then sleep for a early morning ride. if you are doing a ride that is a couple hours or more, i usually try to take down something small before the ride(when you wake up 30 minutes before your ride), then snack as you ride. its more important to eat well the night before and to hydrate as you ride then to cram a bunch of crap down your throat couple hours before you ride. if your ride is at a decent time like 10am, of course a solid meal around 6-8am is good. try different times and your body will either like or reject it. my best rides has been when i can eat a solid meal, able to poop and pee a few times without stressing about time, then racing/ training on a well rested stomach.