Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - ...hate to post my failure, but...

I also failed my attempt at a metric century today.

I did the 75k in the Sharon's Ride for epilepsy here in Hawaii, instead of the 100k I'd hoped to complete.

Obviously, freezing temps were not the reason. I must have messed up my food preps. I had massive gas pains and was belching (both ends) near constantly about 20k into it. The stabbing stomach cramps were almost dehabilitating. I stopped a couple times to stretch out and couldn't stand up straight when I got off the bike.

Talking to another rider, I don't think I ate enough this morning before the ride.

I had a protein cookie, and an electrolyte drink, but it turns out that 2 1/2 hours before the ride started.
I showed up way too early, and started to get hungry by the time we were riding.

I took about a 45 min break at the 75k turnaround, ate 3 different snack bars, a quarter of a banana, and drank lots of water. I felt better and decided to try and finish the 75k. As the ride went on, I felt better and better. By the end, I wished I had finished the 100k.

Oh well, next metric century is in April. I'll be better prepared then.

I had massive gas pains and was belching (both ends) near constantly about 20k into it. The stabbing stomach cramps were almost dehabilitating.... I don't think I ate enough this morning before the ride.
It sounds to me more like nerves, stress, unfamiliar food and/or a plain ol' unrelated stomach ailment. Normally if you haven't had enough food before a ride, you'll bonk rather than get digestive issues.

A good rule of thumb before a long ride is that you should only eat things you know agree with you.

It sounds to me more like nerves, stress, unfamiliar food and/or a plain ol' unrelated stomach ailment. Normally if you haven't had enough food before a ride, you'll bonk rather than get digestive issues.

A good rule of thumb before a long ride is that you should only eat things you know agree with you.
I agree, you'll feel better for the next event. The night before your next 100k have a big bowl of samin, some rice, and fruit. Bananas, papaya would be best. For breakfast before your ride go light, a bagel and a banana is all you need to start, then eat light but steady at rest stops.

Report back after the ride:)

I also failed my attempt at a metric century today.

I did the 75k in the Sharon's Ride for epilepsy here in Hawaii, instead of the 100k I'd hoped to complete.

Obviously, freezing temps were not the reason. I must have messed up my food preps. I had massive gas pains and was belching (both ends) near constantly about 20k into it. The stabbing stomach cramps were almost dehabilitating. I stopped a couple times to stretch out and couldn't stand up straight when I got off the bike.

Talking to another rider, I don't think I ate enough this morning before the ride.

I had a protein cookie, and an electrolyte drink, but it turns out that 2 1/2 hours before the ride started.
I showed up way too early, and started to get hungry by the time we were riding.

I took about a 45 min break at the 75k turnaround, ate 3 different snack bars, a quarter of a banana, and drank lots of water. I felt better and decided to try and finish the 75k. As the ride went on, I felt better and better. By the end, I wished I had finished the 100k.

Oh well, next metric century is in April. I'll be better prepared then.

While it is important to have a decent amount of fuel, not having enough is unlikely to produce the sort of symptoms that you describe. It's more likely that something you ate the night before didn't agree with you.

Or, to put it another way, you don't get gassy by not eating enough.

dude you woke up this morning,l you showed for a ride, did 75K on a ride with gas pain, you learned a few things and you got to hang out in the sun. whattaya got to do to consider your self to have won; gotten the the Nobel prize?

the gastric junk sounds like you ate something for dinner last night with beans or eggs in it that didn't,t agree. personally the breakfast you ate for the ride sounds like starvation rations to me; and you don't get gas from bread and water. OTH what kind of electrolyte drink did you have? was it one of those fizzy just add water things was it juice based?

I took about a 45 min break at the 75k turnaround, ate 3 different snack bars, a quarter of a banana, and drank lots of water. I felt better and decided to try and finish the 75k. As the ride went on, I felt better and better. By the end, I wished I had finished the 100k.


Bloodhound:

The human body can digest about 300 calories of food and 20-24 ounces of liquid per hour. The idea behind longer cycling events is to eat and drink consistently. You should never start a ride hungry, unless you start eating when you start riding. The body can efficiently store about an hours worth of glycogen. After an hour your body will be going into the negatove zone.

Atleast you learned an important lesson on that ride. Eat and drink often and never eat too much at one stop. By having such a full stomach, you body will eant to spend the energy on digestion and not on cycling.

Hope you have a good ride in April.

While it is important to have a decent amount of fuel, not having enough is unlikely to produce the sort of symptoms that you describe. It's more likely that something you ate the night before didn't agree with you.

Hmmm... that seems to be the concensus here. Quite possible.
I wanted a big pasta dinner like spagetti, but the only pasta I had around was Velvetta mac and cheese.

I've been eating healthy(er?) for about 4 or 5 months now, and all that processed crap may have upset my system.

dude you woke up this morning,l you showed for a ride, did 75K on a ride with gas pain, you learned a few things and you got to hang out in the sun. whattaya got to do to consider your self to have won; gotten the the Nobel prize?

Thanks! I appreciate the encouragement from you and all the others.


OTH what kind of electrolyte drink did you have? was it one of those fizzy just add water things was it juice based?

It was a Gerbers LyquiLytes. I don't drink anything carbonated. Haven't had a soda in almost 1 1/2 years now. (when I quit smoking and drinking, I quit soda pop too. Coffee is my last vice.)

Atleast you learned an important lesson on that ride. Eat and drink often and never eat too much at one stop. By having such a full stomach, you body will eant to spend the energy on digestion and not on cycling.

Hope you have a good ride in April.

Yes, thank you and I will. I'll plan better for more consistent eating.
At least my legs don't hurt for my commute to work this morning.
Thought I was going to be feeling a lot worse today.