Training & Nutrition - heartburn and reflux while cycling

Anyone else suffer? I'm okay on the shorter rides, but seem to get some midway during the longer (50 miles or more) rides. I know part of the problem is that I have a tendancy towards this anyway. Not badly, usually I can take care of it with a Tums, but not while I'm cycling. Suggestions? It's just not much fun to be urping up little bits of acidic nasty water mixed with cliff bar.

HillaryRose,
What and how much are you eating and drinking before and during the rides?

When I don't eat or drink enough before AND during a long ride I feel nauseous (sp?).

Fifty miles is a good ride and you need to "refuel" every 10 to 20 miles.
Refueling is the reason there are rest stops every 8 to 15 miles in organized rides (centuries, etc.)

Hi HilaryRose, I too suffer from heartburn fairly regularly when riding. What I have found is RonH is right- the type of food I eat even several hours before a ride causes heartburn.
As I commute, mainly, I eat a plain breakfast am, try not to eat anything too fancy/ spicy/rich through the day.
I did read once that after you have heartburn it takes several weeks for you eusophagus to recoat itself and in that time you should avoid the foods that cause heartburn. I tried this once and my diet was too boring. :D
So now I just take care through the day and eat what I like after.

HilaryRose;
If Tums won't cut it for you, I'm wondering if a Zantac about 30 minutes before you ride might help. This works for me! I was having the same problem...not serious, but an uncomfortable problem just the same. I took a Zantac before riding and no reflux, etc. I've had a lot of success with it, but it has to have time to work before I ride.
Hope this helps!

It may not hurt to see a doctor! ;)

If you see a Dr., make sure he is sports oriented. The others don't seem to have a clue about athletes (bike riders ARE athletes!)

i too had acid reflux,major heartburn.all the problems . sooooo finaly i went to a dr. and found i had a hyatel hernia, and the spinkter muscle closes when i swallow was weak. it would allow food to come back up from my stomach. i suffered for 10 years with this, i got an operation and have NOT had heartburn in the last 3 years, i can eat anything i want. please let a doctor know whats going on. by riding bent over on a road bike you encourage the problem....:p

i get heart burn a few hours after and the following day i get it again, it doesnt really matter what i eat, i still get it, after 3 or so days after my ride i do not get it anymore, i do drop into my low bars alot and my frame size is 1.5 sizes to big, do you think it is my bike that is causing it? i am supposed to ride a 56cm but i have a XL giant which translates to a 59ish i also have the stem set low. on my old bike (which was a 56) i did not get heart burn ever.

Well I have a hiatel hernia and suffer from recurrent heart burn. Prilosec does very well on a daily basis for me. Usually it is all I need. It is available OTC and you might try using it on days when you do long rides.

You may try a stomach acid blocker like Pepcid or Zantac. Those are also helpful but , for me, they are not as good as Prilosec.