Training & Nutrition - Coffee before your morning ride?

COF-fee...COF-fee!

I do it and thus, it does me!

Interesting article in August Bicycling about "Bonk Training" to lose weight. Early morning rides, started with 2 cups of java to give one energy to ride: 45-90 minutes only. During that time, the bod gnaws on fat to convert to energy. More than 90, and the bod starts breaking down muscle (very bad!)

Make sure you hydrate, regardless!

I usually don't even eat before I ride in the morning ... much less have a cup of coffee. I hold off on breakfast until after I do about 20 miles, which may not be a good thing, but my biggest concern is cramping up while I'm riding. Is there anything I can eat to stave off cramps, or any way I can prevent them while riding?

Originally posted by RWTD
I'll sometimes stop at a bagel shop

My wife and I do that for breakfast on Saturdays. It's 3.5 miles of uphill grade to the bagel shop. I'll have a V8 and a multi-grain bagel plus a cup or so of decaf.

Afterwards, the wife heads back down the hill and I go off on a longer ride. Never had it raise my blood sugar since I continue the ride. I always make sure to ride hard or long enough to burn it off.

Carl

Originally posted by sptsgoddess
I usually don't even eat before I ride in the morning ... much less have a cup of coffee. I hold off on breakfast until after I do about 20 miles, which may not be a good thing, but my biggest concern is cramping up while I'm riding. Is there anything I can eat to stave off cramps, or any way I can prevent them while riding?

Hopefully someone else can confirm/back this up, but just like swimming or any other physical activity, you should wait awhile before hopping on your bike after eating. I used to think I would cramp up/side ache from drinking too much fluid. Now it's drink drink drink...