bdinger

Okay, so one of my goals this year was to enter a mountain bike race. So I did, and it's coming up on Sunday the 1st. I feel pretty confident about my riding abilities, knowing that my speed/power is on par with folks who weigh a third of what I do (no kidding). I'm also pretty confident in my bicycle, and my.. well... insanity .

Now, one thing I'm not confident in is my nutrition. I need to pre-load with enough energy that I can sustain a 5 mile "burst" of power. This will be at about 1pm on Sunday. In addition I need to make sure that I don't crash during this, and that I am not too "loaded down".

I'm on a self-imposed strict diet as of late, and as such it leaves me with an energy drain at times. So I'm going "no compromises" on Sunday. I want to put on the best show possible for "Team Clydesdale", and well, for myself. So, if I wanted to have some POWER available, what kind of things should I eat the night before and the day of?

I had thought of a good pasta/chicken dinner the night before with lots of water. The morning of I thought of having cereal with a bananna or two, along with some OJ and water. Before I leave to go to the race, I figured I'd have something like a slim-fast/protein shake and a granola bar. Then right before the race (-30 minutes) have a cliff bar and a 16oz Gatorade.

Any ideas?

Also, yes I know I'm absolutely nuts, but I can't wait to see the look on everyone's face when my 360 pound butt goes flying off the start and back to the finish .

Tom Stormcrowe

Sounds pretty good! You have a reasonable plan!

brodie

when i used to weightlift,i used this stuff called -metabolol- it was a metabolic optimiser.at least thats what they called it. but the stuff worked. i got big and,lost weight at the same time. AND NEVER GOT TIRED..

now,some of that was youth.but a lot of it was the metabolol. i saw in some magazine that they now have a -gatorade- like drink,but they claim theirs has less sugar,so you wont crash. maybe you could try a small metabolol.

UtRacerDad

pasta the night before is great, banan nut muffin in the moring works wonders as well, has carb, potassium and protien. Also go to the bike shop and get cliff shot blocks, they are great you can eat them right before the race (20 min) and they will give you a good energy burst, they taste like gummy bears but are big square blocks. The biggest key on a race is to stay hydrated.

Good luck and have fun .

Halthane

Be careful with that pasta the night before the race. If you eat to much you may have trouble sleeping, which can be worse than not having the carbs. If there is enough time between breakfast and the race you might want to try a couple eggs (I like hard/medium boiled) to keep protein load up as well.

UtRacerDad

One other thing that can help with energy and actually can provide sustained energy on a race is a Salted nut roll, as long as you are not alergic to peanuts it is really great, protien, carbs, and it won't melt in the heat. I usually eat one during or before any long ride or any race.

Tom Stormcrowe

Also, try the shot blocks BEFORE the race or Ghu, if you are going to use them, to find out if GI distress is going to occur! Nothing that kills a race worse than stopping and dropping your bibs in the bushes because your supplement went right through ya! Never race on unfamiliar fuel!

bdinger

hahahahhaha Tom, that was the BEST. I'm seriously LOLing right now

My beeautiful (MUCH) better half picked up some new stuff for me at the store today, namely some "energy beans", and a bunch of other stuff. Also some tried-and-true cliff bars. Which I think I may go with 20 mins before the race, a cliff bar and a Red Bull, washed down with some Gatorade. All I need is 5 miles...

Tonight a buddy and I are going to ride some singletrack here, I'm going to preview some of the fuel before then and hope I don't have to head for the woods.

Thanks for all the tips! I'm going to put them to use and see what happens Saturday. Worst that can happen is I don't do it, as far as I figure .

Tom Stormcrowe

Actually, that's experience talking! Been there, done that! I wasn't kidding!

bdinger

Well I feel very confident about Sunday. Tonight my riding buddy and I did 11 miles of rough, twisty, hilly singletrack and averaged around 12 mph. TOTALLY fun!

I'll update sometime Sunday.. wish me luck!!

Tom Stormcrowe

Kick some ......tail!