How can I avoid barfing on long rides?
 

The problem I tend to have with rides 50 miles or over is, I always throw up right around the 48-50 mile mark. At first I thought the problem had to do with inadequate food intake during the ride, but all that happened when I increased the food intake was bringing even more up. I truly believe I could finish at least metric century ride if I could figure out what's causing my tummy to revolt. I also don't think I'm eating the wrong things, because I eat what's typical on long rides: energy bars, Nutri-Grains, fruit, breads, etc. (A word about Power Bars by the way: I don't know if anyone else has this problem, but they make me fart. It's really embarrassing, especially while in a peloton! But I suppose that should be addressed in a separate thread.) Anyway, I'm getting a little worried about the barfing problem, because while it's good to take in adequate fuel during long rides, what the hell good does it do you if you lose it all, hmm??? I have a metric century coming up in a couple weeks, and I'm determined to get to that elusive 68-mile mark, whether I'm puking or not, but I would prefer not, obviously! :(

I have a friend who barfs when he rides faster than he typically does.

Are you riding fast? If so, maybe it's a lactic acid build up creeping into your digestive tract. Try taking some Tums before and during the ride.

Hmm, I suppose that's possible. I'm usually not that fast, unless the course is relatively flat. But I think I may have just answered my own question--it might be the hill-climbing. I know that's what hurts me the most everywhere else, and when I start going anaerobic. In any case, the Tums sounds like a good solution. Thanks!

What are you eating before your rides? And, on a different note, it just may be over-exertion. I over-exerted myself once on a long century ride, and as soon as it was over, I dry-heaved. I felt terrible and took a couple of days off. The next time I rode a century, I ate a bit better, included more carbs, took rest breaks as needed, and I felt fine.

Koffee

g'day,

.....or you could just keep eating those powerbars.......light a match & be turbo charged!..then you wouldn't need to pedal!....lol

cheers,

Hitchy

Well, before the rides, again, I usually just have normal stuff like yogurt, bananas, cereal, etc. Certainly no eggs or bacon or anything really super-fatty, which I know would be disastrous. So I'm really not so sure it has anything to do with what I eat--I'm starting to think it's over-exertion, like you mentioned. It's those damn hills! Perhaps I'm not climbing them correctly. If anybody knows how to train with hill-climbing, gimme some suggestions here!

I knew a guy who would try to ride too fast and would end up puking. He finally figured it out and slowed his pace down to a comfortable pace and no more puking and he is getting faster. So sounds like over exertion. Try to ride the hills at an easier pace see if that helps and drink and eat before you are hungry and thirsty.

maybe you're eating too much...

if i read it right above, the vomitting occurs when you start increasing your food intake... why not try cutting back.

you might not want to eat fruiot when you ride either, as it can cause GI problems from the fructose. try taking all your energy in just a drink form -- a 6 - 8% carbohydrate electrolyte solution. You only need ~ 30 - 60 g of carbohydrate per hour.

wouldn't a metric century be 62 point something miles...?

ric

And give your body time to digest the last meal. Remember what mommy said when you wanted to go back in the water after lunch........



Olds

Oops, I said 68 miles, didn't I? Error. Anyway, thanks for the suggestions.

Dude, when your psyche is pushing your body to the point that it just revolts and pukes or something, then you KNOW you're kicking ass! That's what it's all about, pushing the envelope a little. Cool.

I suggest you go get checked out by a doctor; describe your symptoms and see if you might have acid reflux. This is when the acid in your stomach backs up into your throat as. Perhaps you have a different reaction to the acid in your throat and it is irritating that nerve that makes you vomit. Reflux can give many different symptoms, from burping, to burning, from asthma to vomiting--and the pressure from your posture and the way you are breathing on the bike might cause it as well. Get it checked out.

The tums Idea might help; I suck on one and keep it up in the corner of my mouth and it will last along time and cuts any burning from acid reflux that I get. Perhaps you could try taking an over-the-counter systemic acid reducer like Tagamet about 1/2 hour before you go on a long ride; don't change anything else and see what happens.

i believe this is it. either just deal with it, knowing you are right on the edge of what your body can do, and that you will get faster, or back off a bit.

Mentally I know I can easily push myself up hills at a pace that would have me puking and it has nothing to do with what I ate before or during a ride. The key to hills is accepting the fact that you need to listen to your body and adjust. Forget about speed and drop a gear or two to maintain your same level of effort (best measured by HR, but breathing rate works too). If you accept that your speed will drop and maintain or reasonably increase your level of effort, you'll find your hill climbing improves at the same rate as your overall cycling fitness.