On Sunday I rode in a 50 mile Fixed Gear Fondo. After the ride I was profoundly tired. I was woosey on the drive back home, actually missing the exit for my house. On Monday I was dragging around the office struggling to stay awake. Really struggling. The funny thing is my muscles were not sore. I was just dog tired.

A bit about me. I am 57 and I ride just about every day, 5000+ miles a year. I take racing classes at the local velodrome. About 2/3 of my miles are on a fixed gear. I ride 40-50 mile rides often without any drama. This ride I approached as a competitive event and I rode hard. I was the second finisher, the first on a fixed gear.

Here is what I did the day of the ride:

My normal breakfast of cereal and a cup of coffee and OJ. I had a 16 oz coffee on the ride to the start. Once there I had a cliff bar. On the first 25 miles I drank a bottle of water and a bottle of Gatorade. I filled my bottles with Gatorade at the 25 mile point and had 3 fig newtons. I peed. I drank both bottles on the return. I was warm and sunny and I struggled for the last 10 miles but kept up the pace. At the finish I had 2 bottles of water and a coke. After about 1 hour I had a burrito and another bottle of water.

I never recovered my zip on Sunday. I watched TV and hung out. Went to bed a bit early and had a restless night. I rode to work on Monday in a bit of a fog (not sore). I was close to falling asleep at my desk. Riding home was not as bad. I had track class in the evening and I was a bit off, but not to bad. I took 3rd in the race.

I feel I may have done some things wrong on Sunday. Is there something I could have eaten or not eaten on Sunday that would make me feel better.

I am thinking the extra dose of coffee was a bad idea. I should have probably had more water at the beginning, before we started.

Any suggestions?

Ride Safe,

Joe