Originally Posted by charles vail

This is all good info but leads me to a question that some may find offensive. Why if our bodies don't do so well with prolonged endurance excercise do we insist on doing it? I mean, its kind of looney really. If our bodies can't refuel fast enough, then there is a limit to our efforts and monkeying with our bodies does nothing but risk injury or overtraining. I understand athletics are not healthy for the body and most of us are not competitors but instead, are cycling for our health and fitness. These super endurance events are not healthy but instead break down the body causing potential strain and overuse. Cycling is one of the only excercises that can be sustained for longer than the bodies ability to keep up. I don't plan on ever riding past that point. For me four to five hours of any excercise is plenty. Eight hours would be pushing it and I don't care how good of shape someone is in doing these ultra events is not good for you if you do them all the time.