12strings

1. Intervals...They Work! I'm talking super-short, for those who are time-crunched. I can get great fitness gains from this 20-minute workout: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08f0qFwtuf0 . It only actually contains about 5 total minutes of working hard, spread into 2 sets of 30-second on/off efforts, and I feel like I want to puke at the end! But a few days later, I'm noticeably fitter and able to ride harder even on 2 hour group rides.


2. New Longer stem...it works! Small change, switching from a 105mm stock stem that was way super heavy, to a normal 110mm stem. It may be psycological, but I like the extra reach so far, even seems a bit more confident on descents.


3. Eating lots of fruit...it works! Before our group ride last night, I basically munched on fruit all day long leading up to the ride, and felt about as good as I ever have for such a hard ride (for me). 6 of us started out, and with about 10 miles to go, the 2 ironman triathaletes in our group started to pull away. I decided to stay with them, and was actually able to do it. They of course had stronger and longer pulls than I did, but I hung in there, and was able to go hard for a bit, then recover while still moving fast. I'm attributing it to the fruit.


4. Home-made sugar water...it works! I'm done with gatorade...A bottle with about a half-cup sugar, and 1/3 tsp salt tastes good, and gives me what I need.


5. Buying Saddles online...Doesn't work. At least not for me...I've bought and returned a few saddles, and I believe I've decided that I'm happy with my stock saddle for now. I had to move it around a bit to get the best position, but I can ride 2 hours with no pain or numbness, and that's likely the longest I'll ever ride.


Summary: Keep riding, and if something is bothering you try changing it! That's half the fun!

topslop1

I'm working on more veggies, less meat. I'm not about to plunge into the dark world of vegan-ism but I'm thinking that if more of my food is veggie, less of it is meat, therefore less caloric intake on a regular basis means dropping some of this winter weight...means riding faster? I will end up adding $30-40 a week in additional food costs though comparatively to just the ole plebian rice and meat and a small helping of fruit/veg.

TimothyH

1/2 cup sugar!!!

12strings

I could probably be tempted to be vegan-esque...but I'm a BIG believer in eggs for breakfast. 2-3 eggs most days gives me 12-15/week.

12strings

I don't know, I'm guessing...I pour some in, then I shake the salt shaker in a few times. The salt and sugar combined really make it taste similar to gatorade.

Blue Church2

Try going vegetarian. My fiancée and I haven't eaten any meat for a few months now and I do feel better out on the road. She substitutes some food for me to make sure I'm getting more protein, salt, and magnesium because I already have a deficiency in the latter two.

I'm also a big advocate in eggs for breakfast, can't get enough of them!

topslop1

I'm in an interesting spot where... I was eating 'paleo' and doing crossfit and I was slim. But I was also working out 3x a week and running 5x a week ~2.5 miles for work in addition. So, it's not a fair comparison.

I'd still eat eggs, and occasional meat.. I am really starting to just do X veggie, X starch, X meat, X fruit instead of X starch, X meat. Maybe it was the 'why are cyclists pot bellied' that threw me over the edge.. or maybe it was watching too much freelee the banana turd on youtube.