First of all, my father strongly encouraged me to stop riding ... when I was throwing up in the ditch, he packed up my bicycle into the car and told me to get in and that I was not continuing. For hours, I couldn't stop throwing up, but my mother (a nurse) diligently kept me stocked in ice chips, the only thing I could drink, and a bit of salt. She told me that if I was not able to stop throwing up by a certain time, she was going to take me to the hospital to have me put on an IV.

It had been quite a warm day, and instead of consuming my usual diet of salted almonds, beef jerky, and orange juice, I opted for a sugary foods and slurpies. Big mistake. Since then I've also started taking electrolyte tablets regularly on my long rides.

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Wow! Scary ! Good thing you have a nurse in the family. Part of what I read said the salt cannot be added too fast. You have a great dad too.

Intestinal fortitude mixed with pride.

I carry a supply of them, and take a single hourly, unless the ride is really hard, then I up it to 2 every hour. I also have a bottle of cytomax, and for long rides I carry and extra baggie of the powder so I can mix another bottle if necessary. Might be, and probably is, overkill, but I got sick and tired of being unable to eat solid foods no matter how short the ride, and feeling lethargic, crampy, and generally miserable.

I want to do ironman in 3 years and that, along with the thought of mortality, keeps me going. You aren't getting any younger and either get busy living or get busy dying.

Girls...podium girls...

Stubbornness and stoicism. Also, the next descent.