tldga3

I have been bike commuting for about three weeks now and have around 200 miles on my new bike.

My routine is 8 miles to work which takes me 30 min and the time it takes me is getting less. My trip home is 9 miles, I go a little out of my way to avoid a really steep incline. The trip home takes 35-ish minutes and is a little more of a struggle but usually because afternoon winds kick up and the prevailing wind is against me.

After 3 weeks of doing this I am getting consecutively more tired each day. I am using Arbonne fizz tablets (energy drink) which I suspect are an okay drink but maybe not the best post-ride drink. I am thinking about trying NUUN.

I know I am 'just a commuter' but my competitive nature wont allow me to casually ride into work. When I was ten years younger I used to ride my mtn bike 20-30 miles on-road on the weekends on top of the off roading I did with all of my USAF friends.

Tomorrow my wife and I have an appointment in Columbus and after that she is spending the day in Marysville. She told me that we would have to drive seperate and I thought - no way. We can carry the bike to Columbus and when she stops at Marysvillve I can just ride my bike home (27 miles). I WANT to ride this trip but my body is tired. Can I get the nutrition I need in the next 24 hours? What else do I need to do or change to become less tired and more capable of trips longer than my usual 17 miles I drive in a day.

Bob

late

You're not a kid anymore. Ride with the wife. Next week, see how the commuting goes. Every once in a while, go crazy, take a day off.

dark13star

Have you read the ingredients on either Airborne or NUUN? Neither is a food source.

Airborne is useless, and recently proven so. NUUN is for electrolyte replacement.

Try a well-balanced diet, more exercise, and as much sleep as you require.

tldga3

You guys are kind of treating me like a Fred.

I said ARBONNE not airborne, sorry for not being more clear.

I am just looking to better replentish after the ride - thanks

*new*guy

you've been commuting for 3 weeks. your commute is 30 minutes each way. you're intimidated by a 27 mile ride and feel you aren't getting enough recovery. give yourself some time to get used to commuting on a regular basis and listen to your body and do what you can to aid recovery... whether that's eating a more balanced diet, getting more sleep, or ensuring that your bike fits you properly.

honestly, for that short of a commute you don't need to be spending money on recovery products. stay hydrated, eat right and sleep. pretty challenging stuff, that.

gain some perspective by visiting the commuting forum.

dark13star

Sorry for the confusion, but the rest of my advice stands. All you need for a 27 mile ride is proper regular nutrition. If you perspire a lot, the NUUN will help with your hydration, but not with your energy or fitness level.

Here is a good recovery smoothie:

orange juice,
bananna,
frozen berries,
whey or soy protein powder,
vanilla non-fat yogurt,
matcha (green tea powder) for anit-oxidants anc caffeine lift (optional)

Other than that, looks like you just need to work on endurance.

umd

You're not?

The_Spaniard

the post workout shake is a good one, i usually take in a protein shake right after my workout, then within an hour or 2 i have a meal, then another meal 2 to 3 hours after. like someone said above u needa get the right amount of rest time(sleep). make sure u do not just go to sleep after ur ride, ive done that a couple times, and really it will set back your recovery by allot.

KZBrian

I'm kind of new still. What is a Fred? Is that a reference to Mr. Flintstone?

Az B

Ride slowly once in a while. It works wonders.

After a while, you won't have to. But for now, it will help you gain strength, endurance, and patience.

Az

Roody

It has nothing to do with nutrition, IMO. I don't know if you're a fred, but you are a beginner. You get tired because you are just starting to use your muscles for the first time in 10 years. You're supposed to get tired. Tired is normal if you're exercising properly.

It's like everybody else said. Ride more. Ride harder. Rest and eat real food. Your body will soon respond with greater strength and endurance.

BTW--go for the 27 mile ride. It isn't much more than the 17 miles you're doing now. While you're at it, quit avoiding the big hill on your route home. You won't get better if you ride down the hill every day but you never ride up it.

Roody

A fred is a dweeb on a bike. You're probably a fred. I know damn well that I am.

tldga3

Well I am better off now. I get more sleep by getting more stuff ready the night before and I switched to a better electrolyte drink.

I really cant stand to ride slow. When I pedal I never coast, I just switch gears to keep the load on me the same. I have bought a replacement HR transmitter for my Vetta HR1000 and I see my HR is pretty consistent at 155-ish as high as 163 on steep hills. That is close to 90% for me and I like that. A half hour ride into work and my heart and lungs feel super. My average speed keeps going up as well, 16-ish.