Comments on: What Is A Good Training/nutrition Plan For The Week Before A Long Bike Ride?

By: Daniel C

Daniel C — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 02:25:15 +0000

For the first six days focus on proteins. This will help supply long term energy for the ride. The day before the ride is the day you start eating nothing but complex carbohydrates for the immediate energy return.
Make sure that you bring several packets of Gels to eat during your ride, and you may want to consider adding an energy powder to your water bottle as well. This will help stave off the lactic acids that will impede your riding abilities (cramps) while on your trip. I use a brand named GU for both, but most of them are pretty good. Just stay away from sugar free. This is no time to be counting calories.
Good luck, and have a great ride!

By: Jay P

Jay P — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:32:45 +0000

Try to eat a well balanced diet. Focus on natural foods without many preservatives and make sure you get your share of complex carbohydrates (pastas, fruits, etc.). Also be sure to regularly drink water.

By: scott.br

scott.br — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 20:38:12 +0000

Agree w/ Jay… but Daniel… well let’s just say I disagree. Protein-heavy diets are good for weight control, but that’s not the goal here. Just eat a regular healthy diet this week, and if you want to have a big bowl of pasta for dinner on Thursday night, that’d be an ok idea. Lots of water etc.
Training is simple – you want to arrive at the start of the ride well rested and ready to go.
So if you’ve been training according to plan for several weeks / months, you’ll want to get two long rides in this weekend, then maybe a short length hard/fast ride in on Tues or Wed. Then Thursday, nothing. Take a nap instead of riding. Friday, just a few times around the neighborhood, make sure the bike is working great and break a light sweat spinning easy.
Have fun. Wear sunscreen and re-apply around 11 am.
Scott
p.s. I live in Richardson