Team BKool CycleChat

[Whorty]

Yeah anyone got any tips for the cramp?! Apart from more hydration with electrolytes - and getting fitter!

I think drinking more electrolytes is probably the key - not many places to catch your breath and take a drink on that course! It was very ambitious of you to try and eat a Mars bar Andy - not surprised you nearly choked!

Only suffered from cramp once, and that was the last few miles of the IoW once we came down from the needles. I don't normally need to drink when I'm on Bkool, but I do drink a lot in the hour or so before I ride so this probably keeps my water levels high even.

As for eating whilst riding - I'd vom if I tried that

 

[bridgy]

Only suffered from cramp once, and tat was the last few miles of the IoW once we came down from the needles. I don't normally need to drink when I'm on Bkool, but I do drink a lot in the hour or so before I ride so this probably keeps my water levels high even.

As for eating whilst riding - I'd vom if I tried that

Eating while riding "normally" is fine. Eating while racing on a turbo with a heart rate of 170bpm is another matter entirely! I once tried eating a couple of jelly babies during a race - didn't end well - never again!

 

[bobinski]

Yeah anyone got any tips for the cramp?! Apart from more hydration with electrolytes - and getting fitter!

I think drinking more electrolytes is probably the key - not many places to catch your breath and take a drink on that course! It was very ambitious of you to try and eat a Mars bar Andy - not surprised you nearly choked!

Electrolytes work for me. I have one most days whether I ride or not and always before a long ride as well as one during the ride which I will often forget to drink. High 5’s 4 in 1 has a palatable mix of electrolytes and carbs. Otherwise SIS or High 5 tabs.

 

[bridgy]

Electrolytes work for me. I have one most days whether I ride or not and always before a long ride as well as one during the ride which I will often forget to drink. High 5’s 4 in 1 has a palatable mix of electrolytes and carbs. Otherwise SIS or High 5 tabs.

I do use the electrolyte tabs in my drink - I maybe need to make the effort to drink more of it though in the longer sessions

 

[bobinski]

perhaps 1/2 or a whole one beforehand? Minimise risk of cramps if you dont find time between breaths to sip? You guys will have a long day ahead of you.

 

[CXRAndy]

It was very ambitious of you to try and eat a Mars bar Andy - not surprised you nearly choked!

I took one bite, chocolate coating broke off, I inhaled it, spluttering, caramel stuck all over my mouth, gasping for air

Drink plenty before hand, maybe a pint or two of water or cordial or one salts/mineral isotonic upto 2 hours before. Im ok for an intense hour with just water, but I tend to flag unless i top up with sugary carbs when rides or races go beyond 1.5hours.

 

[bridgy]

I took one bite, chocolate coating broke off, I inhaled it, spluttering, caramel stuck all over my mouth, gasping for air

I'm sure it seemed like a good idea at the time (briefly!)

 

[gbrown]

Eating while riding "normally" is fine. Eating while racing on a turbo with a heart rate of 170bpm is another matter entirely! I once tried eating a couple of jelly babies during a race - didn't end well - never again!

You can get stuff to dissolve in water that has carbs and electrolytes, so you can drink your food when you can't eat!

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/high5-energy-source-22kg-tub

 

[bridgy]

You can get stuff to dissolve in water that has carbs and electrolytes, so you can drink your food when you can't eat!

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/high5-energy-source-22kg-tub

Good call Geoff. I have used similar before on longer rides. Don't normally bother with trying to consume extra carbs on the turbo as most sessions aren't long enough to need it, but might be worth considering for the NC - particularly if the breaks in between races will be short!

 

[gbrown]

The good thing I discovered is that I can also set Qos (Quality of Service) on different types of traffic (Gaming, Streaming etc) and differently on each segment.

I was going to mention Quality of Service, as many routers have some form of QoS on them, even if you only put in the bkool/zwift web site addresses and dedicate a certain amount of the bandwidth to them, then if you need, say 60% of your bandwidth you should be sure to get it, in priority to other traffic!

In reality, if you have decent bandwidth and use a wire, powerline and/or a dedicated WiFi hotspot then you should be OK without QoS.

Geoff

 

[CXRAndy]

Paul you set a new PB for the climb, Strava indicates you were over 2.30 faster than me. All the other times in the cyclechat came from 2016 when Bkool was using a different algorithm

 

[gbrown]

Good call Geoff. I have used similar before on longer rides. Don't normally bother with trying to consume extra carbs on the turbo as most sessions aren't long enough to need it, but might be worth considering for the NC - particularly if the breaks in between races will be short!

After a decent length run I often take one of the High 5 recovery drinks, a mixture of protein and carbs. The Summer Berry is really nice when mixed with semi-skimmed milk.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/high5-protein-recovery-9-x-60g-sachets/

For those of you hitting the turbo most days and looking to build muscle rather than lose weight these might be a help?

 

[CXRAndy]

Good call Geoff. I have used similar before on longer rides. Don't normally bother with trying to consume extra carbs on the turbo as most sessions aren't long enough to need it, but might be worth considering for the NC - particularly if the breaks in between races will be short!

Paul do you have(jumping ahead, if I'm picked- will be a little guide for others) the structure of the racing, do we have to complete all races. I'm only thinking, I will be a poor performer on a hilly course, so would likely just bimble or not attempt that particular race if it doesn't suit my attributes(energy saving)

 

[bobinski]

You can get stuff to dissolve in water that has carbs and electrolytes, so you can drink your food when you can't eat!

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/high5-energy-source-22kg-tub

It very easy to drink unlike some and much easier on my tummy than gels. The 4/1 has protein added if that’s a consideration.

 

[Daddy Pig]

Sorry chaps but I mentioned I'd be off for a while and doctor has confirmed that I've got an onset of achilles tendon rupture... basically it's tearing away from the bone.
On the plus side it's got nothing to do with gout which thanks to the anti inflammatory pills means i can drink what i like!

If things don't go pop all being well I should be back in a month or so.
I think I may be fighting @bobinski for the best dodgy legs excuses on cyclechat!