Hi again.
About three years back i took up cycling again. Initially it was just simply to get out from the four walls and rediscover myself. Cycling was by and large, nice steady rides taking in the view's and a chance to unwind and escape some bad things that were going on at the time.
Over the three years though, my cycling has somewhat mutated to a higher plain. The weight has dropped off and I've been cycling further and faster as times gone by. It's now turned into something where I'm striving to get stronger and smash personal goals and compete with club members. I've done a couple of century rides this year and numerous +60/80 mile rides. The encouragement and advice has been fantastic by fellow cyclists but im still on a learning curve.
This year in particular though I've really struggled in the recovery from bike rides. Most bike rides ive do im nearly always spent. If I do a short ride, i always put in a high intensity workout, but whilst the longer ones i pace them slower but still give it all i can to the end.
Im absolutely drenched with sweat after each ride to the point my helmet straps and clothing are white with salt.
Lately I've been feeling really unwell of late after a good hard bike ride. For days after ive been feeling sick, tired, weak and very difficult to sleep at night.
This is were the learning curve of cycling comes in. Ive been completely ignorant to the importance of rehydration during exercise.
To me rehydration meant drinking plenty of water, but to my cost this is not what it means.
Blissfully ignorant i thought throwing back bottles of water was all that was needed to keep everything tickety boo, until the other week a fellow cyclist pointed out water does not replace your lost salt levels. After a little thought and research it made perfect sense to why I've been feeling so rough the last few months.
So these last few weeks ive been dropping electrolyte tablets in my water bottles and it's been a revelation from virtually day one on how much better I've felt.
As the cycling has ramped up from leisure rides to hard rides ive failed to compensate for the loss of salts, which has resulted in feeling really under the weather.
Most of you good fellow cyclists, most probably all ready know about this, but if like me and you've never considered this importance i hope it's use of some help to you.
Anyway all the very best to all..
About three years back i took up cycling again. Initially it was just simply to get out from the four walls and rediscover myself. Cycling was by and large, nice steady rides taking in the view's and a chance to unwind and escape some bad things that were going on at the time.
Over the three years though, my cycling has somewhat mutated to a higher plain. The weight has dropped off and I've been cycling further and faster as times gone by. It's now turned into something where I'm striving to get stronger and smash personal goals and compete with club members. I've done a couple of century rides this year and numerous +60/80 mile rides. The encouragement and advice has been fantastic by fellow cyclists but im still on a learning curve.
This year in particular though I've really struggled in the recovery from bike rides. Most bike rides ive do im nearly always spent. If I do a short ride, i always put in a high intensity workout, but whilst the longer ones i pace them slower but still give it all i can to the end.
Im absolutely drenched with sweat after each ride to the point my helmet straps and clothing are white with salt.
Lately I've been feeling really unwell of late after a good hard bike ride. For days after ive been feeling sick, tired, weak and very difficult to sleep at night.
This is were the learning curve of cycling comes in. Ive been completely ignorant to the importance of rehydration during exercise.
To me rehydration meant drinking plenty of water, but to my cost this is not what it means.
Blissfully ignorant i thought throwing back bottles of water was all that was needed to keep everything tickety boo, until the other week a fellow cyclist pointed out water does not replace your lost salt levels. After a little thought and research it made perfect sense to why I've been feeling so rough the last few months.
So these last few weeks ive been dropping electrolyte tablets in my water bottles and it's been a revelation from virtually day one on how much better I've felt.
As the cycling has ramped up from leisure rides to hard rides ive failed to compensate for the loss of salts, which has resulted in feeling really under the weather.
Most of you good fellow cyclists, most probably all ready know about this, but if like me and you've never considered this importance i hope it's use of some help to you.
Anyway all the very best to all..