I did 70 miles today. I'd planned 30 or so hilly miles, then swing down onto the main road and a flatter 35 or so home. I had a bottle of water, bottle of high 5, 4:1 and a small banana. I waited until the sun came up as it was really frosty. The first 30 miles were a real battle. The temperature was hovering around 3 degrees, and as well as the hills I had a nasty headwind, which was worse because the hilltops were quite exposed.
I rarely stop on a ride, but I stopped at 30 miles and ate my banana. By this point my high 5 was about two thirds gone. I got down onto the main road, and blow me if I didn't still have a headwind! By 50 miles I realised I was in trouble, 50 miles? In the summer time I was doing 50 miles with just a bottle of water. By 65 I was thinking, I'm sure I've got an old gel in the bottom of my box of bike stuff. I wonder if I can phone my wife to come and rescue me with it? I stopped and finished the last of my water and limped home, dreading every hill or even bump.
I'm not sure how I made it over 70 miles, I may have calculated my route wrong, or I may have taken a wrong turning, adding on a bit more. However a combination of the hills, wind and low temperature meant I burned far more energy than I had available, and it wasn't pleasant! Its usually ridiculously out, but my Garmin claims 4690 Calories for the ride.You wouldn't believe how much I've eaten since I got home.
Lesson learned though. I wont be doing any more long rides this time of year without emergency stocks of food. Keeping warm in the cold takes a lot of effort on its own.
I rarely stop on a ride, but I stopped at 30 miles and ate my banana. By this point my high 5 was about two thirds gone. I got down onto the main road, and blow me if I didn't still have a headwind! By 50 miles I realised I was in trouble, 50 miles? In the summer time I was doing 50 miles with just a bottle of water. By 65 I was thinking, I'm sure I've got an old gel in the bottom of my box of bike stuff. I wonder if I can phone my wife to come and rescue me with it? I stopped and finished the last of my water and limped home, dreading every hill or even bump.
I'm not sure how I made it over 70 miles, I may have calculated my route wrong, or I may have taken a wrong turning, adding on a bit more. However a combination of the hills, wind and low temperature meant I burned far more energy than I had available, and it wasn't pleasant! Its usually ridiculously out, but my Garmin claims 4690 Calories for the ride.You wouldn't believe how much I've eaten since I got home.
Lesson learned though. I wont be doing any more long rides this time of year without emergency stocks of food. Keeping warm in the cold takes a lot of effort on its own.