Zwift Chat

[Whorty]

I think the coffee star jump thing is dangerous. I disagree with a few things she says about weight, you need to be hydrated. You’ll lose weight naturally as you go around anyway.
My tip is lay off stims a week before then when you hit the caffeine gels you’ll really feel them.

She (or Si, can't remember) did say you need water to digest the food and hence need to stay hydrated.

TBH, never even thought of coffee and star jumps ... just sounds 'wrong' in so many ways The fibrous food though does sound logical to me, if the body is slow to 'move' food through the gut. Gives me an excuse before ToC to eat bread and cakes the day before rather than fruit

 

[Whorty]

Anything about Scotch miracle medicine?

No, afraid not But then she didn't say not to drink it, so it might be OK

 

[theboxers]

Been watching a few GCN videos on YouTube recently and the 100 mile planner one by Emma Pooley recommended just that. Even doing a 1-1.5 hour gentle spin the day before!

Emphasis mine. This does not mean a re-run of stage 5 at full racing output 3 times @Whorty . You should know better by now. Or is it the Neanderthal hunter that makes you chase everybody?

 

[JuhaL]

Additional ..... she also said 2 tricks that I hadn't really thought about before. The first one is to stay away from fresh fibrous foods the couple of days before the ride. So no high amounts of fruit, veg, salad etc as these can sit in the gut and create extra weight. Instead eat refined carbs like bread and pasta (I know we carb up, but didn't really think about why before, apart from to fill up the muscles stores). She did say this is only for the days up to the ride and to eat healthily at all other times!

The other 'trick' is to drink a couple of very strong coffees, then go and do some star jumps. A good way to get the body to lose a kilo or 2 apparently Just make sure you're near a loo

Any other tips?

I have ride once about 150miles and have to admit that i didn't spend even a thought about hydrations and nutritions days before the event then. That sportive includes enough food service points but i didn't use them vice enough. I did refill water bottles but not used well enough bananas, pickles etc... what was available. After 7,5hr ride i feel sick, so i learned hard way what i should do next time.

 

[Whorty]

Emphasis mine. This does not mean a re-run of stage 5 at full racing output 3 times @Whorty . You should know better by now. Or is it the Neanderthal hunter that makes you chase everybody?

..... must ride hard until I catch the rider in front or have an asthma attack ..... life is too short for keep coming in last

 

[theboxers]

..... must ride hard until I catch the rider in front or have an asthma attack ..... life is too short for keep coming in last

I saw Mr AAC make a brief appearance on Zwift earlier. Maybe you can start making inroads into him while he's still a noob on the racing scene on Zwift

 

[Whorty]

I have ride once about 150miles and have to admit that i didn't spend even a thought about hydrations and nutritions days before the event then. That sportive includes enough food service points but i didn't use them vice enough. I did refill water bottles but not used well enough bananas, pickles etc... what was available. After 7,5hr ride i feel sick, so i learned hard way what i should do next time.

I did the exact opposite my first 100 miles (the DD 2 years ago). At the 2nd food stop, about 60 miles in, we stopped at a cafe and had jacket potato, cheese, beans, tea ... was there for about 25 minutes. Worst decision I made, but I'd never done a ride that long before and just didn't know what to do. I guess the more rides we do, the more we learn

 

[CXRAndy]

Been watching a few GCN videos on YouTube recently and the 100 mile planner one by Emma Pooley recommended just that. Even doing a 1-1.5 hour gentle spin the day before!

I found doing 10 to 20mile rides in the last week no detriment to the sportive

 

[CXRAndy]

I did the exact opposite my first 100 miles (the DD 2 years ago). At the 2nd food stop, about 60 miles in, we stopped at a cafe and had jacket potato, cheese, beans, tea ... was there for about 25 minutes. Worst decision I made, but I'd never done a ride that long before and just didn't know what to do. I guess the more rides we do, the more we learn

Really depends on the pace and how accustomed you're to long distance. I dont mind half hour stops as long as its warm. Different if its cold where 5mins is plenty

 

[JuhaL]

Tour de Helsinki is one a best organized sportives i have ever been. Not been there for a awhile because i have start to scare little bit my safety because numbers of participants is increased lot what it was at a beginning. These days it might be a different because there is different groups which are named with different avg/target speed, so you are free to select which suit you better.

 

[<Tommy>]

I did expect this stage to be good for 20 minute efforts and hence FTP. Mine only went up by 2W. Looks like @TurboTommy did a lot better than that

Thanks mate . Having a turbo the last couple of months has definitly helped me up the power a bit. But I have a nagging feeling that not getting out on the bike much hasn’t done my endurance many favours. From what you’ve said recently and seeing your progress on swift I think you’ve managed to get a good balance between the two.

 

[Whorty]

Really depends on the pace and how accustomed you're to long distance. I dont mind half hour stops as long as its warm. Different if its cold where 5mins is plenty

It was the eating that did for me. I was fine when we did the IoW and stopped at the chippy, but I only had a twix and water, no way was I risking heavy chips and then riding again. once bitten and all that. When I did the Dorset sportive last year it was the same ... stopped to fill up only and grab some jelly babies and a banana, but then quickly back on the bike - this works Ok for me as it's how I am on the trainer - I don't eat on the trainer, apart from maybe a gel after 2 hours if I'm staying on longer. At ToC I'll eat well in the morning, have some snacks in pockets, and sweets, plenty water and at the stops mostly water and top up snacks and sweets. 6 hours is not that long so shouldn't need too much extra.

 

[<Tommy>]

Regarding longer rides I think it’s trial and error to see what works for you. Everyone has things that work for them that maybe don’t work for others.

One example is water. We’ve all made the mistake of not drinking enough water during a long ride I’m sure. Then come the headaches later!... but you can also drink too much of course. And it just wobbles and washes around your system. And depending on the temperature you’ll need more or less. But one person will need more than another. So it’s just one example of everyone having to find the balance that suits them. Same with food, rest and everything else. I’m not expert by a long way! But I’ve made a ton of mistakes and it’s probably the only way to learn.

 

[CXRAndy]

My mistake taking to many isotonic drinks and gels. I only drink water now and reduce sweet intake till later on, savory until last 2 hours

 

[kipster]

I agree with Tommy, but will add that as amateurs doing sportives we often over think these things. As pros get cars full of stuff when they want / need it. They have people that plan everything for them for food and drink. The body can store 90 minutes worth of carbs. I never carb load. 65 miles is a banana, half a veloforte bar and a few apricots on the ride, and probably just over 750ml of drink. For the ride I’m planning in France in June (St Malo to Santander) we will be stopping and eating regularly, this is a tour of sorts, so no sugar just proper food.

I know some on here gel up for turbo rides, I might have a couple of apricots if I’m riding more than an hour on the turbo.

In summary, it depends on the ride your doing (race, sportive, tour) and how long the ride is, but for us as amateurs just keep it sensible and tasty, eat enough but not too much.