Two More Rides in the Sun!
Thursday was a pleasant if rather cool day, which made it almost perfect for cycling, so I headed off in the usual southerly direction from Bury St Edmunds, via 'my hill' at Hartest, and on to Stanstead.
I didn't stop at my usual rest point in Stanstead - shown here - but turned back at the bottom of the village.
I've been testing a theory put forward by fellow cyclist and nutritional expert Graeme Street that you shouldn't eat carbs in the two hours before a ride. The idea is to smooth out the sugar highs and lows, and to reduce the amount of insulin in your bloodstream. Insulin apparently also suppresses the function of growth hormone, which you need to grow and heal hard-worked muscles.
So, for the second time, I followed his advice and I have to say I felt stronger for longer. I was actually slightly hungry when I set off but my legs were fine. So I rode for fifteen miles before I ate anything at all - a banana - and finished the ride feeling quite fresh and strong, having pushed myself pretty hard for the whole 25 miles.
Of course, I am building my fitness, so this one ride probably isn't strictly comparable with a week or two earlier.
The second ride, on an even more beautiful Saturday afternoon, was even better. There was a little stiffness in my thighs from the hardish riding of a couple of days earlier, but that soon disappeared. I planned a longer ride, so I set of at a slightly gentler pace. This time it was probably only an hour since I'd eaten. I still took very little food but added an extra bottle of water, just in case.
I rode for exactly 90 minutes before I stopped for a snack, covering about 23 miles in that time. Coincidentally, this brought me to the end of the road on the outskirts of Thorpe Morieux, where I lived for a while about seven or eight years ago, so I took a couple of pictures for posterity. With no planes flying, due to the Iceland volcano, the sky was a totally clear and silent blue.
So, for the second time, I followed his advice and I have to say I felt stronger for longer. I was actually slightly hungry when I set off but my legs were fine. So I rode for fifteen miles before I ate anything at all - a banana - and finished the ride feeling quite fresh and strong, having pushed myself pretty hard for the whole 25 miles.
Of course, I am building my fitness, so this one ride probably isn't strictly comparable with a week or two earlier.
The second ride, on an even more beautiful Saturday afternoon, was even better. There was a little stiffness in my thighs from the hardish riding of a couple of days earlier, but that soon disappeared. I planned a longer ride, so I set of at a slightly gentler pace. This time it was probably only an hour since I'd eaten. I still took very little food but added an extra bottle of water, just in case.
I rode for exactly 90 minutes before I stopped for a snack, covering about 23 miles in that time. Coincidentally, this brought me to the end of the road on the outskirts of Thorpe Morieux, where I lived for a while about seven or eight years ago, so I took a couple of pictures for posterity. With no planes flying, due to the Iceland volcano, the sky was a totally clear and silent blue.
I tend to ride too fast to hear the birds singing, but they were in full voice when I stopped.
On the way, I'd passed through Hartest and Stanstead as usual, and the popular tourist spots of Long Melford and Lavenham, both of which were quite busy, although the Suffolk lanes were as quiet and pleasant as ever.
A banana, a small piece of cheese and some of the extra water was just enough to get me home, cycling quite strongly, having covered about 35 miles in 128 minutes of cycling, plus 11 minutes R&P (rest and photography).
And I'm still riding my old mountain bike.
Next week we step up a few levels, with our 158 mile weekend in the Yorkshire Dales. It is going to hurt!
Roy
On the way, I'd passed through Hartest and Stanstead as usual, and the popular tourist spots of Long Melford and Lavenham, both of which were quite busy, although the Suffolk lanes were as quiet and pleasant as ever.
A banana, a small piece of cheese and some of the extra water was just enough to get me home, cycling quite strongly, having covered about 35 miles in 128 minutes of cycling, plus 11 minutes R&P (rest and photography).
And I'm still riding my old mountain bike.
Next week we step up a few levels, with our 158 mile weekend in the Yorkshire Dales. It is going to hurt!
Roy
Labels: be stronger tomorrow, Bury St Edmunds, cycle touring, cycling and health, cycling for fitness, cycling up hills, suffolk lanes
posted by Roy Everitt at
14:21
3 Comments:
Any luck with finding a bike sponsor?
Lost my post! I recommend fueling on fruit, especially raisins, bananas (any fruit that bruises in tupperwear). I've found the results amazing, fuel up on carbs in the evening, and unleash the power on fruit during the day. Peace & keep cycling strong Roy! Brian P
Why do I not see these comments until months later?
No, Si, I'm now planning to do the ride on my trusty mountain bike. I've done all my training on it so I think it will be ok.
Thanks for the fuelling advice, Brian. We get through a fair bit of fruit, although we do top up the carbs en route as well.
Roy
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