Rocket fuel

The pros eat a LOT during rides - ever seen the bags handed out at two or three points during a race? Energy bars, gels, carb chews, everything. And the bidons that the domestiques bring up through the peleton? Carb+electrolyte drinks. And of course the team cars hand out gels when the riders drop back to have a chat too.

Your body can absorb a lot of energy whilst you're riding, the amount depending on how you consume your food. Apparently a mix of sugars works best - glucose, fructose and sucrose - because you digest each one in a slightly different way.

As you say, there's no substitute for training, but your body needs fuel! If you're going at Audax pace then fat store might suffice, but if you're hammering it along then you need to top up your glycogen a lot.

You don't need to spend big money on branded energy stuff - you can fill your bottle with a mix of sugars very cheaply, and jelly cubes are almost identical to energy chews.

When I first read this blog was thinking sales pitch big mick. I agree there is no substitute for hard work and training. Have read so much bulls**t marketing over the years my that cynical head kicks in especially when fantastic claims are prefixed with 'may' and have a big price tag. I am always interested in stuff that either works for others or does not as the case may be. That is one of the reasons I read blog sites. If enough people say it is OK then I will give it a punt. Advice/opinion backed by experience is always worth listening to big mick. Entered my first race in 1985....

on the subject of get-you-home potions, my favourite is the zipvit zv7c gel. a bit like taking your medicine but they don't half work.

http://road.cc/content/review/38249-zipvit-zv7c-caffeine-energy-gel

getting orney, bonking,,, am I on the right forum here?

back in the olden days when i used to work in print publshing, we had a big tub of maximuscle viper drink in the office. strong stuff, used to make me go real ornery

Yea pros use gels but only in the last 10kms for a sugar high but stored fuel is whats needed for the other140 plus kms they cover Thats the whole thing with cycling you could be the richest man in the world but with out the training you would be in the broom wagon.Sugar burns like a match,quickly.I can see my advice is wasted on here.Eating on the bike is more likely to corse gastro problems.

Sure i bet you win all the time and then seat on your arse all week afterwards.Yea that will be right Right you are pal.

Sounds like a sales pitch to me.The only way to not bonk is to train your body to burn stored fat.That means riding long distances long slow distance.Its a training effect but it does not come easy.That is to say you can not buy it.No matter what you eat while on the bike it will not convert to glycogen during your ride.Your body is working too hard to digest carbs so has to be trained to use stored fat.Drink water but dont think eating while riding will help.For about 2 hours stored glycogen is used after that stored fat is the prefered fuel of the body.It feels real bad riding on empty but your body learns to use stored energy/FAT.Even the pros have enough stored fat for this process to take place.

L-Tyrosine? What does that do?

Looks like sugar, 180 calories, as much caffeine as you get in a cup of coffee and a small amount of protein at two quid a go? Bag of Fruit pastilles and a cup of coffee 500 calories and the same amount of caffeine = more bang for your £ and probably tastes nicer!