Carbo loading before a race? - Page 5 - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

05-11-2004, 10:56 PM

>Carbo loading before a race?
>Anyone here do this? What exactly do you eat, and when??

Having read the first 7 replies to this post, I must say I'm a little surprised
that this subject isn't better known among cyclists, as it is well known among
distance runners. If you posted this inquiry on rec.running, for example, you
would get an earful of valuable replies. Perhaps you should do that.

The length of your race is the first determiner of your answer. Runners
wouldn't really consider the topic worthy of much discussion for distances less
than 5k (13-30 minutes), but once you get up over 10k (27-60 minutes), and to
half-marathon (60-100 minutes) and marathon (2-4 hours) or ultras (30k to 100
miles, etc.), carbo loading becomes of genuine value. Use equivalent expected
cycling event times to estimate the significance of loading.

The original theory was that you needed a carbo-depletion phase during your
pre-race taper, but that seems to be largely discredited now, and the
generally-accepted view is simply to do your carbo-load the last day or two
before the event, and perhaps top it off the morning of the race.

As to how to load, you need not be very scientific. For shorter events of
higher intensity, I personally favor a mix of complex carbohydrates (starches)
and simple carbohydrates (sugars). For example, toss down a couple glazed
donuts and some strong coffee the morning before you race.

For longer events (century, double century, etc.) where true carbo-loading is
desired, eat what you know from experience your system can handle well, but
emphasize things like bread, rice, pasta (the best-known carbo-loader), and so
on. Have a good sweet dessert (but not a particularly fatty one), e.g., cake
or cookies. This will stock you well with glycogen for your event. During a
longer event, it is also common to intake enough carbs on the fly to maintain
your levels, using sport drinks, gels, bananas, fruit, honey, etc. I once
recovered from a bonk on the road by chugging most of a jar of honey. Don't
let that happen to you!

05-12-2004, 04:59 AM

"TopCounsel" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com...
> >Carbo loading before a race?
> >Anyone here do this? What exactly do you eat, and when??
>
> Having read the first 7 replies to this post, I must say I'm a little
surprised
> that this subject isn't better known among cyclists, as it is well known
among
> distance runners. If you posted this inquiry on rec.running, for example,
you
> would get an earful of valuable replies. Perhaps you should do that.

Interesting.

> The length of your race is the first determiner of your answer. Runners
> wouldn't really consider the topic worthy of much discussion for distances
less
> than 5k (13-30 minutes), but once you get up over 10k (27-60 minutes), and
to
> half-marathon (60-100 minutes) and marathon (2-4 hours) or ultras (30k to
100
> miles, etc.), carbo loading becomes of genuine value. Use equivalent
expected
> cycling event times to estimate the significance of loading.

I covered this in my post, just not in such detail.

> The original theory was that you needed a carbo-depletion phase during
your
> pre-race taper, but that seems to be largely discredited now, and the
> generally-accepted view is simply to do your carbo-load the last day or
two
> before the event, and perhaps top it off the morning of the race.

I stated the same thing, but made it more personal because I feel this is a
personal thing. Some people eat a big mac the day before a race and feel
that is the best for them. Just read that in a running mag and found if
pretty funny.

> As to how to load, you need not be very scientific. For shorter events of
> higher intensity, I personally favor a mix of complex carbohydrates
(starches)
> and simple carbohydrates (sugars). For example, toss down a couple glazed
> donuts and some strong coffee the morning before you race.

If I did what you do, I would not perform well at all, but as I stated
earlier, everyone is different and you need to find what works for you.

> For longer events (century, double century, etc.) where true carbo-loading
is
> desired, eat what you know from experience your system can handle well,
but
> emphasize things like bread, rice, pasta (the best-known carbo-loader),
and so
> on. Have a good sweet dessert (but not a particularly fatty one), e.g.,
cake
> or cookies. This will stock you well with glycogen for your event.
During a
> longer event, it is also common to intake enough carbs on the fly to
maintain
> your levels, using sport drinks, gels, bananas, fruit, honey, etc. I once
> recovered from a bonk on the road by chugging most of a jar of honey.
Don't
> let that happen to you!

05-12-2004, 04:59 AM

"TopCounsel" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com...
> >Carbo loading before a race?
> >Anyone here do this? What exactly do you eat, and when??
>
> Having read the first 7 replies to this post, I must say I'm a little
surprised
> that this subject isn't better known among cyclists, as it is well known
among
> distance runners. If you posted this inquiry on rec.running, for example,
you
> would get an earful of valuable replies. Perhaps you should do that.

Interesting.

> The length of your race is the first determiner of your answer. Runners
> wouldn't really consider the topic worthy of much discussion for distances
less
> than 5k (13-30 minutes), but once you get up over 10k (27-60 minutes), and
to
> half-marathon (60-100 minutes) and marathon (2-4 hours) or ultras (30k to
100
> miles, etc.), carbo loading becomes of genuine value. Use equivalent
expected
> cycling event times to estimate the significance of loading.

I covered this in my post, just not in such detail.

> The original theory was that you needed a carbo-depletion phase during
your
> pre-race taper, but that seems to be largely discredited now, and the
> generally-accepted view is simply to do your carbo-load the last day or
two
> before the event, and perhaps top it off the morning of the race.

I stated the same thing, but made it more personal because I feel this is a
personal thing. Some people eat a big mac the day before a race and feel
that is the best for them. Just read that in a running mag and found if
pretty funny.

> As to how to load, you need not be very scientific. For shorter events of
> higher intensity, I personally favor a mix of complex carbohydrates
(starches)
> and simple carbohydrates (sugars). For example, toss down a couple glazed
> donuts and some strong coffee the morning before you race.

If I did what you do, I would not perform well at all, but as I stated
earlier, everyone is different and you need to find what works for you.

> For longer events (century, double century, etc.) where true carbo-loading
is
> desired, eat what you know from experience your system can handle well,
but
> emphasize things like bread, rice, pasta (the best-known carbo-loader),
and so
> on. Have a good sweet dessert (but not a particularly fatty one), e.g.,
cake
> or cookies. This will stock you well with glycogen for your event.
During a
> longer event, it is also common to intake enough carbs on the fly to
maintain
> your levels, using sport drinks, gels, bananas, fruit, honey, etc. I once
> recovered from a bonk on the road by chugging most of a jar of honey.
Don't
> let that happen to you!

05-12-2004, 04:59 AM

"TopCounsel" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com...
> >Carbo loading before a race?
> >Anyone here do this? What exactly do you eat, and when??
>
> Having read the first 7 replies to this post, I must say I'm a little
surprised
> that this subject isn't better known among cyclists, as it is well known
among
> distance runners. If you posted this inquiry on rec.running, for example,
you
> would get an earful of valuable replies. Perhaps you should do that.

Interesting.

> The length of your race is the first determiner of your answer. Runners
> wouldn't really consider the topic worthy of much discussion for distances
less
> than 5k (13-30 minutes), but once you get up over 10k (27-60 minutes), and
to
> half-marathon (60-100 minutes) and marathon (2-4 hours) or ultras (30k to
100
> miles, etc.), carbo loading becomes of genuine value. Use equivalent
expected
> cycling event times to estimate the significance of loading.

I covered this in my post, just not in such detail.

> The original theory was that you needed a carbo-depletion phase during
your
> pre-race taper, but that seems to be largely discredited now, and the
> generally-accepted view is simply to do your carbo-load the last day or
two
> before the event, and perhaps top it off the morning of the race.

I stated the same thing, but made it more personal because I feel this is a
personal thing. Some people eat a big mac the day before a race and feel
that is the best for them. Just read that in a running mag and found if
pretty funny.

> As to how to load, you need not be very scientific. For shorter events of
> higher intensity, I personally favor a mix of complex carbohydrates
(starches)
> and simple carbohydrates (sugars). For example, toss down a couple glazed
> donuts and some strong coffee the morning before you race.

If I did what you do, I would not perform well at all, but as I stated
earlier, everyone is different and you need to find what works for you.

> For longer events (century, double century, etc.) where true carbo-loading
is
> desired, eat what you know from experience your system can handle well,
but
> emphasize things like bread, rice, pasta (the best-known carbo-loader),
and so
> on. Have a good sweet dessert (but not a particularly fatty one), e.g.,
cake
> or cookies. This will stock you well with glycogen for your event.
During a
> longer event, it is also common to intake enough carbs on the fly to
maintain
> your levels, using sport drinks, gels, bananas, fruit, honey, etc. I once
> recovered from a bonk on the road by chugging most of a jar of honey.
Don't
> let that happen to you!

05-12-2004, 04:59 AM

"TopCounsel" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com...
> >Carbo loading before a race?
> >Anyone here do this? What exactly do you eat, and when??
>
> Having read the first 7 replies to this post, I must say I'm a little
surprised
> that this subject isn't better known among cyclists, as it is well known
among
> distance runners. If you posted this inquiry on rec.running, for example,
you
> would get an earful of valuable replies. Perhaps you should do that.

Interesting.

> The length of your race is the first determiner of your answer. Runners
> wouldn't really consider the topic worthy of much discussion for distances
less
> than 5k (13-30 minutes), but once you get up over 10k (27-60 minutes), and
to
> half-marathon (60-100 minutes) and marathon (2-4 hours) or ultras (30k to
100
> miles, etc.), carbo loading becomes of genuine value. Use equivalent
expected
> cycling event times to estimate the significance of loading.

I covered this in my post, just not in such detail.

> The original theory was that you needed a carbo-depletion phase during
your
> pre-race taper, but that seems to be largely discredited now, and the
> generally-accepted view is simply to do your carbo-load the last day or
two
> before the event, and perhaps top it off the morning of the race.

I stated the same thing, but made it more personal because I feel this is a
personal thing. Some people eat a big mac the day before a race and feel
that is the best for them. Just read that in a running mag and found if
pretty funny.

> As to how to load, you need not be very scientific. For shorter events of
> higher intensity, I personally favor a mix of complex carbohydrates
(starches)
> and simple carbohydrates (sugars). For example, toss down a couple glazed
> donuts and some strong coffee the morning before you race.

If I did what you do, I would not perform well at all, but as I stated
earlier, everyone is different and you need to find what works for you.

> For longer events (century, double century, etc.) where true carbo-loading
is
> desired, eat what you know from experience your system can handle well,
but
> emphasize things like bread, rice, pasta (the best-known carbo-loader),
and so
> on. Have a good sweet dessert (but not a particularly fatty one), e.g.,
cake
> or cookies. This will stock you well with glycogen for your event.
During a
> longer event, it is also common to intake enough carbs on the fly to
maintain
> your levels, using sport drinks, gels, bananas, fruit, honey, etc. I once
> recovered from a bonk on the road by chugging most of a jar of honey.
Don't
> let that happen to you!

05-12-2004, 04:59 AM

"TopCounsel" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com...
> >Carbo loading before a race?
> >Anyone here do this? What exactly do you eat, and when??
>
> Having read the first 7 replies to this post, I must say I'm a little
surprised
> that this subject isn't better known among cyclists, as it is well known
among
> distance runners. If you posted this inquiry on rec.running, for example,
you
> would get an earful of valuable replies. Perhaps you should do that.

Interesting.

> The length of your race is the first determiner of your answer. Runners
> wouldn't really consider the topic worthy of much discussion for distances
less
> than 5k (13-30 minutes), but once you get up over 10k (27-60 minutes), and
to
> half-marathon (60-100 minutes) and marathon (2-4 hours) or ultras (30k to
100
> miles, etc.), carbo loading becomes of genuine value. Use equivalent
expected
> cycling event times to estimate the significance of loading.

I covered this in my post, just not in such detail.

> The original theory was that you needed a carbo-depletion phase during
your
> pre-race taper, but that seems to be largely discredited now, and the
> generally-accepted view is simply to do your carbo-load the last day or
two
> before the event, and perhaps top it off the morning of the race.

I stated the same thing, but made it more personal because I feel this is a
personal thing. Some people eat a big mac the day before a race and feel
that is the best for them. Just read that in a running mag and found if
pretty funny.

> As to how to load, you need not be very scientific. For shorter events of
> higher intensity, I personally favor a mix of complex carbohydrates
(starches)
> and simple carbohydrates (sugars). For example, toss down a couple glazed
> donuts and some strong coffee the morning before you race.

If I did what you do, I would not perform well at all, but as I stated
earlier, everyone is different and you need to find what works for you.

> For longer events (century, double century, etc.) where true carbo-loading
is
> desired, eat what you know from experience your system can handle well,
but
> emphasize things like bread, rice, pasta (the best-known carbo-loader),
and so
> on. Have a good sweet dessert (but not a particularly fatty one), e.g.,
cake
> or cookies. This will stock you well with glycogen for your event.
During a
> longer event, it is also common to intake enough carbs on the fly to
maintain
> your levels, using sport drinks, gels, bananas, fruit, honey, etc. I once
> recovered from a bonk on the road by chugging most of a jar of honey.
Don't
> let that happen to you!

05-12-2004, 05:46 AM

A buddy of mine used to eat a large MacDonalds pizza (when they made them,
way back...) the morning of a race. He would then proceed to kick our
asses..

"curt" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:1looc.28438$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
>
> "TopCounsel" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
> news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com...
> > >Carbo loading before a race?
> > >Anyone here do this? What exactly do you eat, and when??
> >
> > Having read the first 7 replies to this post, I must say I'm a little
> surprised
> > that this subject isn't better known among cyclists, as it is well known
> among
> > distance runners. If you posted this inquiry on rec.running, for
example,
> you
> > would get an earful of valuable replies. Perhaps you should do that.
>
> Interesting.
>
>
> > The length of your race is the first determiner of your answer. Runners
> > wouldn't really consider the topic worthy of much discussion for
distances
> less
> > than 5k (13-30 minutes), but once you get up over 10k (27-60 minutes),
and
> to
> > half-marathon (60-100 minutes) and marathon (2-4 hours) or ultras (30k
to
> 100
> > miles, etc.), carbo loading becomes of genuine value. Use equivalent
> expected
> > cycling event times to estimate the significance of loading.
>
> I covered this in my post, just not in such detail.
>
>
> > The original theory was that you needed a carbo-depletion phase during
> your
> > pre-race taper, but that seems to be largely discredited now, and the
> > generally-accepted view is simply to do your carbo-load the last day or
> two
> > before the event, and perhaps top it off the morning of the race.
>
> I stated the same thing, but made it more personal because I feel this is
a
> personal thing. Some people eat a big mac the day before a race and feel
> that is the best for them. Just read that in a running mag and found if
> pretty funny.
>
>
> > As to how to load, you need not be very scientific. For shorter events
of
> > higher intensity, I personally favor a mix of complex carbohydrates
> (starches)
> > and simple carbohydrates (sugars). For example, toss down a couple
glazed
> > donuts and some strong coffee the morning before you race.
>
> If I did what you do, I would not perform well at all, but as I stated
> earlier, everyone is different and you need to find what works for you.
>
>
> > For longer events (century, double century, etc.) where true
carbo-loading
> is
> > desired, eat what you know from experience your system can handle well,
> but
> > emphasize things like bread, rice, pasta (the best-known carbo-loader),
> and so
> > on. Have a good sweet dessert (but not a particularly fatty one), e.g.,
> cake
> > or cookies. This will stock you well with glycogen for your event.
> During a
> > longer event, it is also common to intake enough carbs on the fly to
> maintain
> > your levels, using sport drinks, gels, bananas, fruit, honey, etc. I
once
> > recovered from a bonk on the road by chugging most of a jar of honey.
> Don't
> > let that happen to you!
>
>

05-12-2004, 05:46 AM

A buddy of mine used to eat a large MacDonalds pizza (when they made them,
way back...) the morning of a race. He would then proceed to kick our
asses..

"curt" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:1looc.28438$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
>
> "TopCounsel" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
> news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com...
> > >Carbo loading before a race?
> > >Anyone here do this? What exactly do you eat, and when??
> >
> > Having read the first 7 replies to this post, I must say I'm a little
> surprised
> > that this subject isn't better known among cyclists, as it is well known
> among
> > distance runners. If you posted this inquiry on rec.running, for
example,
> you
> > would get an earful of valuable replies. Perhaps you should do that.
>
> Interesting.
>
>
> > The length of your race is the first determiner of your answer. Runners
> > wouldn't really consider the topic worthy of much discussion for
distances
> less
> > than 5k (13-30 minutes), but once you get up over 10k (27-60 minutes),
and
> to
> > half-marathon (60-100 minutes) and marathon (2-4 hours) or ultras (30k
to
> 100
> > miles, etc.), carbo loading becomes of genuine value. Use equivalent
> expected
> > cycling event times to estimate the significance of loading.
>
> I covered this in my post, just not in such detail.
>
>
> > The original theory was that you needed a carbo-depletion phase during
> your
> > pre-race taper, but that seems to be largely discredited now, and the
> > generally-accepted view is simply to do your carbo-load the last day or
> two
> > before the event, and perhaps top it off the morning of the race.
>
> I stated the same thing, but made it more personal because I feel this is
a
> personal thing. Some people eat a big mac the day before a race and feel
> that is the best for them. Just read that in a running mag and found if
> pretty funny.
>
>
> > As to how to load, you need not be very scientific. For shorter events
of
> > higher intensity, I personally favor a mix of complex carbohydrates
> (starches)
> > and simple carbohydrates (sugars). For example, toss down a couple
glazed
> > donuts and some strong coffee the morning before you race.
>
> If I did what you do, I would not perform well at all, but as I stated
> earlier, everyone is different and you need to find what works for you.
>
>
> > For longer events (century, double century, etc.) where true
carbo-loading
> is
> > desired, eat what you know from experience your system can handle well,
> but
> > emphasize things like bread, rice, pasta (the best-known carbo-loader),
> and so
> > on. Have a good sweet dessert (but not a particularly fatty one), e.g.,
> cake
> > or cookies. This will stock you well with glycogen for your event.
> During a
> > longer event, it is also common to intake enough carbs on the fly to
> maintain
> > your levels, using sport drinks, gels, bananas, fruit, honey, etc. I
once
> > recovered from a bonk on the road by chugging most of a jar of honey.
> Don't
> > let that happen to you!
>
>

05-12-2004, 05:46 AM

A buddy of mine used to eat a large MacDonalds pizza (when they made them,
way back...) the morning of a race. He would then proceed to kick our
asses..

"curt" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:1looc.28438$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
>
> "TopCounsel" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
> news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com...
> > >Carbo loading before a race?
> > >Anyone here do this? What exactly do you eat, and when??
> >
> > Having read the first 7 replies to this post, I must say I'm a little
> surprised
> > that this subject isn't better known among cyclists, as it is well known
> among
> > distance runners. If you posted this inquiry on rec.running, for
example,
> you
> > would get an earful of valuable replies. Perhaps you should do that.
>
> Interesting.
>
>
> > The length of your race is the first determiner of your answer. Runners
> > wouldn't really consider the topic worthy of much discussion for
distances
> less
> > than 5k (13-30 minutes), but once you get up over 10k (27-60 minutes),
and
> to
> > half-marathon (60-100 minutes) and marathon (2-4 hours) or ultras (30k
to
> 100
> > miles, etc.), carbo loading becomes of genuine value. Use equivalent
> expected
> > cycling event times to estimate the significance of loading.
>
> I covered this in my post, just not in such detail.
>
>
> > The original theory was that you needed a carbo-depletion phase during
> your
> > pre-race taper, but that seems to be largely discredited now, and the
> > generally-accepted view is simply to do your carbo-load the last day or
> two
> > before the event, and perhaps top it off the morning of the race.
>
> I stated the same thing, but made it more personal because I feel this is
a
> personal thing. Some people eat a big mac the day before a race and feel
> that is the best for them. Just read that in a running mag and found if
> pretty funny.
>
>
> > As to how to load, you need not be very scientific. For shorter events
of
> > higher intensity, I personally favor a mix of complex carbohydrates
> (starches)
> > and simple carbohydrates (sugars). For example, toss down a couple
glazed
> > donuts and some strong coffee the morning before you race.
>
> If I did what you do, I would not perform well at all, but as I stated
> earlier, everyone is different and you need to find what works for you.
>
>
> > For longer events (century, double century, etc.) where true
carbo-loading
> is
> > desired, eat what you know from experience your system can handle well,
> but
> > emphasize things like bread, rice, pasta (the best-known carbo-loader),
> and so
> > on. Have a good sweet dessert (but not a particularly fatty one), e.g.,
> cake
> > or cookies. This will stock you well with glycogen for your event.
> During a
> > longer event, it is also common to intake enough carbs on the fly to
> maintain
> > your levels, using sport drinks, gels, bananas, fruit, honey, etc. I
once
> > recovered from a bonk on the road by chugging most of a jar of honey.
> Don't
> > let that happen to you!
>
>

05-12-2004, 05:46 AM

A buddy of mine used to eat a large MacDonalds pizza (when they made them,
way back...) the morning of a race. He would then proceed to kick our
asses..

"curt" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:1looc.28438$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
>
> "TopCounsel" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
> news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com...
> > >Carbo loading before a race?
> > >Anyone here do this? What exactly do you eat, and when??
> >
> > Having read the first 7 replies to this post, I must say I'm a little
> surprised
> > that this subject isn't better known among cyclists, as it is well known
> among
> > distance runners. If you posted this inquiry on rec.running, for
example,
> you
> > would get an earful of valuable replies. Perhaps you should do that.
>
> Interesting.
>
>
> > The length of your race is the first determiner of your answer. Runners
> > wouldn't really consider the topic worthy of much discussion for
distances
> less
> > than 5k (13-30 minutes), but once you get up over 10k (27-60 minutes),
and
> to
> > half-marathon (60-100 minutes) and marathon (2-4 hours) or ultras (30k
to
> 100
> > miles, etc.), carbo loading becomes of genuine value. Use equivalent
> expected
> > cycling event times to estimate the significance of loading.
>
> I covered this in my post, just not in such detail.
>
>
> > The original theory was that you needed a carbo-depletion phase during
> your
> > pre-race taper, but that seems to be largely discredited now, and the
> > generally-accepted view is simply to do your carbo-load the last day or
> two
> > before the event, and perhaps top it off the morning of the race.
>
> I stated the same thing, but made it more personal because I feel this is
a
> personal thing. Some people eat a big mac the day before a race and feel
> that is the best for them. Just read that in a running mag and found if
> pretty funny.
>
>
> > As to how to load, you need not be very scientific. For shorter events
of
> > higher intensity, I personally favor a mix of complex carbohydrates
> (starches)
> > and simple carbohydrates (sugars). For example, toss down a couple
glazed
> > donuts and some strong coffee the morning before you race.
>
> If I did what you do, I would not perform well at all, but as I stated
> earlier, everyone is different and you need to find what works for you.
>
>
> > For longer events (century, double century, etc.) where true
carbo-loading
> is
> > desired, eat what you know from experience your system can handle well,
> but
> > emphasize things like bread, rice, pasta (the best-known carbo-loader),
> and so
> > on. Have a good sweet dessert (but not a particularly fatty one), e.g.,
> cake
> > or cookies. This will stock you well with glycogen for your event.
> During a
> > longer event, it is also common to intake enough carbs on the fly to
> maintain
> > your levels, using sport drinks, gels, bananas, fruit, honey, etc. I
once
> > recovered from a bonk on the road by chugging most of a jar of honey.
> Don't
> > let that happen to you!
>
>