René ,
I recently started on LCHF also. It seems you may be exercising during an
intermittent fast. That's a great way to increase adaptation, but with
some possible side effects also as you're experiencing. Even though you
are primarily burning fat, I doubt it is 100% fat. It may be that you need
a small amount of carbs to replenish what you are burning.
The chart on this page (http://fellrnr.com/wiki/Comparison_of_Energy_Gels)
makes me guess that taking something like a single Accel Gel three hours
into a four hour session may help relieve some of your symptoms. Now that
you are more fat adapted than in 2005, you should be able to get by on a
fraction of the gels.
We are each an experiment of one. As such, we need to test things to see
how our bodies respond. My additional guesses are that you would need more
in longer events like the 72 hours, but also that your stomach may react
differently to different things. You mentioned the bloating in 2005. That
may indicate you still may not be able use just gels, even if used
sparingly. So, try different things. At some point, it may be helpful to
have a small chunk of potato with some salt as you're losing electrolytes
also. Just having a small dose of some carbs every few hours may be
sufficient. At another time, maybe you could try a few pieces of dried
fruit or a quarter of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, just small
amounts each time as you don't need a lot of carbs like in 2005, just a
little. Have a variety of small doses and be prepared to adapt to what
your body tells you, changing next time if you react poorly or have more
later if you react well.
These are just my guesses based on what I have learned from others, mostly
ultra runners, and are not from personal experience. I have not yet
progressed to being able to utilize these strategies myself. Still, I hope
it helps some.
Tim
On Fri, May 27, 2016 at 11:41 PM, René Sterental
wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I've been low carb high fat for about a year now, with some relapses. Lost
> the 40 lbs between May and October last year, then plateaued, probably went
> a bit off with and gained 10 lbs after the holidays which I've about just
> lost back again in the last 8 weeks, albeit slowly and with some relapses.
>
> 7 weeks ago, I also started riding aerobically after discovering the
> Maffetone method and signed up to do the 72 mile ride around Lake Tahoe
> next Sunday.
>
> During this "training period" I noticed that since I was already quite fat
> adapted, I had no trouble doing my bike rides on no food in the morning,
> and that ensuring I didn't exceed my Maximum Aerobic Function HR of 124
> (for my sweet age) I started managing to do the longer rides I previously
> couldn't do without a lot of suffering and bonking. To stay in the aerobic
> base building zone, I mostly chose flat rides and on the short climbs I
> couldn't avoid, slowed to a crawl. Balance training I call it.
>
> Last Sunday, I did a 42 mile ride in just under 4 hours. This week I've
> ridden twice to work and back, total of 36 miles each day, just split in
> two rides. The afternoon rides home are with a very strong head/side wind,
> where again, I have to slow down significantly and take it like
> "meditation". Character building I call riding 18 miles with a constant
> headwind.
>
> On all these rides I only drink water, nothing else. But when I get home I
> feel like I can't keep riding. Once I rest a bit I feel fine, although my
> legs and my butt "feel" it.
>
> I don't think I can do the 72 mile ride next Sunday on just water, so I'm
> looking for some guidance and suggestions for how to fuel myself without
> making it all sugary with gels and the traditional cycling fuels. When I
> first did these long rides with Team in Training in 2005, I would finish so
> bloated from all the gels I needed to take just to keep going, and also the
> pace was too high for me. This time I'm riding by myself so I can control
> my pace and my nutrition.
>
> I'm also hoping that during the day of the ride, I'll somehow find a way
> to ride for 7 - 8 hours. Right now, it seems impossible as my longest ride
> has been 4 hours, and most of my rides are around 2 hours. Suggestions are
> also welcome.
>
> I know there is a lot of "mental" stuff needed to do these long rides, as
> well as more aerobic training and losing the other 40+ lbs I'm still
> carrying on me. I'm just hoping that persevering will make them truly
> enjoyable, vs. fighting to just finish them.
>
> I welcome any other tips as well regarding managing the long hours on the
> saddle. Frequency of stops to stretch out, rest the butt, hands, feet,
> etc.? I know I can always get bailed out if necessary, but I'm going to try
> to do the whole ride.
>
> Thanks for sharing your experience and feedback!
>
> I'm riding my Homer. Is anyone from this list going to do the ride as well?
>
> Best,
>
> René
>
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