60km ride advice

[Meditator]

mmmm yum weetbix.

[RonK]

Since I leave home by 5:30am, there is no time (or appetite) to eat before leaving. I can do a 60km ride comfortably with nothing more than water to drink. On a 100km ride I'll hit the wall if I don't eat, so always stop at a bakery for a cake and a Powerade.

[hkgts]

As a general rule I take one mouthful of water every 10mins during a ride (any distance). If you wait till your thirsty it's too late and drinking too much won't do you any good. The only variables for me are distance (more water bottles) and hotter temp/weather (more regular mouthfuls).

[nickobec]

Like a few other posters, I don't take any special preparations for a 60km ride, most days it is a 45km commute to work, with a couple of intervals thrown in. In summer I will have a bidon of water and another bidon with a sports drink. Rest of the year a single bidon of water will suffice.

Even for longer riders 120km or so, I don't plan, take food or anything more than the same number of bidons I take to work. However, I do know where I can get resupplied from and are always willing to stop for coffee and muffin (or tea & cake on the 100km Thursday rides).

Racing I am a little more fuel conscious, make sure I eat a carb heavy meal the night before and consume a can of coke and a snickers (or similar) bar 30 minutes before a race. Still I will only drink water during a race, but the are usually just over an hour.

[waramatt]

60km ride = just water, but then I'm going pretty slow.

On a 160km ride I could eat an elephant.

Go figure.