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Post by Radchenister on Jul 11, 2013 23:48:34 GMT
Personally think gels are a bit ott unless you're racing or on mega rides 4 hrs +. The guys at GCN have covered nutrition well. Essentially you have a reserve of carb energy (assuming you eat regularly and balanced) that you use up after an hour or two, so then you'll be after refreshed stores - they quoted a calorie figure for each half hour / on the hour beyond that (I am assuming this in addition to the fact that I sip energy drink - weak mix and start to eat at 1.5 hrs, then on the hour as a rule of thumb or more often if feeling lacking). Caffeine will push you on but may leave you high and dry if not careful. To begin with, hydration and electrolytes replacement keeps things together (stops cramps etc.), plus not overdoing it with easy rides for longer helps lose weight from stored fat, fueling with a sensible normal healthy food plan and some top up on rides is IMO better than going bonkers with caffeine loaded gels designed to boost someone with 4% body fat up Alp-d'Huex . I've got a nutrition booklet from High5 that runs through all the options and am fairly convinced much of it is designed to empty your wallet.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 11, 2013 23:48:45 GMT
Yeah that makes a lot of sense actually, a smaller group is probably likely to be more competetive. I can take someone having a dig at my bike as long as it's a laugh. We could all spend thousands on bikes but the majority of the guys on here seem to be involved for the love of cycling and the bike, i stumbled across this forum researching good cheap bikes and the triban won hands down. I get my bike next week so i'll prob do what you suggest and look for a larger club but give myself a few weeks of catch up.
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Post by Radchenister on Jul 12, 2013 0:00:06 GMT
TBS - I'd just concentrate on settling into the bike to begin with, concentrating on gears, pacing yourself and climbing technique.
Riding in a group can be quite distracting, challenging or limiting IMO.
I may go the club route some day but having your own regime and riding with mates when the opportunity occurs naturally is no bad thing either.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2013 0:05:08 GMT
That's the only problem with me getting into cycling is none of my mates will look at a bike, they either drink or play football and i've had to give that up, so it's a completely new scene for me, picked up lots of tips on this forum already it's just a case of putting them all together and forging a plan.
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Post by Radchenister on Jul 12, 2013 0:27:33 GMT
I am a social type of fellow but my regime is strictly under my control at present, with some influences from those I respect - I've passed some of the social clubs locally and got caught in amongst TTs. Got a mix of chatty and snide comments from the social lot when coming through their ranks going the same direction and been passed silently by a bloke trying to induce a heart attack with the latter (fair enough, he was racing). Neither appeared to have the right balance for me. I might fall into a club naturally but am not going out my way at present. Riding occasionally with my very serious buddy is where I get a challenge (don't do it often), a mix of social and pushing on a bit can be found with some of the folks on here. BA and Rob Sims are occasional possy members and good to ride with, we knew from Strava data we'd be OK. I'd play it by ear to begin with, establish where you're at and then where you're going.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2013 0:41:32 GMT
Cheers mate i appreciate you taking the time to give me your take, a lpt of it makes sense i really am just gonna have to suck it and see. Looking forward to getting out and venturing places i never normally would, not so much falling over when i eventually try these pedals and shoes everyone swears by! This forum's a great little go to for guys like me who are right at the beginning.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2013 7:47:04 GMT
My brother and I were out last night and pushed through the tail end of one of the local 'take themselves too seriously' clubs. Felt good.
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Post by robxxx7 on Jul 12, 2013 9:06:43 GMT
I have no interest in joining a club ... quite happy to go out on my own (me time) and set my own pace, targets etc .. been doing that since i started cycling again last October ... and happy with progress so far.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2013 9:14:54 GMT
I agree, I'm happy to ride out on my own but luckily have a mate who's single and always free to join me on the longer rides anyway.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2013 13:37:46 GMT
One of our club members once laced some jelly babies with pro-plus, to help get a guy home who clearly hadn't prepared for the ride properly. Every so often the other members have a little dig at him and the "magic" jelly babies that got him home Caffeinated jelly babies? Ooooooh...
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