Originally Posted by
wolfchild
[Consume protein during rides] To feed the muscle and prevent muscle breakdown.
Are you basing this on any scientific findings, or on recommendations from experts?
I found this article from an ultra-running site:
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THE ROLE OF PROTEIN DURING EXERCISE
While the data on protein directly improving performance is mixed, data on protein during exercise improving performance in subsequent exercise is clearer...Specifically, the ingestion of protein seems to selectively decrease protein degradation rather than enhancing protein synthesis. The positive protein balance is associated with improved performance the day following exhaustive exercise and might prove useful for athletes completing multi-day stage races or even really long ultra events that may take in excess of 24 hours2...
Carbohydrates and fat are still king when it comes to providing energy during prolonged exercise. However, including protein during exercise may indirectly improve performance at a later date by helping create an environment for expedited recovery.
Also this, about when you should consume protein:
The latest research shows that protein will help recovery whether you consume it before or even during exercise. There’s nothing magic about the 20, 30, or 60 minutes after a workout. The benefits come from the protein itself, according to Schoenfeld, not the exact timing of its consumption.
Excerpt From Good to Go: What the Athlete in All of Us Can Learn from the Strange Science of Recovery, Christie Aschwanden