What's Your Secret For Energy?
07-09-19, 02:38 PM
#76
Unlisted member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 6,192
Bikes: Specialized Hardrock
Mentioned: 29 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1376 Post(s)
Liked 432 Times
in
297 Posts
I think you're probably right. I found out in a recent hospital stay that I had a magnesium deficiency. I don't know why, because I eat avocados, nuts, raw spinach and bananas, fish, all sources of magnesium, but that's what their test said and I got a couple of shots for it. I suspect I'll be taking magnesium supplements here on out.
07-09-19, 02:49 PM
#77
Unlisted member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 6,192
Bikes: Specialized Hardrock
Mentioned: 29 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1376 Post(s)
Liked 432 Times
in
297 Posts
You seem to be implying that supplements are only for those people who delude themselves into thinking that using supplements can overcome the consequences of an unhealthy diet and unhealthy lifestyle, not because they have any real world benefits.
Nope, just the opposite!
Unless professional athletes and professional sports teams are "deluding themselves" as well. Many professional athletes and professional sports teams use supplements - all the while many of whom are on strict dietary and workout regimens.
My doctor is the one who told me that I definitely need to use CoQ10 because I take statin drugs which are known to deplete the natural stores of CoQ10 within the body. While researching what my doctor told me, I came across more than one study of athletes where the CoQ10 groups showed greater endurance and faster recovery times than the placebo group. That's why so many professional athletes use CoQ10. It is not a banned substance in many sports.
But like I stated in my previous post: individual freedom and individual choice are critical to everyone being able to decide for themselves, act accordingly, and accept the consequences, good or bad. If you don't think supplements of any kind have any value, then don't take supplements of any kind.
But in my opinion, thinking that no supplements are worthwhile, useful or necessary is just as lacking in understanding as believing all the wild claims made about supplements that truly are little more than "snake oil".
Supplements are like people: some are great, some suck, some are helpful, some are dangerous - most fall somewhere in between the extremes.
Nope, just the opposite!
Unless professional athletes and professional sports teams are "deluding themselves" as well. Many professional athletes and professional sports teams use supplements - all the while many of whom are on strict dietary and workout regimens.
My doctor is the one who told me that I definitely need to use CoQ10 because I take statin drugs which are known to deplete the natural stores of CoQ10 within the body. While researching what my doctor told me, I came across more than one study of athletes where the CoQ10 groups showed greater endurance and faster recovery times than the placebo group. That's why so many professional athletes use CoQ10. It is not a banned substance in many sports.
But like I stated in my previous post: individual freedom and individual choice are critical to everyone being able to decide for themselves, act accordingly, and accept the consequences, good or bad. If you don't think supplements of any kind have any value, then don't take supplements of any kind.
But in my opinion, thinking that no supplements are worthwhile, useful or necessary is just as lacking in understanding as believing all the wild claims made about supplements that truly are little more than "snake oil".
Supplements are like people: some are great, some suck, some are helpful, some are dangerous - most fall somewhere in between the extremes.
And most supplements aren't dangerous. The ones in the news that were had usually been adulterated by drugs, or had been abused by people. Like the guy in the news story today that dies after taking way too much caffeine - the headline said he died after drinking a protein shake but the coroner listed the cause of death as excessive caffeine consumption. If you stick to products sold by people with nutritional training you aren't likely to run into problems. The odds of having problems or buying ineffective products go up when buying things from drug stores, discount stores or the internet.
07-09-19, 02:50 PM
#78
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 16
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
5 Posts
Pay Day candy bars actually work for me on rides. They don't come out of the wrapper easily so I unwrap them break them in half and put in baggies.
Likes For switchblade 327:
07-09-19, 09:21 PM
#79
on your lawn
Has anyone listed cold fusion yet?
Likes For OmegaWolf:
07-09-19, 11:04 PM
#80
Newbie
on an all day ride last fall, I tried a suggestion a late friend gave me. 2 PB&J sandwiches cut into quarters. wound up being an awesome suggestion. I did take a break at the 1/2 way point & drank/ate other stuff. I finished the ride w 1/4 sandwich left over which was good to reward myself with in the car for the drive home
gotta remember to sip a little water to aid swallowing while riding. wrapping them & carrying them was interesting but I managed
I would do it again for similar circumstances
gotta remember to sip a little water to aid swallowing while riding. wrapping them & carrying them was interesting but I managed
I would do it again for similar circumstances
07-10-19, 01:36 AM
#81
☢
You're lucky they mentioned the statins depleting CoQ10, most patients aren't fortunate enough to hear that. It's pretty ironic that conventional medicine scares people into taking statins to protect their heart (which is mainly made up of muscle) while ignoring the effects of reduced energy utilization of the muscles due to lowering CoQ10 levels.
And most supplements aren't dangerous. The ones in the news that were had usually been adulterated by drugs, or had been abused by people. Like the guy in the news story today that dies after taking way too much caffeine - the headline said he died after drinking a protein shake but the coroner listed the cause of death as excessive caffeine consumption. If you stick to products sold by people with nutritional training you aren't likely to run into problems. The odds of having problems or buying ineffective products go up when buying things from drug stores, discount stores or the internet.
And most supplements aren't dangerous. The ones in the news that were had usually been adulterated by drugs, or had been abused by people. Like the guy in the news story today that dies after taking way too much caffeine - the headline said he died after drinking a protein shake but the coroner listed the cause of death as excessive caffeine consumption. If you stick to products sold by people with nutritional training you aren't likely to run into problems. The odds of having problems or buying ineffective products go up when buying things from drug stores, discount stores or the internet.
07-10-19, 07:05 AM
#82
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,546
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5223 Post(s)
Liked 3,579 Times
in
2,341 Posts
thanks 43.8 miles, 4 hrs 45 min saddle time (6 hrs away from car). the trail head is a drive for me, so I was away from home 10 hrs door-to-door
Ashuelot Recreational Rail Trail, Hinsdale NH to Keene NH round trip over a mix of dirt, sand, grass, mud & broken old bridges. took me 2 tries a month & a half apart, with 2 diff. bikes. the first try I reached the halfway but had to bail with a taxi back to my car. I wasn't prepared well enough & it was 100 degrees that day. the second successful trip was with a better bike & more prep & knowledge
Ashuelot Recreational Rail Trail, Hinsdale NH to Keene NH round trip over a mix of dirt, sand, grass, mud & broken old bridges. took me 2 tries a month & a half apart, with 2 diff. bikes. the first try I reached the halfway but had to bail with a taxi back to my car. I wasn't prepared well enough & it was 100 degrees that day. the second successful trip was with a better bike & more prep & knowledge
07-10-19, 08:43 AM
#83
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 523
Bikes: Trek Domane, Surly Disc Trucker
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 170 Post(s)
Liked 103 Times
in
68 Posts
I stay about 15 pounds overweight and find that it keeps me from bonking on longer rides. A little bit of built in storage gives me energy for days.
And yeah, supplements are all gimmicks and marketing. You're wasting your money and better off focusing on good nutrition. I eliminate almost all refined sugars from my diet, and that helps a lot as well.
And yeah, supplements are all gimmicks and marketing. You're wasting your money and better off focusing on good nutrition. I eliminate almost all refined sugars from my diet, and that helps a lot as well.
07-10-19, 08:56 AM
#84
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 523
Bikes: Trek Domane, Surly Disc Trucker
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 170 Post(s)
Liked 103 Times
in
68 Posts
I don't take supplements as I'm a skeptic although I do eat a good balanced diet. I have tried supplements in the past but without noticeable effect on my well-being short of increasing the value of my urine (sarcasm noted).
I think there's two ways to view the OP question. There's the question of what we do in terms of our day-to-day diet and supplement intake and then there's what we do just before/during/immediately after a long ride. I don't think a lot about changing my day-to-day diet for cycling as I think it generally is pretty healthy. I do continue to refine what I may eat and drink the morning of a long ride, during the ride (especially on days that will turn very hot), and then immediately post ride to help with recovery.
I think there's two ways to view the OP question. There's the question of what we do in terms of our day-to-day diet and supplement intake and then there's what we do just before/during/immediately after a long ride. I don't think a lot about changing my day-to-day diet for cycling as I think it generally is pretty healthy. I do continue to refine what I may eat and drink the morning of a long ride, during the ride (especially on days that will turn very hot), and then immediately post ride to help with recovery.
07-10-19, 09:02 AM
#85
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: USA
Posts: 2,190
Bikes: Ti, Mn Cr Ni Mo Nb, Al, C
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 942 Post(s)
Liked 526 Times
in
349 Posts
The thing with glycogen is it takes about 72hrs from the time you ingest the carbs and you must drink a lot of water. Eating a big meal the night before does little to nothing. You have to plan it 3 days out. Load up on complex carbs 72 hours prior. Just prior to the ride, simple sugars are what will give you immediate energy.
07-10-19, 09:08 AM
#86
Quidam Bike Super Hero
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Stone Mountain, GA (Metro Atlanta, East)
Posts: 1,135
Bikes: 1995 Trek 800 Sport, aka, "CamelTrek"
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 331 Post(s)
Liked 415 Times
in
282 Posts
A 5'7" French Blonde... keeps me going for the past 7 years, and counting.... 
07-10-19, 01:01 PM
#88
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,546
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5223 Post(s)
Liked 3,579 Times
in
2,341 Posts
07-10-19, 01:54 PM
#89
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: VA
Posts: 1,437
Bikes: SuperSix Evo | Revolt
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 733 Post(s)
Liked 815 Times
in
414 Posts
Beer and pizza. Not kidding, I had pizza for six meals last week, plenty of energy for a 400+ mile week. 
I fueled back to back gravel centuries with twizzlers and fig newtons. People make this stuff way too complicated, just eat and move.
I fueled back to back gravel centuries with twizzlers and fig newtons. People make this stuff way too complicated, just eat and move.
Likes For Rides4Beer:
07-10-19, 02:42 PM
#90
Tragically Ignorant
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,613
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8186 Post(s)
Liked 9,095 Times
in
5,053 Posts
Back to back gravel centuries? That's a lot of newtons and twizzlers! I'm impressed.
07-10-19, 02:49 PM
#91
Tragically Ignorant
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,613
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8186 Post(s)
Liked 9,095 Times
in
5,053 Posts
https://www.google.com/search?q=dies...hrome&ie=UTF-8
I'm glad this story is getting played up--I would have had no idea if I came across this stuff that it was so concentrated. A fatal caffeine overdose is otherwise almost unheard of.
07-10-19, 03:03 PM
#92
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: VA
Posts: 1,437
Bikes: SuperSix Evo | Revolt
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 733 Post(s)
Liked 815 Times
in
414 Posts
Sleeve of fig newtons is about 900cal, half bag of twizzlers is about 800cal. So 1,700cal to fuel a lil over six hours of hard riding, sounds about right, 280cal/hr. Put them in baggies in the front pockets of my hydration vest, makes it easy to eat while riding.
07-10-19, 04:11 PM
#94
Unlisted member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 6,192
Bikes: Specialized Hardrock
Mentioned: 29 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1376 Post(s)
Liked 432 Times
in
297 Posts
First page of google results, the headlines are pretty clear as to what killed him. I deliberatley used protein shake instead of caffeine as the search term so as not to skew the results:
https://www.google.com/search?q=dies...hrome&ie=UTF-8
I'm glad this story is getting played up--I would have had no idea if I came across this stuff that it was so concentrated. A fatal caffeine overdose is otherwise almost unheard of.
https://www.google.com/search?q=dies...hrome&ie=UTF-8
I'm glad this story is getting played up--I would have had no idea if I came across this stuff that it was so concentrated. A fatal caffeine overdose is otherwise almost unheard of.
Last edited by no motor?; 07-11-19 at 05:14 PM.
07-11-19, 02:58 AM
#96
Tragically Ignorant
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,613
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8186 Post(s)
Liked 9,095 Times
in
5,053 Posts
All supplements are drugs. It's a legal distinction created by lobbyists to avoid regulation as drugs. Concentrated caffeine powder was being marketed in the US as a supplement, which the FDA has kind of sort of banned by not allowing "individual" sales. I just found a site online where they will let you buy it with some dubious sounding credentials . I didn't enquire further, and for obvious reasons, I will not be posting a link.
That someone was able to put something that toxic on the market as a supplement should be an absolute scandal.
That someone was able to put something that toxic on the market as a supplement should be an absolute scandal.
07-11-19, 06:36 PM
#98
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Rural Missouri - mostly central and southeastern
Posts: 3,013
Bikes: 2003 LeMond -various other junk bikes
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 78 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 44 Times
in
35 Posts
What's Your Secret For Energy?
My original answer tried to advise that most exercise efforts are ordinarily maintained through a high carbohydrate diet. However, specific situations - and the specific needs a any given cyclist during very hard efforts can vary significantly.
This is why the average energy drink or gel-pak can be too calorie dense or contain a less advantageous sugar-complex for certain riders. And if this isn't confusing enough, certain exercise nostrums may work perfectly for short intense efforts but leave you on the side of the rode during an all-day event.
My point - learn the science of nutrition first - and tweak your ride-diet to the variables surrounding your exercise intensity and your own known human idiosyncrasy.
07-11-19, 07:28 PM
#99
Senior Member
Heed(tm) which is mostly maltodextrin (carbohydrate) with gel shots to supplement it.
07-11-19, 07:44 PM
#100
• —
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Land of Pleasant Living
Posts: 12,215
Bikes: Shmikes
Mentioned: 59 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10148 Post(s)
Liked 5,841 Times
in
3,145 Posts