Hiya gang,
I know this is coming at a time when many riders are winding down their season, but thought it was some great info to share.
Ripped from the Trek Bicycles site:
The Week Before
“Don’t try to lose weight the week before your event. You want to eat a well balanced diet – don’t overload, don’t under-fuel. Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Always try to eat 5-8 servings of vegetable/fruit per day and try to find foods that are all-natural or local (in season.) Professional race car drivers wouldn’t put regular unleaded in their car on race day, so don’t use sugary chocolate bars or chips as your race (event) fuel.” Snacks and chips are a great way to replace burned calories, maybe even hit a little sugar rush- But should be used for energy maintenance, not your primary source of fuel.
The Night Before
“Eat a well balanced, easily digestible meal, about 2-3 hours before going to sleep. You want your body resting while you sleep, not busy digesting a heavy meal. Drink lots of water a few days before your event, especially if it is going to be hot and humid!” You’ve heard us say this countless times on the NEC- “Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!”
Nutritional Supplements
“During and Post-Event: Antioxidants come in many forms and can be very helpful when training and traveling. The main antioxidants are Vitamin C and Vitamin E. Other supplements can be an energy bar/drink/gel you carry with you during the event. Always test products before the “big day.” Read the nutritional label of your supplements and look for products from natural sources with no sugar added.” Fruit is your friend. We bring plenty with us, it’s up to you to make sure you get some of it! Not that I don’t want to continue to drop off the NEC’s excess fruit stocks to the local food pantry, as they don’t often get fresh fruit- But we get it for you, make sure you have some!
Keep the wind at your back, and the downhills in front of you.
GearMan
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