Nutrition is so important to human health, but what if you torture your body with insane long-distance bike rides? What can you do to insure you to do not drop dead or suffer severe health problems? Well, let me give you some advice on that issue.
You will generally use at least two water bottles per 50-miles minimum and on a hot day you will most likely need more, if you notice you are no longer sweating on a hot-day, it's too late you are rapidly approach a dangerous dehydration point.
If you have longer than 50-miles between stops, then you will need an extra water bottle (3-total) or a back-pack water system, which are really great for 100-mile stretches with nowhere to stop to refill.
If you find yourself hallucinating or your mind drifts into trying to calculate the distance to Alaska and considering which route to take to get there, you are most likely suffering from heat exhaustion and you need to power back up, it's time to stop and re-hydrate your body.
Even if you start out with a hearty meal prior to your ride, you must start eating something at least by mile 30 or 40, even if you are not hungry, sure you might be able to go for 55-65-miles, but by then it's too late and your body cannot catch back up even if you stop to eat and pack in the food like a gorilla.
It is important that you do not let yourself get behind the nutrition curve, it's a living hell trying to get back and still maintain your daily pace and mileage goals.
When you are done for the day, the first thing you want to do is roll over and die or sleep, but you need to stretch and wind down, so your last five-miles ought to be very easy, freewheeling your peddles backwards, standing up on the seat and coasting and moving your sore muscles.
Once stopped walk around a bit and stretch for 10-15 minutes, clean yourself up, soak in the tub or take a warm shower.
Amazingly enough you may not be that hungry, just tired as hell, yet energized, it's a weird feeling, but you have to force yourself to eat, go for a complex carbohydrate meal, pasta if it's available.
Then get some rest, tomorrow you are going to do it again.
What should you eat while you ride? Anything you can find, everything if it is available, the problem is that you cannot possibly eat enough to catch back up and set yourself up for tomorrows ride, whatever you put in, your body will use and thank you for later.
Endurance Riding Nutrition Recommendations: http://www.
ultracycling.
com/nutrition/nutrition.
html