I've been sick the past few days with a cyclingy nose and a slight sore throat but this has not kept me from riding. I've mostly just been spinning inside but today I went out and about. I have this baseless idea that if I exercise myself to death I will in turn make my body uninhabitable for any bacteria or virus that is causing me to feel lousy. I do know that my sinuses clear up quite nicely by the end of my ride where 'er it may be. The beginning of each ride though is most uncomfortable as was the case with today.
I started out and was quickly reminded of my hindrances. My nose allowing no air in as though clothes pinned shut and my throat felt like it has an air filter in it only it wasn't filtering grime from the air it was filtering air from the grime leaving me wheezing and coughing and grasping for air. As I was so desperate for air my mouth was gaping open and a wide open mouth dying for air on a warm spring evening while many little friends are out and your traveling at 28-30+mph is a bad combination. Yes. I got a little friend who should have traveled straight on down the tube stuck in the filter of my throat. I have no problems swallowing a gnat. It happens. In fact racing cyclists on average swallow three to four times more bugs than your average person (just made that up, but it sounds good). The problem here was that it just did not want to go down or up for that matter. This left me coughing and hacking and nearly lung chucking for a mile and a half if not more. All things, it seems, have their purpose. On this day this gnats purpose was to lead me to discovery.
The first discovery was that I can ride with no air for a mile and a half if not more at a fairly slow pace. The second discovery was that once the gnat went down I felt a better. This may seem trivial but it has grounds. You see as I explained to my wife, I was able to ride a bit quicker than usual after swallowing that gnat and the reason being is that I got a tiny shot of protein which boosted my energy for the remainder of the ride. Do not forget if you need a little oomph during a ride, open your mouth and invite the protein bites to get that energy boost.
Actually by the time I did get rid of the gnat I was all cleared up and able to ride at my normal pace. And further more there are lots of good ways to keep your energy level high while riding. It's called drinking and eating. I always brink two 28 ounce bottles with me when I ride even if I know I won't be out long.
I usually fill the bottle with Gatorade since it seems to give me that little extra that water does not i.e. sugar and those lovely electrolytes. Plus from all the reading I've done it seems that Gatorade keep your body going quite well. I've actually filled one bottle with a protein drink during a longer race. I don't know if doing this has any positive research results but it seemed like a good idea and I felt good during the race. When your about to leave don't forget to bring that banana or something that will keep your body fueled. Sometimes a short ride turns into a long one and then when you're towards the end of the ride you'll wish you had that sustenance in your back pocket.
The first discovery was that I can ride with no air for a mile and a half if not more at a fairly slow pace. The second discovery was that once the gnat went down I felt a better. This may seem trivial but it has grounds. You see as I explained to my wife, I was able to ride a bit quicker than usual after swallowing that gnat and the reason being is that I got a tiny shot of protein which boosted my energy for the remainder of the ride. Do not forget if you need a little oomph during a ride, open your mouth and invite the protein bites to get that energy boost.
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| On very special occasions I take my favorite treat - a bag of Haribo Gold-Bears. Interestingly enough the flavors are different in Russia than in the U.S. This is and image I think of German vs. U.S. Haribo Gold-Bears. I don't care where they're from. They're good. |
I usually fill the bottle with Gatorade since it seems to give me that little extra that water does not i.e. sugar and those lovely electrolytes. Plus from all the reading I've done it seems that Gatorade keep your body going quite well. I've actually filled one bottle with a protein drink during a longer race. I don't know if doing this has any positive research results but it seemed like a good idea and I felt good during the race. When your about to leave don't forget to bring that banana or something that will keep your body fueled. Sometimes a short ride turns into a long one and then when you're towards the end of the ride you'll wish you had that sustenance in your back pocket.
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