RE: [Paddlewise] Hydration systems/electrolytes

From: Dan Volker <dlv_at_gate.net>
Date: Sat, 1 May 1999 06:51:50 -0400
Dan Volker writes: "Aren't you aware that medical doctors receive only one
nutrition course in med school, and are in fact, the LAST group you would go
to for nutritional advice.....If you check with any elite level cyclists or
triathletes...."

And the number of nutrition courses elite lever cyclists et al receive
is....?

Bill Hansen

Bill,
OK, I deserved that :-)
But, every competitive cyclist I know ( myself particularly) uses nutrition
as a tool to help out compete others. This is critical for recovery, which
is actually when you get stronger, and its critical for maintaining the
highest level of glycogen loading within the primary muscles, throughout
each ride.

Since we are constantly "testing" new products, against a field of riders
which has a highly predictable performance level compared to your own, any
significant change to your performance is immediately noted, and the athlete
then looks for repeatability.
In issues like water versus Hydra Fuel or Cytomax, this has been absolutely
demonstrated so many times as to be considered a non-issue.

Many cyclists also have a long slow day in their  weekly training  ( LSD
day) , where they may ride for 4 to 7 hours. Energy expenditures are
relatively low throughout this long ride ( slow speeds relative to
competitive rides), so the comparison with kayaking becomes far closer.
Particularly with these long rides, major performance differences occur when
using the Hydra fuel or Cytomax products over water, as your body's glycogen
levels in muscles and liver supply drop sharply after 2 hours without
feeding  ( even at low power outputs).

On these long rides, every 2.5 to 3 hours, a high protein medium carb
product needs to be consumed ( 2 to 1 ration, like 30 grams of protein and
15 grams of carb. This assumes you maintain a high level of hydration at all
times. We Expect to consume at least a gallon of water in 5 hours, and with
heat this could double. )

I am aware of the tendency of some athletes to use carb only in this
scenario, but there are much better reasons for the protein and carb
feeding, than I can go into in this short post.  If you like, I can go into
them with a future post. My primary "source" for my ideas is Terry Giles,
one of the top nutrition minds in the US, and a trainer of some of the best
Olympia level Bodybuilders, Cyclists and triathletes.

Regards,
Dan Volker


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Received on Sat May 01 1999 - 03:10:28 PDT

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