Fuel when cycling

[Ricardo Velo]

Hi All,

Just been diagnosed type 2. My passion is cycling and therefore can anyone suggest what i could eat when on a bike ride around 40k


Ricardo Velo

 

[Inka]

Welcome @Ricardo Velo 🙂 Are you on any medication for your diabetes?

 

[bulkbiker]

Just been diagnosed type 2. My passion is cycling and therefore can anyone suggest what i could eat when on a bike ride around 40k

Get yourself onto a low carb diet and you won't need to eat anything specifically for your bike rides as you'll be using body fat for fuel. Will also do wonders for your blood sugar levels and could put your T2 into remission without medication.

You might even discover the benefits of fasted exercise like these guys and gals did

UK Team Completes a 100-mile, five-day Run with no Food - Diet Doctor

Eight runners ran 100 miles in five days without food. They aimed to dispel myths surrounding daily carbs and energy needs.

www.dietdoctor.com

 

[Leadinglights]

Get yourself onto a low carb diet and you won't need to eat anything specifically for your bike rides as you'll be using body fat for fuel. Will also do wonders for your blood sugar levels and could put your T2 into remission without medication.

We know nothing about the OP so suggesting changes to diet is a bit premature.

 

[bulkbiker]

We know nothing about the OP so suggesting changes to diet is a bit premature.

I quote from the opening post..

" Just been diagnosed type 2."

dietary changes like reducing carbs would benefit almost everybody diabetic or not.

 

[Leadinglights]

I quote from the opening post..

" Just been diagnosed type 2."

dietary changes like reducing carbs would benefit almost everybody diabetic or not.

I agree in principal but I have had my fingers wrapped before by suggesting that and then finding the poster is taking insulin when they give further information so the suggestion is inappropriate.

 

[Docb]

Hi @Ricardo Velo and welcome to the forum. I used to ride a lot and my last career was as the owner of a bike shop. The thing is that I would never think of having to "fuel up" during a 40k ride! 100k maybe but not 40k. But that was in the days before there were loads of people out there trying to sell "energy gels" and "energy stuff" to put in your water bottle.

So, my thought for you is to try your rides without any fuel and see if your performance deteriorates. Could be you do not need anything.

 

[Carlos]

Welcome @Ricardo Velo. I am type 1, so what I do will not necessarily work for you.

If I'm going out for a longish ride, 50k plus, I tend to go out just after breakfast, so I reduce the breakfast insulin by a third, and double my breakfast carbs. During the ride I keep an eye on my levels and carry cereal bars, the Aldi version of nature valley, to top up if needed. Usually I'll have about 15 grams of carbs per 20 miles or so.

For a shorter ride I check my levels and have some carbs before setting off if I am below 8. As @Docb says, up to 40k you shouldn't really need much.

 

[Docb]

@Carlos, should have added my usual caveat that I was thinking T2 as per @Ricardo Velo 's signature. T1 is a whole different ball game!

 

[Ricardo Velo]

Welcome @Ricardo Velo 🙂 Are you on any medication for your diabetes?

Hi,
I have been given Metformin x2 to take every day next 3 months. I have a meeting with the diabetic nurse next week

 

[Ricardo Velo]

Get yourself onto a low carb diet and you won't need to eat anything specifically for your bike rides as you'll be using body fat for fuel. Will also do wonders for your blood sugar levels and could put your T2 into remission without medication.

You might even discover the benefits of fasted exercise like these guys and gals did

UK Team Completes a 100-mile, five-day Run with no Food - Diet Doctor

Eight runners ran 100 miles in five days without food. They aimed to dispel myths surrounding daily carbs and energy needs.

www.dietdoctor.com

Thanks bulkbiker

 

[Ricardo Velo]

Hi @Ricardo Velo and welcome to the forum. I used to ride a lot and my last career was as the owner of a bike shop. The thing is that I would never think of having to "fuel up" during a 40k ride! 100k maybe but not 40k. But that was in the days before there were loads of people out there trying to sell "energy gels" and "energy stuff" to put in your water bottle.

So, my thought for you is to try your rides without any fuel and see if your performance deteriorates. Could be you do not need anything.

Hi Docb, thanks for the tip. I dont really take bars and gels unless im on a 80+ bike ride but for 40k i was thinking do i have porridge or beans & toast etc before i leave the house

 

[Carlos]

Hi Docb, thanks for the tip. I dont really take bars and gels unless im on a 80+ bike ride but for 40k i was thinking do i have porridge or beans & toast etc before i leave the house

Either sound like good options. You will need to play it by ear, but you probably don't need to do anything much different than you did before during your rides.

 

[Drummer]

Hi,
I have been given Metformin x2 to take every day next 3 months. I have a meeting with the diabetic nurse next week

Hopefully your reaction to Metformin is not even close to what I experienced, but be aware that you might have to restrict your time out of the house to those places with swift access to toilets. There is a circular track in the local park with a café and toilet block right next to it, maybe there is something like that near you?
Some people have no reaction at all, for others it is disabling.

 

[TrevA]

I’m a cyclist and T2 too. I recommend slow release carbs like porridge or muesli before a ride. You could have a banana at the cafe stop or some whole meal or granary toast. You will burn off the carbs anyway. If you want something more substantial or lower carb, then a Full English Breakfast is good.

I’m on just Metformin too. Had a few gut problems so switched to the slow release version which is now fine.

 

[andyp64]

Yep === Metformin did my stomach no favours! But --- has settled down a bit now so give it a chance.
I regularly cycle 8 - 15 miles (??? km) and find the milk in the coffee-stop halfway ups my carb intake enough. If I'm feeling particularly tired, I will indulge a small pastry (or some toast) which gets me through the energy dip. Would probably be better to carry some fruit with me but don't always remember.
I think the important thing is consistent exercise with a sensible diet. Has worked to keep my HbA1c sensible.

 

[Floyd_11]

Bananas work fine for me when it comes to meal before exercising . Actually, I always have a few with me, people even get too suspicious about it sometimes.