Questions and Answers

Q: Is it helpful to eat during a long bicycle ride?

Yes. Consuming carbohydrates before and during a ride of 1.5 hours or more helps a cyclist finish stronger and recover quicker. Carbohydrates are the food most readily broken down into glycogen, the primary fuel for muscles. For very long rides, or for riders who seldom stop to eat, liquid carbohydrate drinks may be better because they provide a rapid burst of energy. The complex carbohydrates found in granola bars, bananas, and other fruits release energy more gradually and are best eaten off the bike, during rest stops. As Fred Brouns, an exercise physiologist with the Tour de France, points out, "Good cyclists are also good eaters."

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