After An Hour I Was Dying – Then I Had A Gel

by David on February 12, 2007

Hello, Brendon here.

Yesterday I rode 143 km (from the Gold Coast to Springbrook to Murwillumbah to Tweed Heads to the Gold Coast) – click here for the map.

We started at 6 am and set off. During the ride the temperature got to 34 degrees.

The day before I rode 70 km.

Today’s ride took 5 hours, 34 minutes at an average speed on 25.7 km/h.

After An Hour I Was Dying

After an hour, 10 mins I was really struggling. I was drinking HEED at the rate David suggested – 1 bidon an hour.

I could hardly keep up with the other guys I was riding with.

Had A Hammer Gel

I then ripped open a Hammer Gel and had that, thinking it might help.

10 minutes later I was feeling great and continued up the rather large hill that is Springbrook.

I continued on with drinking HEED (I had 3 bidons) and had another Gel 2 hours into the ride.

By the time we got to the 80 km mark I was out of HEED. We stopped at a shop and I bought:

  • 2 bottles of water
  • a health bar and
  • a mug of coffee.

I drank the coffee and some water at the store and put the rest of the water in the bidons.

I drank the water over the last 60 km – finished it about 5 km from home.

I Raided The Fridge And Had……

When I got home I had:

  • 1 glass of orange juice,
  • 400 mls of HEED,
  • 2 bananas and
  • 1 apple.

How I Felt:

Aside from feeling terrible at the 1 hour, 10 minute mark I felt great. I really feel like the Gel gives me a huge boost (used Gels a few times now).

My previous long ride was 90 km 3 weeks ago and I felt terrible from about halfway through to about 5 hours after the ride.

After the ride today I felt fine – like I’d hardly done a ride.

So fine that I went for a 6 km job a few hours later.

Is The Gel Really Helping – Or Is That All In My Head?

My questions:

  • Based on the above, what improvements would you suggest to the ride nutrition?
  • Would the Gel really be helping that much or will you, as Darryl Kerrigan would say, “Tell ‘im he’s dreaming”?
  • How would you rate my post ride nutrition?
  • What else should I be doing?

Thanks

Brendon

{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }

Anonymous February 12, 2007 at 9:05 am

Heh Brendan

I’ve done that Springbrook ride a couple of times. One of the best rides on the Coast.

Might be an idea to take a few photos along the way and put them up?? That Numinbah Valley is a beautiful place.

John

Reply

ozzielabrat January 12, 2008 at 7:09 pm

Hi,

I am a new comer to the world of Nutritional/Fatigue prevention products and 2 weeks ago I splashed out and bought the following from David’s web site:

1 x 24 pack of 36g Hammer Gel packs (Raspberry),
1 x 24 tub serving tub of Perpetuem (Orange-Vanilla),
1 x 64 serving tub of Recoveright (Subtle-Citrus).

In no way am I sponsored by Hammer or do I receive Hammer Products for free.

I’ve been using the Hammer Gel and Recoveright now for nearly 2 weeks and they are UNBELIEVABLE !

My work outs are as follows:

1) Swimming (3 x 2.2Km morning sessions per week),
2) Running (3 x 5.5Km afternoon runs per week),
3) Cycling (2 x 45Km Mountain Bike rides through the Adelaide Hills per week on weekends….about 3 hours each ride….upwards of 1100m ascent….killer).

30 minutes before each session I’ve been using 1 x 36g Hammer Gel pack, as well as additional 36g Hammer Gels each 45 minutes into the MTB rides.

No longer do I have any sign of fatigue during these workouts and no longer do I have any sign of muscle soreness afterwards !

Tommorrow I start on Perpetuem (2 scoops in 600mL of water).

My first attempt at a Triathlon is on Feb 10th (the Sam White Memorial mini…750m swim, 19Km ride, 5Km run)….

I hope Hammer will help me through !

Just thought I’d share my experience so far with Hammer products.

Totally satisfied !

Thanks,

Damion

Reply

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