10 Fueling Tips for Belgian Waffle Ride and other long cycling events

Gravel ride fueling

Mass start, dust up the nose, endless climbs, stretches of captivating scenery, clock ticking. Long Classic-style races are sweeping the hearts of cyclists across the country for the opportunity to complete something epic, try something new, enjoy beautiful scenery, and challenge oneself. Do I want to be a finisher, or do I want to try and win? Should I go for the 136mile or the 68mile? 
A step by step guide to preparing fuel for a gravel race:

#1 Make an attainable time goal

Look at the course map (distance, elevation, terrain), look up previous years winning times, and ask racers their previous times to compare. Make sure to also factor in stopping time for aid stations.
Will the race take 7hrs or will it take 12hrs? 
Example Athlete: Belgian Waffle Ride, 136miles, time goal of 8.5-9.5hrs total (riding time and stop time)

#2 Determine fluid needs during the race

Plan to drink 20oz/hr for 0-50°F, 30oz/hr for 50-70°F, 40-60oz/hr for 70-120°F. The hotter it is the more fluid lost to sweat and the more fluid needing to be taken in. Drinking enough fluid is often the deciding factor for many athletes in these long events. It can make or break the fun factor, the safety factor, and the performance factor. When the body is dehydrated muscles start to fatigue and seize, the brain becomes foggy, and nausea and vomiting may ensure making for an unnecessarily challenging day. 
Plan to include electrolytes in fluid or fuel (sodium, potassium, chloride, magnesium) in addition to carbohydrates. Electrolytes are easiest to obtain from sports drinks but can also be found in foods like pretzels, salted potatoes, bananas, and potato chips.
Example Athlete: The temperature around San Diego California will likely be around 60-70°F at that time of year. This athlete will plan to drink 20-30oz per hour, and 170-285oz total.

#3 Determine fuel needs during the race

Plan to consume (either eat or drink) 45-60g of carbohydrate/hr. Consuming enough carbohydrates is right next to fluid for important factors making or breaking a race. When the body is deprived of carbohydrates glycogen stores run out (fuel for the muscles and brain) and that terrible ‘bonking’ feeling begins. Signs of low fuel include fatigue, brain fog, dizziness, muscles not working as efficiently, and muscle pain. Eating can be even more difficult than drinking during these races. Reaching for food out of a jersey pocket, ripping open the wrapper, and eating solid food without choking can be challenging for many racers. For best results take in carbohydrates early in the race and on regular intervals. It may not be intuitive to eat in the first few hours as fuel from the pre-race meal is still doing its job, but it takes time for the body to absorb and metabolize nutrients. If an athlete waits too long to start eating the muscles and brain begin to run low on fuel and there is not enough time to absorb and metabolize the carbohydrates to prevent low energy and performance losses.
Example Athlete: This athlete will plan to take in 45-60g of carbohydrate per hour, 380-570g carbohydrate total, and include electrolytes from a drink mix.
Belgian Waffle ride hydration fueling

#4 Familiarize yourself with info on support provided at race

Are there aid stations? If so, where are they? What is or is not provided at each aid station? Make sure to read the BWR Bijbel and know what products will be available at each aid station. 
Example Athlete: Water, SIS products, Monster Energy Hydro sports drink, and Quantum Energy Squares are provided at aid stations along the course at BWR. Specific locations/mileage are provided in the BWR Bijbel. Drop bag service is not provided. 
NOTE: A drop bag is a gallon-sized Ziploc bag that athletes can bring to the race. Athletes can put food, drink mix, tools or anything else they want and have it brought to aid stations along the course. These are NOT permitted at BWR.

#5 Decide what to bring on bike and person to start with

Start with at least 2x20-24oz bottles on the bike and enough food in pockets for at least 3hrs if not longer. The more an athlete carries with them at the start, the less time is needed to stop at aid stations. Having more than what is estimated to be needed will ensure that if anything bad happens (mechanical, injury, bottle flies out of bottle cage) there will be enough fuel to tide one over until assistance is found. Make sure the pocket food is easy to eat by pre-ripping wrappers or wrapping food in foil to easily eat on the bike. 
Example Athlete: This athlete will start with 2x24oz bottles full of Monster Hydro on their bike which provides 48oz fluid and ~70g of carbohydrates and electrolytes. They will start with enough pocket food for 100-120g of carbohydrate (bars, gels, chomps, trail mix, fruit, potatoes). Specifically they will take 3 SIS Energy gels with 22g of carbohydrates each and 2 bars with 21g of carbohydrates each for a total of 108g of carbohydrates.

#6 Decide what will be acquired on course and when (which aid stations you will stop at and what you will grab at each)

When planning, try to create a strategy which requires the least amount of stop time. Plan what will be taken from each aid station and at what stations. Questions to ask oneself are: how much fluid, what kind of fluid, how much food, what kind of food?
Example Athlete: This athlete will take 2 water or Monster Hydro hand ups (a volunteer hands an athlete a bottle or food so they don’t ever have to get off their bike or stop) if possible or stop and refill both bottles with Monster Hydro every 1.5-2.5 hours. If an athlete gets to an aid station and still has fluid left in bottles, they will drink what is left and refill.
Belgian waffle ride plan fueling aid station

#7 Practice in training

Most races provide neutral support of nutrition from specific companies. Make sure to try products from these companies before race day to make sure they sit well and do not cause any tummy issues. 
It can be challenging to drink and eat during these races as the terrain constantly changes, technical features require bike handling, and racers are close to one another requiring sharp mental focus. Practice drinking and eating during training rides with groups of people on difficult terrain to become familiar with drinking and eating in adverse conditions. 
Example Athlete: This athlete will complete at least 2 back-to-back, 6+hour training rides with their Monster Hydro drink mix and fuel listed above before the race. This athlete will take sips of fluid and/or bites of food about every 10minutes and become familiar with safe places to take their hands off their handlebars and eat and drink. Safe places are typically near the top of climbs before a descent or flat stretch, on flat smooth terrain, or in the back or off to the side of a group of racers. 

#8 Consider potential issues

  1. Flying bottle: Start with tight bottle cages and know where the aid stations are even if not planning on using them.
  2. Crash: Same rules apply for flying bottle, know where the aid stations are and pack more fuel than what is needed just in case of stranding and needing to wait for support.
  3. Bonking friend: If racing with partners or teammates bring more fuel than necessary in case something happens, or they forget to bring enough for themselves. Save a life!
  4. Flavor fatigue: Bring multiple flavors of drink mix and types of fuel/food in pockets to prevent getting sick of one flavor or type of food.
  5. Gut rot: Even if planning to drink fluid for all fluid and fuel, bring a bar or another form of solid food in case of uncomfortable gut issues like bloating or diarrhea or belching. Make sure to fuel with the products provided at neutral support in training.

#9 Assemble all supplies at least 1 week ahead of time

Pick up products at the local bike shop, order products online for special orders, or buy food at grocery store and have ready to far ahead of time.

#10 Have fun and race your best race!

 

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About the author: Kristen Arnold MS, RDN, CSSD is a level 2 USA Cycling coach as well as a Registered Dietitian (RD) specializing in sports nutrition and is a board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD). With Kristen’s nutrition expertise and diverse experience in the sport of cycling as a racer and a mentor, she provides a comprehensive approach to her coaching. She works with athletes from the beginner to elite ranks in road, cyclocross, and mountain biking disciplines. Kristen is also a category 1 domestic elite road racer and seasoned mountain bike and cyclocross racer. Learn more about Kristen.