Post-work riding nutrition tips?

[FunSizeSnack]

I just started riding regularly and am finding that I have the same problem everytime I ride after work; I call my problem "the post-work wobblies." Around 5 PM, I have leg strength and endurance, but my body feels so shaky, it's hard to make tight turns, navigate through trees and rocks, etc. My coordination is completely out of whack and I have trouble steering. Has anyone else had this problem when riding after work?

I'm fine with morning rides, and doing other things, like running or swimming (after work)--I think it's the technical nature of mtb-ing that's posing the problem. I'm a chronic grazer, so I eat plenty (I think) and try not to consume anything too sugary at lunch. I'll usually scarf down a slice of bread with pb before heading out to ride. If anyone has any nutrition tips for what I might try eating during the day to avoid the wobblies, I'd be so very grateful. The wobblies took credit for an unfortunate incident on the ladder bridge at Murphy recently that involved one somersaulting bicycle. :redface2: Thanks y'all!

[Paul Swenson]

Are you sure it’s a nutritional problem? If you can run without bonking you should be able to bike without trouble. Maybe it’s your job.
<O:p
Caffeine is supposed to improve concentration. You could try downing a Red Bull an hour before riding.

[MisterClaw]

Has anyone else had this problem when riding after work?

I also graze all day at work, but never have had this problem.

Do you drink a lot of caffeinated beverages at work?

Are you breathing a lot of carbon monoxide at work? :p

You might want to get this checked out - getting the wobblies isn't normal by any means and may not be nutrition-related.

[TML]

I call my problem "the post-work wobblies." Around 5 PM, I have leg strength and endurance, but my body feels so shaky, it's hard to make tight turns, navigate through trees and rocks, etc. My coordination is completely out of whack and I have trouble steering.


Did you conveniently leave out this part?

"Around 4 PM, the co-workers and I close up the place and go down a few pitchers at the joint next door." ;)

Joking aside, I hope you are able to get it figured out. It does sound a little like a low energy problem. At least its similar to the way I feel when I need some calories. Everybody is different though. . .

[stoneage]

All I would suggest is to warm up and stretch a little before riding, especially if your job is super sedentary.

[FunSizeSnack]

OK, maybe I was a bit dramatic earlier. I wouldn't say that I bonk when I ride after work, I'm just too shaky to do a lot of the technical feats that don't pose a problem on my morning or mid-afternoon rides. I'm assuming it's a nutrition thing because I still feel all right strength- and cardio-wise. I don't drink coffee, and I rarely have soda--unless it's mixed with happy juice on the weekend ;). I'm a pretty boring lunch-time eater; raw,plain veggies, an apple or banana, Amy's pocket sandwich... Now that I think about it, I don't eat much protein before dinner. Maybe all this girl needs is a little tuna!? Anyway--thanks for the tips so far, everyone!

[Paul Swenson]

If it was a nutrition issue I think you would feel weak. The issue may be your body's natural cycle.

[Nickel]

fitday.com is a great program for tracking vitamins and macronutrients.

This happens to me when I start mountain biking -- it takes me about 15min to get 'into' it.

[Pandl]

Sounds like low blood sugar to me. But, wouldn't really understand why it only effects bicycling, and not swimming or running. I am diabetic. I can swim with my blood sugar a lot lower than biking tho. Maybe you need more than a slice of bread and PB before the ride...

[Dave]

PB and bread is pretty solid food...I would say that should be good but eat it slower and an hour before you ride to give it time to digest more and sip Gatorade or Vitamin Water from then until you start riding. Sounds like you're right on with a better balanced and probably bigger lunch also. Munching on carrots and a banana seems more like a regular afternoon snack for riders. If your job is rather sedentary, probably would help to give your body a decent 10 minute or so warm up if you can before getting on the singletrack.

I hear ya, lack of "fuel" also definitely plays with my concentration.

[FunSizeSnack]

[quote=Pandl;247446]Sounds like low blood sugar to me. quote]

Thanks, Paul. I'm not diabetic, but low blood sugar sounds like me. I definitely don't feel so weak that I can't ride--I just feel "off," which makes tight corners and anything involving steering coordination a big :banghead: for me. Running and swimming (or just pedaling forward) is not an issue, because maintaining a tight line isn't critical in those sports.

Are there foods that you choose to eat/avoid if you know you're going to work out at the end of the day? This wobbly business has been a constant bummer for me...I appreciate your help.

If anyone has any specific suggestions/recipes for energy snacks, please shoot them my way!

[Pandl]

[quote=Pandl;247446]Sounds like low blood sugar to me. quote]

Thanks, Paul. I'm not diabetic, but low blood sugar sounds like me. I definitely don't feel so weak that I can't ride--I just feel "off," which makes tight corners and anything involving steering coordination a big :banghead: for me. Running and swimming (or just pedaling forward) is not an issue, because maintaining a tight line isn't critical in those sports.

Are there foods that you choose to eat/avoid if you know you're going to work out at the end of the day? This wobbly business has been a constant bummer for me...I appreciate your help.

If anyone has any specific suggestions/recipes for energy snacks, please shoot them my way!

I figured you were not diabetic, since you didn't mention it. No, I don't really avoid anything differently if I know I am going to be working out. I just watch my blood sugar, and make sureit is above 150 when I start. Normal for a diabetic is 80-120. Most non-diabetics are between 85-95, and usually very constant at the level. I have cliff bars, and granola bars in my backpack when I ride home from work, for when my blood sugar does get low. Now that I am on an insulin pump, I also shut that off, when I am biking, when my blood sugar gets near 150 and I am still riding.

Good luck.

If none of the suggestions are helping, ya might wanna visit a dr, if it isn't too big a hassle for ya.

[Nickel]

You could also go with a GU packet or sportbeans. Or a banana. ;)

[rgg2201473]

Sounds too familiar, Kelly. If you have a sit-down job as I do it's easy to forget to drink enough liquids and the end result is this "woozie", sorta weak, light-headed feeling by late afternoon.
I always eat a filling lunch and if I'm going to ride in the late afternoon I'll make sure to eat something very nutritious about an hour before the ride and that ensures that I won't get that body-on-the-bike-head-somewhere-else feeling.