Pulling your bike out of the car or van on a sometimes wet, often early and rarely close to home Sunday morning is where many riders find themselves, some of the more intrepid will have even done some winter training and some of the others will have locked themselves away in the shed sat on the spinning tool of torture. Or a turbo trainer.
As bikers of any kind, motored or not, it’s all in the gear. We love it. Carbon envy, machined pieces of aluminium perfection that excites our giddy little minds and makes us part with hard earned to have the stuff. In many aspects of riding this kit may not make not a dot of difference. Thats not to say some products work better than others and some last longer and its just physics that a lighter bike is easier to propel, but there is one big tool many of us don’t think about. Not that. Our bodies.
After all is said and polished there is one factor that is so key it’s a wonder that we don’t spend more time on it. Your legs are important yes, but bringing the rest of your body and mind together can be the thing that means you get the most out riding. Whether it’s a race or a pump track lap competition with your mates we all need energy and sustenance to keep us going.
So back to the carpark. Bike is out and prepped you are clad in some very clever fabrics and what the black stretch or baggy codura hides is the engine that will propel you round the track ahead of you. We have dabbled in a number of different exercise products here at MPORA GEAR and there are a few we keep coming back to. Maxifuel.
Now lets not get het up about the name, we don’t necessarily want to achieve what the name suggest but even if we don’t we still need them to work and muscles are the thing that gets tired which then makes our whole body tired and lacking the drive we need to crack on.
Maxifuel have a range of products that can give you a boost when out riding and having done some 2hr XC races both with and without using them we can say that there are advantages to using energy gels, electrolyte and energy drinks.
A 2hr XC race is a good example, fast consistent exercise over a period that will no doubt cause muscles to fatigue. We hit the first XC race with just the simplest of hydration, water. Nothing more but it gave a level form which to improve. The water race was hard, 26 miles of relatively flat racing with a few exciting descents and short sharp climb here and there. 20 miles in and the muscles were pretty tired, cramps reared their grotesque head and the pain that ensues could not be wished on a fellow rider. It can be pushed through but it’s not pleasant. Overall energy was sapped pretty quick and didn’t feel a reserve level that could be called upon when needed, i.e. the last lap!
Next race out was with the whole 9 yards, energy bar and a banana before the race, energy drink in one bottle and electrolyte in the other plus three gels to have on the way round. So did it make a difference? Honestly. Yes. But I did train in between and got out on a few rides to get used to the 2hr saddle time. Sinking some energy drink before the race is a good idea and maybe a gel too, about 15 mins prior to the startling. That way you have some gas for the start where you need to push it hard. The energy drink was dipped into three or four times a lap with a couple of glugs and laps 2,3 & 4 all got a dose from the electrolyte bottle. Rewarding ourselves with a gel at the end of lap 2 and 3 before saving the last for half way round the last lap gave another bit to get over the line. Placing improved, not drastically but it did.
Don’t get us wrong here. Nutrition products are not miracle workers, but they do work as hard as you do so if you do some training and get a few of the above in your system you will probably feel the benefit out on the trail. Just don’t nail yourself with them as if you need to lose a few pounds then do that first and learn to use the products tactically, that way when you speed past your mates on that last climb the smugness will feel that little bit better.
