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Do you fuel during Zwift races?

Posted December 22, 2015 08:40PM by Skye in the Zwift Riders Forum

Skye
Skye Skye Nott
@TheStaminist   5880115
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Joined: 9 years ago   Posts: 542

I'm trying some Zwift racing and curious if people bother fueling during races?
Or just stick to water? Water with electrolytes? Sports drinks?

I guess any advice for criterium racing would be applicable in this case too, which generally seems to mean:

1. You don't need to eat during a race that's under an hour
2. Pre-hydrate and stay hydrated (the in-game avatars drinking are a great reminder)
3. Eat beforehand, but don't overdo it. You don't want an upset stomach when the hammer drops.

Of course, it's taking me longer than an hour to finish these races at my current pace, and today I definitely noticed I hit a wall around the hour mark - as you can see in my chart below, where my power kept dropping the longer I rode. Next time I'll keep a fruit bar or something very easily digestible on hand for that 3rd lap, or mix up a sports drink and sip on that. At least on the turbo, carrying two bottles isn't any disadvantage!

Webmaster - Staminist.com

Attachments

ZTR 3 lap bonk.jpg 10.2 KB open | download
ZTR 3 lap bonk.jpg

Skye
Skye Skye Nott
@TheStaminist   5880115
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Joined: 9 years ago   Posts: 542

For the last ZTR training race, since it was an even longer 4 lap race that I knew would be well over an hour, I tried adding a second bottle of my home-made energy drink to my bike. It made a BIG difference, especially after the hour mark, as I didn't bonk and rode the entire race at a pretty steady pace just below my 1-hour FTP.

So, I would say that the general advice that you don't need fuel for racing under an hour probably holds true, but over an hour, a sports drink or energy gel might be a good idea.

[strava]https://www.strava.com/activities/455839316[/strava]

Webmaster - Staminist.com

Attachments

ZTR power distribution.jpg 9.2 KB open | download
ZTR power distribution.jpg

Bikegeek Ray
Location: USA
Joined: 8 years ago   Posts: 16

Hammer gel for me.

MLorentsson Michael
Location: Sweden
Joined: 8 years ago   Posts: 3

I have done a couple of 3-5 hour rides in Zwift and during thoose i take a few Gelshots

https://www.powerbar.eu/en/products/powergel-shots-orange

I find them great and use them IRL long distanses, easy to digest and easy on stomach.

Rides up to 90 min I only use water.

//Michael

Edit
(Sorry, missed that the question was about during Zwift races, I have not done any Zwift race)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/29/2015 01:44PM by MLorentsson.

Skye
Skye Skye Nott
@TheStaminist   5880115
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Joined: 9 years ago   Posts: 542

Interesting, I've never tried the Powergel Shots before. I'll have to give that a try.

I'm not particularly fond of the regular gels, I find them unpleasantly sweet, although some flavours/brands are definitely better than others.

Webmaster - Staminist.com

Bikegeek Ray
Location: USA
Joined: 8 years ago   Posts: 16

Give the Hammer Nutrition gels a shot. Montana Huckleberry and Nocciola are great.

http://www.hammernutrition.com/products/hammer-gel.hg.html

Get 15% of your first order here - 15% Off



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/29/2015 02:43PM by Bikegeek.
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